Sea Lion Roars .. Towed back to port

[Pilar]

Ray (Mr. Fisherman) on SeaLion with Rainrshine, El Shaddai, Sherrie Marie and Capt. Kujo at Depoe Bay. Ray is launching now and will head out soon.

Mr. Fisherman reports wind when he arrived at 0200 but it is foggy and calm now. Your humble reporter will update as live reports come in.

Godspeed Ray and friends, good luck and happy hunting.

[ 08-28-2003, 11:28 AM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[OceanBlue]

Sea Lion is offshore and reports our friend "shorty" is alive and well. Short chop and fog... By the way, Marty has joined the pack.

Good luck to all! I'll be hoping for a safe journey.

[Marty]

Boy it must be really foggy out there......or someone has taken too much dramamine. I am sitting at the computer looking at the stonewall bank bouy readings of 20 knot winds and 6 foot swells. Mentally I am out there with you guys but not physically. Maybe they have caught so many fish already they are delusionary.

Post some good story's


Marty

[OceanBlue]

Hmmmm.... I guess I should have posted my disclaimer... :grin: Sorry 'bout that Marty. That's what I get for posting third-hand information!

[TWB]

Marty, you are probably like me, you don't know where you are any more!!!!.... :grin:
Well I planned all week to be with those guys today, and the crew cancelled, one was really sick. Hmmm...looks like it might be a little bumpy on the outside.
Do you have any plans to fish over the weekend?
I only have until Sat. to fish, fly out to the midwest on Sunday for a week. The weather looks kind of bad for the weekend?

Let me know if you are thinking tuna run?

Jerry

[Pilar]

Live report ... da da da di di da da da da

Sea Lion and all of the other boats departing Depoe Bay this AM including Capt. Kujo :shocked: and the charter fleet have returned safely to port after a sporty boat ride.

Sea Lion had engine failure several miles offshore and was able to negotiate a rescue and tow from the CG station Depoe Bay without incident. Cause of the engine problem is uncertain but seems like fuel system or contamination of fuel.

Ray's comment was that he was well prepared and despite multiple problems was able to get underway on backup propulsion, contact CG, Depoe Bay with the backup handheld VHF and return to port safely and with a minimum of drama. Problems included, failure of the main engine, failure of the main VHF radio and other minor things.

This is a testament to preparedness meeting opportunity. If you are armed with knowledge and the right stuff, you can go to sea with confidence. I urge all of you to run through the broke down at sea scenario and ask yourself "Am I squared away and ready for this?"

Now we just have to get Ray to check the weather forecast. All hands agreed that the weather and sea state was 'Sporty' today. Not a TUNA! day for sure.

[fish assassin]

Bummer!! Good thing he was prepared!! Was it just Sea Lion that didn't
get any fish, or did everybody turn around before they found the fish?

Thanks for the reports!!

-assAssin-

[Pilar]

Everyone turned around short of the fishing grounds. Just a boat ride today and not a very nice one at that.

[fish assassin]

Thanks for the info, Pilar. I'm kinda worried that the weather forcast
for the next five days looks so bad. I sure hope that the weather guessers
are wrong (again).

-assAssin-

[Sea Jypzee]

Awwww, I'm sorry to hear about the rough conditions and the break down of Ray's Boat. I am very glad to hear that all returned to dockside safely and without incident. Glad to hear that he had good preperation done ahead of time. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

I just got back in from Portland and am hoping that the weather guessers are wrong for the weekend. It's not looking good so far. :depressed:

[Born to be Wild]

Ah Marty was out there and on his labtop Jen. His "V" wasn't working. :grin:

Seriously though the mix up might have came from some folks seeing the Sherry Marie in the fog. Also I just talked with the crew on the El Shadai who also got towed in this morning and they called Marty on the radio and someone who thought they were Marty or another Marty answered back and said that it was getting flatter? Let them tell the rest of the story.

The charter boats Affair, Sea Horse, Jamboree, and Kimberly Ann were all in by 8:00AM and the larger (50') Sampson was in by 9:00AM all because it was not nice out there, not on the account of sore tummies.

The Zoea (45 footer I believe was not far behind.

The Mariner and Kadaho (50' Delta) lasted the duration (5 hours) and the smaller 30'+ Reel Nauti is still out there somewhere.

The El Shadai had oil pressure problems and felt it better to have a Coast Guard tow rather than negotiating the channel with his kicker as the Sea Lion elected to do also.

Me and Kim (Black Rocket) helped talk a couple other boats getting a late start into canceling their departure.

Dano

[Phil Layer]

I know that the Coast Guard cutter looks good when you are having problems at sea, but Captain Kujo's rocket is certainly a reassuring sight off the starboard in that pic.

Hats off to you, Captain Kujo, for helping out!

Glad to hear everyone is back safe.

[Born to be Wild]

After towing the Sea Lion in the Coast Guard side-tied to the Sea Lion and gave Ray a helpful escort over to the boat ramp dock so he didn't have to use his kicker.

Pretty good bunch of guys (and gals).

Ray seemed a little depressed about the situation (understandably) and it appears unfortunately he has more serious motor problems than fuel as he told me the engine didn't want to turn over with the good battery.

But they're all back safe and sound.

Dan

[skein]

I'm not gonna ask any of them CG boys for a date, but they sure look good, don't they. Those guys are definitely on OUR side!

Thanks for the pic, Dano. And Phil, you're right, the Black Rocket looks pretty good standing off a brother's boat. Hat's off to you, Kujo. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Ray, good luck on your power plant. You've got a seat on my (Our) ride while you're getting it back in shape. Correct that. You've got a seat on my(our) ride ANYTIME you want it!

Skein

[ 08-28-2003, 06:16 PM: Message edited by: skein ]

[Mr. Fisherman]

Now we just have to get Ray to check the weather forecast. All hands agreed that the weather and sea state was 'Sporty' today. Not a TUNA! day for sure. [/QB]

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">The forecast was 5 & 3, you have been out on a lake with a forecast of 3 & 6, so have I. As a wise man once taught me, "You have to go put your hairy eyeball on the situation."

I wasn't the only boat that went for a look see...

Marty, someone else named Marty called and reported that it was clearing and conditions were improving further out. I mistakenly reported that it was you because the call came on channel 78. My bad.

Russ, that is a good shot of the Black Rocket for the conditions. It doesn’t do the conditions justice though.

Captain Kujo, you really went above and beyond. It was kind of tricky to get together in the fog. We would see him and call in our position and he would disappear. This happened several times but he kept at it and escorted us to the DB Buoy. I'll buy you a beer the first chance I get

Dan, that was a good shot. The bay looks like a lake. I was going to motor over to the dock but the CG captain wanted the practice. They were a young crew but they did an outstanding job [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

They commented that we were a pleasure to tow and that we did everything right. Sea Lion passed inspection with flying colors, as expected.

Folks, today I really learned the value of a hand held VHF. If you don't have one, GET ONE.
When you are back at the kicker and you need to communicate with another boat, especially in this circumstance, it is worth it's weight in gold. It also comes in handy when you are trying to fish and all your buddies want to chat about what you have on or what they have on or whatever...
Oh yea, they also come in real handy when your main VHF craps out too. Don't ask me how I know that

I am grateful to be back no worse for the wear save my motor problems. But as my momma taught me "In the heart of every adversity is an equal or greater opportunity..." She called that opportunity the "Strawberry" She said, "Sometimes you have to wash off a lot of (fertilizer) {censored so Skien doesn’t have to} but it is always there and it is always sweet."

My chin is up and the beer is on ice.... for now...

[WildHawg]

Dang Ray,
Wait, I mighta found a strawberry...this is one of the finest lessoms in preparation I know of. Tough conditions, charters heading back in, and the motor conks on ya. Look at the response people(I'm probably preachin' to the choir Ray ) Help at sea is a precious thing, and all the more valuable when ya really need it. Back in the day, a wingman was a luxury. With I fish, it is nearly a given.
Ifish is truly a wonderful place when I look back at the "seat o' my pants, I got a Loran'" crap I used to do.
I'm so glad you made it in safely Ray. I'll be in touch, and if there's anything I can do, please call first!
This place is one of the fattest STRAWBERRIES I know of
Take one off the ice Ray ...

[crabbait]

Great pics, guys. Nice to know we have mother hens like that little black duck and the big hen mallard to shepard us chicks when the time comes.

Good job on the preparedness and the level heads. There will be another day.

[WP]

I left the Depoe Bay launch ramp behind the Serry-Marie. I got as far as the Whistler and talked to Ray...he said it only got worse and he soon turned for home. That was enough for me! I turned and went home. Talked to Depoe Bay Dan and he said even the charters were headed in. Medium lump...close and uneven, and some small breaks on top...just an unpleasant ride. I could only manage 8-12 knots headway so tuna was a LONG way away. Hope the team does well this weekend and can locate the tuna...I would like a couple more trips this year :depressed:
Thanks to the Sherry-Marie for communicating conditions and saving me a couple of more fruitless miles.
Salty Dogs are awesome!
WP :smile:

[rainrshine]

Rainrshine here, Yes it was a bit sporty out there today. I was with Ray and I will let him tell the story. I just want to get in here and give big THANKS to Capt. Kujo on his assistence this morning thank you very much I am glad everyone was ok getting back to port safely. I also want to say that Ray did an outstanding job under the circumstances [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] Never at any time did Ray or I panic. Ray was very prompt to contact the CC and explain the situation. Another big thank goes out the the Coast Guard for there help today, its very assuring to know that those men and women are willing to go where other boats wont or cant and help others in distress like we were today. Its unfortunate about Ray's motor but most of all we are both safe and Ray when you get it fixed man let me know, I think we have some unsettled Tuna work to finish!! Rainrshine

[Birdnest]

Ray,

Sorry to hear about the Sea Lion, no doubt she will roar again soon. Nice example of redudant safety items with the VHF. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Joe

[skein]

While we're on the subject of backup handhelds, I spent some extra bucks and got a real good one, rather than just a cheap backup. My reasoning was if I ever needed it in a real situation, I would really be counting on it.

I never thought about how handy it would be back in the fishing area.

Those are still spectacular pics, guys. Thanks for posting them.

Skein

[Mr. Fisherman]

Jim, I had the same thought when I bought mine. It is the top of the line Standard Horizon.
I bought it before I had my boat. When I went out with other kind Captains I always had my hand help VHF and hand held GPS.
Both have been used multiple times on other boats as well as my own. They have proved to be a worthy investiment.
And while we are on the preperation aspect of this event I also had a knife out and at the ready as I was towed in. I also had my kicker running in Nuetral just in case .

[Orca]

Good tips on the tow Ray - defensive towing 101. I will remember that.

[Pilar]

Ray, when you do get some tuners ... you might try what I did on 7/4/03.

I get the general impression that you encountered the same crew on the 47272 boat that I did on 7/2/03 during our towing episode. A bunch of eager green kids and a new (to Oregon)Boatswains Mate 1c. They were very appreciative of the professional attitude of the crew of 'Pilar' and the guy (BM1) jumped down off the bridge of 47272 to thank me for making his job easy when we hit the dock.

Two days later Jen and I hit the first longfins for us this year. As I ran under the bridge on return I hailed CG Station Depoe bay and asked for permission to approach their dock. I also asked the OOD (Officer of the Day) and the Mess Steward to meet me at the dock. I recognized one guy, a Vietnamese petty officer from 7/2/03 and the other I did not know.

Of course they were curious what I was up to. I asked if they had a barbque and had anyone at Depoe Bay Station that knew how to use it. The Asian fellow said yes with some hesitation. When I turned to face him again and hopped on the dock his eyes lit up with surprise.

"Well you'll need that barBque to cook these," as I handed him the two finest tuna, both over 25 lbs from our catch of 15 that day.

A little Karma fish. I love those guys, they've got our backs.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Johnboy, ask RainrShine what I told him while we were still being towed in about Karma fish and my plans.
I'm with ya brotha, like minds and kindered spirits

[Wang]

You Salty Dogs are a great bunch of guys!! It's nice to see and hear of a tight knit group like this.

Ive only posted about tuna canning on Salty Dogs but read it as much if not more than the other boards here on IFISH.

Ive hit Big Blue maybe 30-40 times in my life with friends who owned boats or charters and have even been towed in once from about 15 miles out of Newport. We contacted the Coast Guard and followed there directions and we even had 2-3 boats hang out with us while we waited the CG's arrival. This was 18 years ago, but I remember the people hanging out with us like it was yesterday. Very good feeling indeed!!

I am looking to buy a boat in the next year or 2 so I read everything about ocean conditions,trends and bar crossings that I can. My folder build everyday from you guys and I aprreciate all the info.
Again, it's nice to hear about the tightness of this groupd and have nothing but praise for you guys and gals.