Guide boat down off Tofino

[Charter Tofino]

Extremely sad indeed. One thing I don't understand is how they could have been in the water for an hour and a half, if the CG boat deployed in 4 mins of the distress call as stated. It doesn't seem that far away from Tofino.

There are a few reasons that will come out in the full report. Don't forget however that finding people in 3m seas without an exact location is extremely difficult. Even with air support.

 

[Dave H]

There are a few reasons that will come out in the full report. Don't forget however that finding people in 3m seas without an exact location is extremely difficult. Even with air support.

Exactly, but it was also reported that in the call for help a position was never given so the searchers had no idea where to look.

A panicky distress call without proper info is nearly worthless.

Sad story indeed.




Take care.

 

[spring fever]

Air Support is critical to find people overboard!! BUT it ain't magic!! if you haven't given an accurate location, seas running at 3 metres and no flares or strobes--you are incredibly hard to spot!! Condolences to the victims and their families and a big shoutout to the responders both air and sea side.

 

[OnTick]

Sheeesh.

If the pros can get caught out, anyone can. Watch yourselves out there.

 

[hambone]

I don't know the full story but regardless this should be a good reminder to all about GPS coordinates. Its a good idea to have your chartplotters display these at all times. If that's not possible, both you and your crew should be able to get them in seconds.

I've heard a fair number of distress calls and very often the location of the people in trouble is not clearly communicated.

 

[Big_Shank]

not gonna speculate

when in doubt , and she blows up ,for anyone finding themselves in this predicament , please , leave the anchor , come back another day,ive been there !!
not worth losing life over a few $$ of easily replaceable gear ,

my condolences to all involved

fd

If it is indeed the boat I am talking about, unclipping was not an option. The guy didn't have a halibut anchor setup, it was a standard bow mounted chain setup... again, I hope I am wrong here...

 

[agentaqua]

I don't know the full story but regardless this should be a good reminder to all about GPS coordinates. Its a good idea to have your chartplotters display these at all times. If that's not possible, both you and your crew should be able to get them in seconds.

I've heard a fair number of distress calls and very often the location of the people in trouble is not clearly communicated.

Absolutely, Hambone! That's why they came out with the DSC (Digital Selective Calling) emergency functions for marine VHFs a few years back: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_selective_calling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_selective_calling
http://waggonerguide.com/does-your-red-vhf-radio-distress-button-work/

 

[Pippen]

Here's a shot of the boat being lifted out.

There's a pic part way down on the left of the vessel being raised.

http://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/v...g-boat-tragedy-off-vancouver-island-1.3394968

RIP Alvin Beckley and Mike Cutler who are identified in the article; they lost their lives doing what we all love to do.

 

[ElectricDyck]

Sad to hear.

For those who go out of cell signal or like added saftey, a delorme in reach or spot sends your location and a distress call via satelite within minutes with one button push for a very small monthly fee.
I have a smaller boat and always have it clipped on my life jacket..you can send and receive texts on the delorme but in 10 foot 10 degree seas you wouldnt be doing much with your fingers for long..

 

[vic-tory]

Was it for sure a guide boat? Looks like BC number on side as being lifted.

 

[cracked_ribs]

Pretty definitely, yes. I don't know that it's my place to name the company but it does seem to be a tofino based guide.

 

[Peahead]

Was it for sure a guide boat? Looks like BC number on side as being lifted.

I noticed that too, last night. On the CBC news last night the video clips showed the hull numbers clearly to be BC (pleasure craft) numbers (non-commercial). I sure hope he wasn't guiding commercially (or did have his C numbers but just hadn't applied them to the boat yet) otherwise 'horribly catastrophic' just got worse.

 

[why knot]

Almost 10' seas and winds over 30kmh at the time according to the bouy reports. If your anchored in those conditions for halibut... Not much more to say. Sad stuff

It is sad, but I am agree with you since I have a cat I would not ancohor in that kind of water.

 

[Big_Shank]

Glad I was wrong, still a terrible loss. Be safe out there people...

 

[Klob]

Considering all the money we spend on catching fish, there is no excuse not to have one of these. We spend more on a downrigger.
https://www.amazon.ca/ACR-PLB-375-Personal-Locating-Beacon/dp/B005E1OU1A

 

[Birdsnest]

Considering all the money we spend on catching fish, there is no excuse not to have one of these. We spend more on a downrigger.
https://www.amazon.ca/ACR-PLB-375-Personal-Locating-Beacon/dp/B005E1OU1A

Before purchasing they types of units do extensive research to make certain that they work in Canada. They also have expiry dates that need to be noted as well. Get a unit that uses a public system (no fees).

This is a review that shows what can be wrong with such a purchase:
https://www.amazon.ca/Oea-Siga-Resu...s/B00CE8R770/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

This is a different listing for the same product in the post quoted.
https://www.amazon.ca/ACR-PLB-375-R...s/B006JXY0CQ/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

 

[profisher]

A DSC VHF radio is a mandatory piece of equipment on commercial vessels. (which a fishing charter boat is) It is also required that while under way that that equipment be registered to the vessel, turned on and working properly. Had this been the case a simple push of a button would have sent a signal to a satellite giving the coast guard an accurate location. That would likely would have shorten the search time, possibly saving the two lives. The fact that the boat does have a BC number is troubling and as said earlier I hope the owner was going through the process of converting a pleasure boat to a commercial vessel.

 

[Chasin' Dreams]

Spot is waterproof up to a meter for up to 30 min it says on their sight. Would be nice if they made a fully water proof version for boaters.
https://www.findmespot.com/en/?cid=100

 

[beemer]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...id-not-broadcast-on-popular-channel-1.4096454

A DSC VHF radio is a mandatory piece of equipment on commercial vessels. (which a fishing charter boat is) It is also required that while under way that that equipment be registered to the vessel, turned on and working properly. Had this been the case a simple push of a button would have sent a signal to a satellite giving the coast guard an accurate location. That would likely would have shorten the search time, possibly saving the two lives. The fact that the boat does have a BC number is troubling and as said earlier I hope the owner was going through the process of converting a pleasure boat to a commercial vessel.

Also the coast guard did not issue a dsc alert that would have changed all the vhf radios in the area to channel 16 . We have the technology but no one seems to know how to use it properly!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/tofino-emergency-callout-did-not-broadcast-on-popular-channel-1.4096454

beemer

 

[profisher]

In the face of a lack of TC enforcement the most effective way to make the industry safer is to educate the consumer. No current blue TC decal should be a well known red flag.