USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

[PW2]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

FWIW, I had friends who knew Cooper pretty well. He was a really nice kid.

He decided to play college football at the University of Washington in large part because of the fishing opportunities to be had in Puget Sound.

I have no idea what happened, but I do know he loved to fish.

RIP

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

God Bless the Soul
Of those at Sea
When not all touch shore
Of those that leave
Tears of Salt
From thy eyes and Mother Sea
Cry once more
And Rest in peace.


CBK

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

where did you find that report?

I've been reading alot of Tampa area news, which seems to have better coverage than the national outlets.

 

[azlakes]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

...what an awful tragedy at sea. young Coopers father Bruce is an NBC sportscaster here at the local news station. a respected, proud and very well liked member of the television community. as mentioned thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends left behind. hopefully some closure can come to them soon.

 

[hollywoodwayne]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

What i,ve learned from this tragedy is that some of the trips that i,ve made in my 20 footer were downright ignorant.In the future i,ll make sure i buddy up with another boat and gear up like you,re supposed to.I hope those guys knew Jesus and that brings their family comfort.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

i,ll make sure i buddy up with another boat and gear up like you,re supposed to.

Excellent suggestion for both yourself and others. If you're going to go offshore in a small boat, being completely aware of expected weather and using the buddy system is the way to go.

 

[jonesg]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

Sad story, but its a self correcting problem.
Unwise , uneducated actions in an unforgiving enviroment.
inexperienced boaters mistake boats for cars, just buy it and drive.

 

[Beefer]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

I was watching the recovery of the boat, and how difficult it was to be righted, with the T-Top making it top heavy. Anyone else wondering if the combination of the waves with the winds catching the T-Top may have been a major contributing factor? Anyone with a T-Top ever feel like the wind was catching it, making the boat list uncomfortably?

 

[triumphrick]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

I was watching the recovery of the boat, and how difficult it was to be righted, with the T-Top making it top heavy. Anyone else wondering if the combination of the waves with the winds catching the T-Top may have been a major contributing factor? Anyone with a T-Top ever feel like the wind was catching it, making the boat list uncomfortably?

Me too..did you notice the Raymarine or Furuno dish sitting on the very top of the T-Top? All I could imagine was in heavy seas that the boat was arching side to side strongly. If two or more of those big guys went to the side together, that's about 500 lbs and might aid in flipping the boat.
All in all it has been an eye opening experience. As mentioned earlier, we sea trialed a boat that morning form that same ramp. The 20' Pro Line we were in was no match for those seas at 11:00 am. We quickly made it back to the intercoastal to finish our trial. I somehow feel their loss personally.....

 

[Mark42]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

I've been reading alot of Tampa area news, which seems to have better coverage than the national outlets.

Can you post some links to news articles for us folks out of the area? National news coverage seems to be dwindling on this story.

 

[KurtG]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

I used to live in the area, the Tampa Tribune is one of the major local papers-

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/ma...l-optimistic-that-he-hasnt-lost-s/news-metro/
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/ma...y-calls-on-pilots-as-search-halts/news-metro/

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

If you "google" the search string "tampa news," you'll come up with a number of sources. The links below are among the better ones.


http://www.tbo.com/

http://www.baynews9.com/Home.html

http://www.tampabays10.com/

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

A very sad story.

If anyone is interested; here's the link to the un-edited video of the boat's recovery.

http://www.tampabays10.com/video/de...cc6e3e320a82f&maven_referralObject=1052214803

I wouldn't have believed that they could have done it that way. Two boats each fitted with three Yamaha 250's...some strong rope...and a team that knows their way around....

Chuck

 

[azlakes]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

... yup that was something. did you notice how the cowling was missing? guess it could have come off during the storm or righting of the vessel but maybe the engine died on them at sea and they were trying to get it started. one o/b in open waters.. eek

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

I was thinking the same thing, Azlakes.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

If anyone is interested; here's the link to the un-edited video of the boat's recovery.

Very interesting video. When you see how much trouble the salvage boats had in getting the boat righted, it makes you realize that you would have absolutely no chance in doing it as survivors in the water. As someone else pointed out too, it makes you want to rethink the wisdom on having a t-top on a relatively small boat.

One thing I will say for Everglade boats, however, is that the bow eye in them sure is strong! I'm amazed that it didn't just pull out as the tow boat was dragging it, mostly full of water.

BTW, I tried to watch the video several times earlier this evening, but couldn't because the download speed resulted in a very choppy presentation. I thought my computer and/or internet connection might be the problem at first, but then decided that the host site was probably being bombarded with people trying to view it. In going back for another look at about 2am Florida time, the video ran fine, so I guess I was right.

 

[godspede619]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

that video was pretty intense. gave me some chills. I wonder who those guys were doing the recovery. didnt look like fish and game. more than likely a private recovery. i wonder what will come of that cc. end up at some auction with a headline reading slight salt water damage.....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

i only saw one Fl Marine patrol boat, ( the Cat). the others looked like friends, trying to save the boat. the were not prepared to do a recovery, i only saw one boat pole, and that was on the FL Marine boat. if they had been an official recovery team, the guys in the water would have been wearing an inflateable PFD.

i agree that was a lot of tower for a boat that size.

 

[Beefer]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

The recovery operation was 'donated' by a local marine recovery outfit. I think I heard the boat was going to be examined, and returned to the family.

 

[bowman316]

Re: USCG Searching For Missing Football Players

that missing engine cover makes you think they had engine trouble, and maybe that;s why they were anchored until near sunset saturday night.