UPDATE: 7 Stranded On Boat In Suisun Bay

F

Flutterby

Active member
Joined
Jul 14, 2004
RO Number
14378
Messages
9,320
UPDATED 11:28AM PDT "SOLANO COUNTY, Calif. -- Seven stranded people were rescued Friday after their boat ran aground Thursday night in shallow waters in Suisun Bay, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman said.

The group, which includes three children, set out on the boat sometime after sunset Thursday, but ran out of gas for their 17-foot power driven vessel, said Jeremy Pichette of the Coast Guard.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., the vessel ran aground near Ryer Island, which is roughly north of Concord, he said.

One person aboard has been in contact with the Coast Guard by cell phone. Pichette said the last communication with the boaters occurred sometime around 4 a.m., and he presumed the cell phone battery had run out of juice as well.

The Coast Guard launched a rescue vessel at about 1 a.m., he said, but because the boat had run aground in shallow waters over a shoal, the vessel could only get within 200 yards of the stranded boaters.

"We considered possibly bringing in a Coast Guard helicopter to hoist those seven people up from the boat, but our risk analysis proved it wouldn't be feasible at night," Pichette said.

No one aboard the boat is injured, he said, and the boaters are not in immediate danger.

Currently, the Coast Guard is transporting a shallow water vessel out to the site. That vessel, carrying the Coast Guard's Pacific Strike Team, is coming from Novato. "

http://www.kcra.com/news/24870457/d...sac_break&ts=T&tmi=sac_break_1_10320109032010
 
if the idiots were aground in water too shallow for a 17 footer, why coudlnt' they walk to the USCG boat?

they shoudl have let them sit out there for a while...
 
That mud out there is wicked; walking would be dangerous. I know that spot pretty well; we've boated and hunted there back in the day. It does sound like they made them wait out the night.
 
It's amazing that the USCG hasn't discovered the advantage of stowing an inflatable dingy below decks for rescues like this. It's a lot cheaper than a helicopter and can be used day or night with 15 minutes setup time.
 
One time I was standing by for a disabled vessel which was taking on water. The CG arrived and decided it was too shallow for their RIB. So they called in the sheriff's jet powered boat! Good thing the two souls onboard did not have to abandon ship!
 
2 ft of water. 10 feet of mud. It's impossible to walk
quote:
Originally posted by caltexfla

That mud out there is wicked; walking would be dangerous. I know that spot pretty well; we've boated and hunted there back in the day. It does sound like they made them wait out the night.

Click to expand...
 
quote:
Originally posted by Waynepj4

2 ft of water. 10 feet of mud. It's impossible to walk
quote:
Originally posted by caltexfla

That mud out there is wicked; walking would be dangerous. I know that spot pretty well; we've boated and hunted there back in the day. It does sound like they made them wait out the night.

Click to expand...


Click to expand...
 
quote:
Originally posted by Waynepj4

2 ft of water. 10 feet of mud. It's impossible to walk
quote:
Originally posted by caltexfla

That mud out there is wicked; walking would be dangerous. I know that spot pretty well; we've boated and hunted there back in the day. It does sound like they made them wait out the night.

Click to expand...


Click to expand...
 
Its weird. Ive been a boat owner for two years. Totally green but never ran aground. I ran out of gas once and had to be towed in but outside of that Ive never been stranded.

I do enjoy how my car tells me 50 miles left in the tank, 40 miles left in the tank. The boat is more of an approximation.

Is there anything I can add to the boat that would show me EXACTLY how much range I have left in my fuel tank? Now, I dont feel comfortable going boating with less than half a tank of fuel.

quote:
Originally posted by Waynepj4

2 ft of water. 10 feet of mud. It's impossible to walk
quote:
Originally posted by caltexfla

That mud out there is wicked; walking would be dangerous. I know that spot pretty well; we've boated and hunted there back in the day. It does sound like they made them wait out the night.

Click to expand...


Click to expand...
 
"Is there anything I can add to the boat that would show me EXACTLY how much range I have left in my fuel tank?"

Yes and no.

You can add a "floscan" or equivalent which, once calibrated will tell you quite accurately how much fuel has been used. ( That is the "Yes" part ), but the question of remaining range is more problematic. That is because your "nmpg" can vary widely, depending not just on engine RPM but also sea and weather conditions. Of course, the better you can determine how much fuel has been consumed, the better you can guess your minimum and maximum range remaining. ( ie: best case, worst case ).

The old "rule" of "one third out, one third in, one third reserve" is a handy and useful one. Most boaters travel "casually" with a fairly large reserve margin. But, once you learn the boat and become more experienced you could plan your trip more closely. Though trying to cut it close is also not a good plan. Reason: You want the freedom to change plans in the event of dodging weather, or simply fishing elsewhere. In the event you have "crud" in your tank, you will find it as your get down to the last portion of your capacity. So, yes, do keep a close eye on fuel consumed ( and by reference, how much is left in the tanks ), do contiguously update your estimated min and max range remaining, and then always allow for about 30% "reserve". Muther Nature will always point out any poor planning, so don't give her the opportunity.
 
If I am going to go any distance I will stick the tanks once the guage reads less than half. Not sure if you tank set up will allow that or not. If it does you will get an acurate measure of how much fuel you have. I have found my guages to be just an estimate. I also try to never have less than 1/4 tank as sometimes when I want to go out the fuel docks might not be open. Wish I had the floscans on my boat but they can be quite expense to add on.
 
Also, be sure you know where the gas docks are located along your route, so you can fill up if you find you are burning more gas then you had expected. I almost ran out of gas another time when I planned to gas up in Suisun. I didn't know that their gas dock had been shut down for modernization. The closest gas dock was at Antioch back then! I had to idle all the way and my gauge sat on E for the hour of that trip. Whew!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top