This story is on a bunch of other fourms.
Sat (5/6/09) this 31 ft Fountain went down in minutes out on Stellwagen bank.
We were on an early morning bass charter and we got the story not long after it happened, then later in the afternoon I met one of the guys that was on the boat who pull 3 guys from the Fountain what went down.
Rumors started that the guys launched out of Green harbor and forgot to put the plug in, but in fact the cause was either a hose or fitting from the livewell.
From talking with the guy who pulled them from the water, the boat went down in minutes !!!

A lot of gear lies
beneath that boat.

A lot of gear lies
beneath that boat.


Sea Tow got the boat.
I was told a boat load of tuna gear gone !

i find it amazing they only had 2 life jackets

they were not rookies, sad to hear they lost so much gear, they had a sweet spread on that boat.

We were coming back into Green Harbor from the SWC late Saturday afternoon and Boat U/S had that boat beached as far as he could up on the sand just inside the jettys and had pumps pumping the water out trying to re-float it. You could just see the tops of the still submerged engines. What a shame, how do you have an investment like that and only put 2 life jackets on the boat? At least no one drown or was hurt.

Crazy, and scary

I seriously doubt they only had 2 life jackets on their boat. The Capt. always puts the safety of his crew first and doesn’t take unnecessary chances like some people do.

they had plenty of life jackets on the boat they were under 3 feet of water in the stern. This thread should stop at this before any more ridiculous rumors start spreading

Riverratt has it right, moving to the back of the boat would have caused the boat to broach which would have been an unnecessary risk to grab a life jacket. They had a boat nearby and it obviously made more sense to keep the boat upright and wait to offload.

The internet is worse than a bunch of old ladies when it comes to spreading bad information, or information that people just assume.

The owner lost his boat and lots of expensive gear. The last thing he needs is to see crap being spread on the web. No offense to anyone chiming in here with questions. Lets let this post fade away.

Pics - 4 minutes from mayday to bye bye boat

Wow are they lucky there were other boats in the area.

Does looks like 2 life jackets and if I am not imagining things, the third guy has a throwable seat cushion on. BUT ITS ON HIS BACK. That way it keeps your face firmly planted under water !!!!!!!!

Whatever, but good thing they are all OK.
Never take anythning for granted.

Thank God someone else was out there nearby. No lives lost, no injurys, I hope, Huge lessons learned. Still sucks tho.

My neighbor had his 31 ft Regulator sink at the dock the other day when a through hull fitting corroded and let go. That shouldn't happen, at least on a boat of recent vintage. I wonder if thru-hulls are now being outsourced over seas.

My neighbor had his 31 ft Regulator sink at the dock the other day when a through hull fitting corroded and let go. That shouldn't happen, at least on a boat of recent vintage. I wonder if thru-hulls are now being outsourced over seas.

Yup, When I worhed at Northside we had a brand new 28' Sailfish pretend it was a crab, The bonding system was not up to parr and it was in the water for 2 days, Didn't even get to sea trial it. I personaly try to stay away from the stuff at Boaters world and Worst Marine, Thru hull's I try to go with us made stuff like Sen Dure Ect. Lewis marine is the best for this stuff and in there 2008 catalogue they list the country of origin.

That sucks lucky no one was hurt!

how was it retrieved???

The boat was floating with about 18" of the bow sticking straight up.
Sea Tow (or Tow Boat US) came and got a line on it. Apparently it popped back up fairly easily.
Pretty scary. It was a little sloppy out there that day.

I am suprised no one tried to tie a line and help float it until seatow got there. At least everyone is safe.

I agree with Van two guys are wearing life jackets, but #3 has a throwable on his back. Hard not to say thet only had 2 lifejackets abord with pics...

...the third guy has a throwable seat cushion on. BUT ITS ON HIS BACK. That way it keeps your face firmly planted under water !!!!!!!!

Don't mind him,













he's just the owner. :tm:

I pit this tread up as a reminder how quick things can go wrong out there !!!
As for the number of life jackets, from talking to a few people who were there, the boat went down in less than 3 minutes.
Lucky for these guys there was quite a few boats close by to help out!
Lots of bad things can happen out there very quickly!

Also,
If you are considering going on a tuna (or any offshore) charter,
pick one that has a life raft as I do ! (required or not !!! )
Had these guys been away from the crowd with no one to help, how long would they last in 56 degree water and one guy with a seat cushion for a PFD ???

Lots of good points here and yes things can happen very fast and always seem faster when the only thing you can see is the tower at p town.

Some things to note. If this was infact caused from a hose failure from a baitwell as has been mentioned this did not sink the boat in 4 minutes. Your situational awareness on the boat has to always be working. I have to ask myself....no one one the boat felt the boat feel more sluggish or a bit lower in the water or the bilge pumps on light never went out thus never stopped. This had to happen over the course of several minutes and when it was finally discovered it was unfortunately too late and from there all they had was 4 minutes. Fortunately there were other boats around....when usually you don't want them there.

I've always said, when Sheit goes wrong it goes wrong fast.
You don't have to be 30+ miles off shore.
A couple of years ago I think 2 died right outside Boston light.
There is no reason anyone can't head out there for Tuna fishing or whale watching, codding whatever. I've been out there alone on a number of occassions. Just be sure your equipment (especially your boat) is in working order, leave a float plan, have emergency gear ready. And don't take anything for granted.
I have added a fast find locator with GPS, an autotether, and my VHF programmed with MSS (sp?) number into the distress button. This is NMEA wired to the Garmin for coordinates. Still does not mean things can't happen. The first boat we had that my dad got (around 1967) the old timer who sold it to us said.....RESPECT THE SEA !!!!

Forty years later i have not forgotten that phrase.

good reason to install a high water alarm in the bilge

I fish on Stellwagen Bank in a 22 foot small, open cockpit, 27 Horsepower Diesel powered wooden launch and I always feel safe. (In the late 1960's I passed a U.S. Power Squadron course in Navigation and Boat Safety (before GPS) and I always put on an automatic inflatable PFD (made in the UK) before SOLACE leaves the dock of her home port of Green Harbor.)
I suspect the unfortunate mariners in this incident were weekend boaters were Bluefin Tuna fisherman, not experienced sailors.