Capsized boat and rescue on Lake Michigan (Chicago)

TonyG13

We were out at the same time -- but about two miles south - when this happened...

http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/8-rescued-on-lake-michigan-when-boat-overturns-near-diversey-harbor

All I can say is I hope folks will:

1. Read the marine weather reports/forecasts BEFORE going out and plan accordingly.

2. Know you and your boat's limitations BEFORE you go out.

GMSLITHO

Lucky no one got hurt,things can turn in a second .i know someone who was boating on lake George.he had a deck boat .the boat was overloaded and he was inexperienced was traveling forward ,stopped ,threw it in reverse and the wake came right over the stern and it just got worse from there .the boat sunk and they swam to shore .lucky no one was hurt .He is no longer a boater 

randy56

Very small craft for Lake M, 

TonyG13

randy56 said:

Very small craft for Lake M, 

We are seeing more small (18' and smaller) boats, especially open bow, and lots more pontoons, on Lake Michigan. It's been trending that way for a few years.

boatman37

So the boat is sinking but not everyone has a life jacket on? Tells me they probably didn't have enough life jackets onboard. Likely inexperienced captain. 90% of the time it is just me and my wife and we keep our life jackets in the cockpit within reach and if we have anybody with us we get life jackets out for them and tell them to make sure they are adjusted for them and they also get put up in the cockpit.

212rowboat

i've taken a jetski 16 miles off shore before with no issues.  i once passed a 14 or so foot john boat with a >25hp tiller driven outboard and a single 6gallon tank heading further offshore than the three or so miles i was off shore and heading in- how he cleared the inlet is still a mystery... i've been on 16~21' center consoles as much as 30miles offshore... i've lapped the island in my rinker- a 212... again, zero issues. 

it's not about vessel- if you're relying on the vessel then you're likely ill equipped to captain on even a pond... it ain't the 'skill' alone either- if you take a john boat 3+ miles offshore in anything greater than 3' you also deserve being dropped into a desert for the rest of your years, too... it's about having just marginally good sense, plain and simple.. knowing your limits and the limits of your boat.  hedging your bet by having life saving items at hand... and acting accordingly. 

a dude lost his boat this weekend.  it sank while being anchored in the sound.  i don't know the story yet, but i am assured through the filter of observation accumulating into experience, that there is a fair amount of dumb-backside-ery involved, and just as certain as with the story of this Lake Michigan boat.    

Black_Diamond

Missing the bilge plug I bet. lol

skennelly

Here's another happening from this weekend.

In case you don't notice that boat is under power.  There's a video, but only on facebook.

Dream_Inn

Wholly crap!  That's a person on the back!!  Looks like they are holding the mat?

aero3113

What!!!!

Black_Diamond

Had a pontoon try to launch over the Holland, MI pier on Sat. lol. Didn’t quite make it. Broad daylight too. 

randy56

Cannot fix stupidity,  

LaRea

Two people died here on a jet-ski last week.  Left a party at 1:30 AM and hit a nav aid ... no PFDs.  Ignorance like that is just unimaginable.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2019/07/03/man-woman-die-water-scooter-accident-maryland/?utm_term=.eda40479cb6a

randy56

Wave runners do not have lights on them............................

TonyG13

LaRea said:

Two people died here on a jet-ski last week.  Left a party at 1:30 AM and hit a nav aid ... no PFDs.  Ignorance like that is just unimaginable.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2019/07/03/man-woman-die-water-scooter-accident-maryland/?utm_term=.eda40479cb6a

Interesting how the story states: "Boaters should also avoid operating watercraft while impaired and ensure vessels are equipped to be taken on the water at night if used after sunset."

The reporter should have noted that in Maryland - as well as in all Federally regulated waters - PWCs cannot be operated between sunset and sunrise.

Black_Diamond

1:30am and not sure if alcohol was involved. lol. 

skennelly

The lake takes another.

https://abc7chicago.com/1-dead-2-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-near-fullerton-beach/5388640/?fbclid=IwAR0-zHemh62i3ro1TAENCTSo89jVUBTk7x2c_d8fHdQNq6LgSvmQvCXBr38

TonyG13

skennelly said:

The lake takes another.

https://abc7chicago.com/1-dead-2-rescued-after-boat-capsizes-near-fullerton-beach/5388640/?fbclid=IwAR0-zHemh62i3ro1TAENCTSo89jVUBTk7x2c_d8fHdQNq6LgSvmQvCXBr38

Saw that on the news this morning. Sad. Would be interesting to find out more details, since it's almost impossible to hit the jetty itself. Those jetties have off-shore seiche cables attached to sunken telephone poles, so I think they had to hit that first. The other odd thing is the boat would have had to be traveling perpendicular to shore (basically heading straight to shore to hit any of this stuff). A normal heading would not take you close to these.

earl1z19

Did anyone notice that one of the victims is being assisted to shore while he holds his cell phone in his hand?

aero3113

earl1z19 said:

Did anyone notice that one of the victims is being assisted to shore while he holds his cell phone in his hand?

Yes, I saw that. I was shaking my head.

skennelly

They also said sailboat...must have been travelling at quite a clip to throw someone off the boat.

Dude_Himself

That was a cuddy cabin or express cruiser.

skennelly

@Dude_Himself - Correct...the news reported incorrectly.  I just read an update.  I also heard they were inside "no boating" buoys when it happened.

GMSLITHO

another sad storyhttps://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/father-daughter-found-dead-houseboat-214538036.html

randy56

No detector Sad

skennelly

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/laporte/toddler-saved-in-lake-michigan-after-winds-carry-inflatable/article_6532fbbd-76e7-5eff-8335-3357bf57aa58.html

TonyG13

Another boat hit the breakwall in Chicago tonight...

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-firefighters-3-pulled-lake-michigan-still-in-water-512870381.html

This year is getting crazy.

skennelly

@TonyG13 - I was going to post that one...it's sad that we are seeing who can post these quicker.

TonyG13

skennelly said:

@TonyG13 - I was going to post that one...it's sad that we are seeing who can post these quicker.

Probably the only reason I beat you was I happened to drive by Buckingham Fountain/Queen's Landing as the rescue was going on.

I have a sad feeling, with the high water levels, we will be reporting on a lot more of these before the summer is over.

Combine darkness, lack of local knowledge, speed, and probably alcohol -- and it's inevitable.

Black_Diamond

Every one preventable. Easily. I didn’t even see any family worried about that kid. Someone needs to clue them floaties are not pfd’s. Lucky kid. 

LaRea

Saturday we saw a 21-footer motoring through the no-wake in Alexandria with a young girl sitting at the bow, feet hanging over the gunnel, just waiting to fall in and get chopped up.  Why doesn't this country have stronger laws on boater education?