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Random Quote: Bigger they are the more mess they make.
Anyone know anything about this, I wonder if he was offshore tuna fishing. At almost 24 hours in the GOM, it does not look good.
BOSTON - The Coast Guard is searching for a person who may have fallen overboard from a boat at about 1 p.m., 15 miles east/southeast of the mouth of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts.
The Coast Guard received a report of a white 22-foot recreational boat with a green canopy, manufactured by Mako, traveling westbound at a high rate of speed. The reporting source contacted the Coast Guard because there was no visible operator.
Searching are: A 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Merrimack River, a 25-foot response boat from Station Portsmouth Harbor, N.H., and a Falcon jet from Air Station Cape Cod, Mass.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Coast Guard Command Center at 617-223-8555.
Anyone know if the report was ever confirmed? I was offshore when we heard this report yesterday but never heard of anyone (including the CG who sent a cutter out of the Merrimack) actually sighting the runaway vessel. Considering the area it was reported to be in and the heading it was on it leads me to think the call was a hoax.
__________________ Capt. George Full Strike Anglers
F/V Lady Diane
2005 2325 Pacific Plate Alloy Boat
USCG 50Ton Master
Maine Tidewater Guide
You may be correct, I just spoke to MMR Station and spoke to the Officer of the day. A boat at anchor reported seeing a boat going by with no one on board with the above desription at 25 knots plus. Coast Guard sent out numerous assets, issued emergency broadcast and no boat found. I am sure the boat would have been located on some beach if this was case with falcon jet, CG boats and general public looking. This is great news if this is the case. As Harpoon stated the guy was most likely bent over spraying his fish, picking something up or fixing something especially if by chance he had auto pilot.
I was out yesterday and was stopped by the CG, they wanted to know if I had seen a 20' mako, they said it was un-manned and crusing at 30kts headed west. Buy yeah, they had the chopper out and if they didn't see the boat with that then it probably isn't there.
So if the operator was bending down fixing something and the CG was dispatched then the CG would eventually find a mako with a green top somewhere in the vicinity and realize the operator was on board so they could call off the search - right?
It's kind of difficult for a 22' CC to hide it's operator unless he/she was passed out on the floor...
Think about it, if the man is doing 20 kts and 15 miles out he would be ashore in 45 minutes and could have ran into several harbors all of which the CG would not be coming out of. For example Rockport, Annisquam, Essex River etc. What I am saying is unless he was going directly to the Merrimac River he may of not been spoted. I am sure it took the helo some time to get there also as normally takes at least 30 minutes to launch after flight safety checks. Once again it is either someone playing games or else someone was bent over and not seen.
I overlooked the fact that he was heading west. I agree, probably someone bent over with his head in the bilge or under console when he passed the other boat. If headed west he would have hit the beach or another boat if unmanned and there would have been multiple calls to the CG. Sounds like he made it safely into port...
This does ake you wonder about the dangers of running offshore alone, I read an article about one tuna fisherman who wore a harness and was clipped in to the T-Top at all times with a short lanyard and carried a knife in case of a capsizing. Look at lobsterman and how many have had issues fishing alone getting wrapped in a trap or hauler. Are these fish worth chasing if alone?
I run alone quite often but I always make sure others are going to be on the water and I try to stay in touch with them. But this does nothing for me if I fall overboard... I like the harness idea and will probably take a serious look at one. Small inconvenience to deal with if it could save your life.
The article I read was a Fisherman Magazine article about two years ago talking about a guy who fished alone for giants out of a catamaran. It would suck if harness was too long and the kill switch did not work. One could be boogy boarding for a long time. I think it is good you keep comms with others and keep eye out foe each other.
i was 25 miles due east of the mouth when the call went out buy an english captain on a boat called the limey 1. He said he was 15 miles out when the boat went by due west from me.i never saw a boat like that go by.i did see the mlb and the falcon searching but they did not find anything,however the guy making the distress call did sound very serious.is it possible that the boat changed course and headed back out to sea.i wonder how far it would go and how far out the search was,I was very curious what the outcome was to this,but i see there hasnt been one.having heard the acctual distress call go out i don't think it was a hoax i think the chap did see a boat like that but who knows what happened.like the post says lets just pray it was nothing....if anyone has a ? about what i heard in the acctual call feel free to ask........Randy
__________________ Thats why they call it fishing not catching....
Say your Prayers for this Operator 
