Are You Prepared?

[GoldTip]

I'm wondering what the water temp was that far out, if they had a good percentage of their bodies in the water, unless the water temp was above 80F, they could still start to suffer some effects of hypothermia.

[WDFW-SUX]

I guess someone could swim in good weather.....the English channel is 21 miles at Dover but With tides and current it may not have been possible even for Micheal Phelps

Water in that part of the gulf was 68 degrees

[GoldTip]

I guess someone could swim in good weather.....the English channel is 21 miles at Dover but With tides and current it may not have been possible even for Micheal Phelps

Water in that part of the gulf was 68 degrees

At that temp just hanging on definitely hypothermia would have started to set, and they may have simply let go.......

[@RCHER]

It's too bad and people make mistakes. Sometimes we don't get to walk away from them. But of the spotty information I read and heard, the thing that doesn't make sense to me is that the survivor mentioned they were "anchored when the boat flipped and they all had life vests on." Yet no life vests were found. They found a cooler and other debris some 16 miles from the boat. Even if they were taken by sharks, I would think at least parts of vests would be found. They don't sink too well.

Without vests, panic alone kills a lot of folks in this type of situation. A couple good gulps of water, they panic, and that's it. Clothes and shoes make it worse.

[HawkenBob]

They found a cooler as well a life vest...they had vests on and 2 took them off and gave up and gave themselves to the seas. The other missing guy took his off and tried to swim to safety.

[popeshawnpaul]

Here is another question I have...why are you anchored up in a 21' boat in 14' seas?  You have to be really careful with an anchor.  I would have stayed with or held on to that boat and not ever let go. 

[PST]

I agree with your list, but what of all that do you think would have helped these folks out?

EPIRB would have helped.  Rather than searching 16,000 or 22,000 square miles, can't remember which it was, the epirb would have sent a distress signal to the coast guard.  They provide instantaneous identification of vessel and location. 

If they had an EPIRB they all would have been rescued, as least from the report I read stating they were with the capsized vessel for 12 hours.

[PolarBear]

Every one of my boats is fully equipped with emergency gear.  All have handheld, waterproof radios, flares, first aid kits, life rings/jackets etc.  If I go offshore, the Columbia or anywhere other than the south sound I have my EPIRB at the ready.  You CANNOT be too prepared!!!