Another Gulf capsizing...and drowning

[Rocky_Road]

One of my Tallahassee neighbors went fishing Saturday in the Gulf of Mexico, off of Panama City...and his boat was capsized only 100 yards from land. His fishing partner swam to Shell Island, but Miller didn't survive. Neither of them were wearing PFDs....

The weather here Saturday was horrible...rain, and high winds.

The 'need to be fishing' seems to take control over common sense....

"The two men were using Miller's 21-foot open construction boat when they set out to fish for pompano, Kirkland said. They went through the Panama City Pass and turned left to head east where they were going to beach the boat and fish.

"They were roughly 100 yards off from Shell Island when (a wave hit) and the boat capsized," Kirkland said. Neither man was wearing a life jacket, he said.

"The Gulf was extremely rough," Kirkland said of Saturday's turbulent weather. He added that an open construction boat is "not really designed" for rough waters.

Kirkland said White was able to swim ashore and find someone to alert authorities.

Miller's body was later retrieved and brought to the boat ramp at St. Andrew's State Park, Kirkland said.

The boat remained upside down in the surf Saturday evening, Kirkland said."

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Another Gulf capsizing...and drowning

It is awful to think that you are going to spend a day enjoying yourself and something like that happen. Prayers for the family is all that can be done now.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Another Gulf capsizing...and drowning

Just enforces the arguement for wearing a PFD. I hate to hear news like that.

 

[JB]

Re: Another Gulf capsizing...and drowning

Premeditated negligence.

Rule 1. Keep the dry side UP.
Rule 2. Wear a PFD.

Don't want to bash your friend/neighbor, RR, but negligent is negligent and is often fatal.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Another Gulf capsizing...and drowning

Sad to hear............. and what he^^^^^^^said. Cause no matter what you think, it can happen to you.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Another Gulf capsizing...and drowning

Premeditated negligence.

Rule 1. Keep the dry side UP.
Rule 2. Wear a PFD.

Don't want to bash your friend/neighbor, RR, but negligent is negligent and is often fatal.

All too true.

There were tornado watches in this area that day, and small craft warnings posted.

It's a weird 'guy' thing here on the Gulf coast...even families that have commercially fished for generations, frown on wearing flotation gear. But, then again...these same professional boaters stayed home Saturday.

100 yards from dry land is not far for a healthy man to swim. Even if unconscious...the wind, and chop, would probably take someone in a PFD to safety. Go figure....

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Another Gulf capsizing...and drowning

I've said this before, but I'll repeat - when you find people alive, they almost always have a PFD on, but when you find them dead, they almost always don't.

I wear mine at any time the boat is underway, rough or smooth as glass. If there are some seas, I'll leave it on even when the boat is not underway.

With the kind of weather/waves involved in this accident, I would not have had a PFD on at all. That is because I would have been at home working on the boat or doing some other chore.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Another Gulf capsizing...and drowning

Buy yourself, and auto-inflateable PFD, either the vest or waist band style. they are pricey, but worth every cent.

http://www.iboats.com/Inflatable_Pe...3703934--**********.164258640--view_id.217483

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Another Gulf capsizing...and drowning

The thing that really gets me about this particular story is that they planned on beaching the boat and fishing from shore anyway. Why not just walk to their fishing spot and leave the boat at home?