Im new to ifish. A true story about me.

foulweather · 05-23-2005, 08:14 PM

I posted a question about halibut fishing off of Newport, Oregon. I was given some good infor and also was told that its good for a new user to tell a story well this story is about me and it is true. I wouldnt say that I am a new SaltyDog I have spent all my life on the ocean I am A new SaltyDog to Spotfishing. I hope this story is good enough as an introduction.

I am one of the survivor's of A fishing vessel. Which sank just north of cape blanco. On 3/27/99 my father woke me, asking me to get up and watch the wheel. While I was on the wheel I had noticed the water temp was about 45 degree's, The sea was a sharp 18 to 20 foot swell with a 10 to 14 foot chop. my dad went down to the engine room to fix a plugged bildge pump. The bildge alarm was going off but the water level was not at a point that we thought was life threatening. We were unable to unplug the bildge pump, at that time my father told me to get out the generator and the 110- volt pump. The gernerator would not start. The next step I took was to get out the gas powered pacer pump. It started and we were able to pump out the bildge. With myself standing outside on the starboard bow, holding the pump while it was running. we took a wave over the port side bow which swamped me and the gas powered pacer pump. The engine was dead and I was unable to get it restarted. all I could do is try to get the pump started again. my father called the coosbay coast guard. There was no reply. He then called a mayday to northbend coast guard. They replied back, my father gave them our location and change of ittinerary and the nature of the mayday. We were taking on a little water but intended to reach coosbay in 4 to 6 hours. The coast guard asked if we had a cell phone on board. We did and dad gave them the number. The coast guard then told us that they would call us on the cell phone so that the radio could be left open. My father then told me to go back and start throughing pots off the boat. I turned and told him that they were allready falling over on there own. He cut me off and told me to get to the raft. He pushed me out the starbard door. as I stepped back I looked towards the bow of the boat I saw the peak of the wave about ten feet above the vessel. The stern had fallen but had not reached the bottom of the trough. Grabbing the latter to get to the life raft, I never made it. I put one foot on the ladder and was under water. The pressure of the vessel rolling over on top of me was to great to hold onto the ladder. I was pulled from the ladder and pressed against the rigging of the stabilizer pole. I dont know how long I was held there but all was black and I was under water.I was held there for some time but was able to break lose of the rigging, but when I tried to swim to the surface something was holding me back and I could feel the vessel sinking and pulling me with it. I struggled fiercely. At that moment I thought this was it I was not going to make it, I had a choice to make. Do I just relax and let it take me or do I fight to get lose. I was exhausted and felt that I was going to die. My next thought was where is my father. He needs my help so I fought to get lose, it worked I was swimming freely. I came out of the water not knowing which way to go or where my father was. I was now habging onto what I think was the top of the mast. I could here my dad yelling my name in a frantic manner. After the third yell I answered him. He told me to swim to the raft. I tried but the current was too strong and was taking me away from the raft. I grabbed the mast again not wanting to get away from the boat. I looked and saw the side of the green box that the e-perb was connected to. I had to get to it and release it. I grabbed what I think was the bow stay wire, and pulled my self to the box that held the e-perb. It was too dark and my hands were too cold to release it. I kept trying but then felt the boat start to role over slowly. I walked with it and then was trying to hold onto the botton of the vessel. The raft was not about 8 feet from me. My dad told me to swim to the raft again. So I tryed to reach it again and made it. Hanging onto the canister strap I told my dad that I am here. He told me to pull the cord but I couldnt find it. Finally I was able to find it, then I started pulling. My dad yelling " pull the cord John ". I pulled and pulled to the point that I had let go of the raft and was now under water pulling the cord. The cord came tight and I pulled my self to the raft. Grabbing the raft I jerked the cord. The canister blew open and the raft inflated. I pulled my self around to the entrance that my father was at. I tried to pull myself into the raft but with no survival suit on, no personal flotation devises on, my clothes soaked I wasn't strong enough to pull myself into the raft. My father tried to push me in but was unable to do so. We were getting very cold and I knew we had to get into this raft if we were going to survive. I couldn't find the step that was on the raft, so my father grabbed the outside lanyard and told me to climb across him to get in. I was able to get my chest in at that point there was a little break. I grabbed the inside lanyard and started pulling myself in with my dad pushing me, and the swells hitting me from the back. I was able to get in. Turning around looking at my dad in the water, I had no idea if I could get him into the raft. At the moment I had lost all feeling in my hands and feet. I put my arm over his back and tried to find his belt. Not being able to feel anything I raked my fingers across his waist but couldn't find his belt. Looking past him I whatched the bow of the Boat disappear. The vessel was gone for ever. I asked him if he was wearing a belt. He said yes. I started raking for his belt again. After several tries I found his belt and began trying to pull him in. He was very tired and was running out of strength. I was running out of strength. He then rested his head onto the entrance of the raft and pleaded me to pull harder. The tears falling from my eyes, I didn't think I had the strength to pull him in but I wasn't going to give up and I wasn't going to let go of him. I told my self that I had to pull harder and I had to get him into this damn raft. Because I knew I wouldn't be able to live knowing he died in my hands. So I pulled as hard as I could. So hard that it felt like my guts were going to burst. But with my strength and the help of the swell behind my father I was able to pull him in. I fell against the back of the raft and was unable to move from exhaustion. My father thanked me several times for pulling him in. He then said lets say a prayer together, which we did. He then wanted to cuddle to conserve body heat. But my first thought was the stability of the raft. We both weighed over 250 pounds, which made me concerned on the stability in the rough seas. So we stayed apart. Shortly after getting into the raft I started vomiting, which my father followed. We were both sick and vomiting onto our selves. We both drank a couple bags of water after vomiting. After a while we realized the raft was very stable and met in the middle to cuddle. We needed to conserve body heat. After a while I heard a helicopter. It was the coast guard looking for us. When they got close enough both my father and I fired a flare. They then went off the other way not knowing if they saw our flares or us we waited. The helicopter returned again and I fired one more flare they saw us. We began waving flashlights out of the raft. I saw a rescue swimmer being lowered. After a few minutes he appeared at the raft and asked us if we were ok. We both said yes. The rescue swimmer then explained that they were going to lower a basket down and he was going to swim us to the basket and put us into it one at a time. Neither one of us really wanted to get out of the raft. My father insisted I went first so the rescue swimmer took me. The water was very cold and I told him so. With the waves crashing into my face I was having a hard time getting a breath and had no strength to help him swim. I felt like I was drowning and began to wonder why did I get out of the raft. But we finally reached the basket. I climbed inside it and they hoisted me into the air. Getting into the helicopter I had never felt so relieved as I was at that moment untill I saw my father being brought into the helicopter. We were both saved and I knew every thing was going to be ok.
Reaching the coast guard air station they escorted us into the showers so that we could restore our body temperature. After about 30 to 45 minutes in the showers we were given jump suits to put on. The officer then escorted us to a room where they gave us coffee and aloud me to call my wife. They asked us several questions on what happened and then other misc. talk. After they examined our situation and were confident that we were ok. An officer drove us to a hotel where we rested and waited for our family to pick us up.

Tagster · 05-23-2005, 08:23 PM

Wow!

That is one heck of an intro!

Thank you for sharing your story

Coastalfisherman · 05-23-2005, 08:24 PM

That is one heck of a story. Hopefully I will never have to be in a similar situation. Welcom, great to have you aboard.

WP · 05-23-2005, 08:26 PM

WOW

What harrowing experience. Welcome aboard. That adventure may have kept me off the ocean for a while!
Dave

bait boy · 05-23-2005, 08:29 PM

WOW!!!! now thats an intro story... glad yer here with us...

blubeast · 05-23-2005, 08:38 PM

Amazing story... welcome to the Dogs...

ron m · 05-23-2005, 08:44 PM

Hey Foulweather, maybe you should try a moniker like Fairweather! Maybe it would bring you better weather! That was definitely foul weather you were in, glad you made it and both you and your dad were ok. That is a harrowing story, not one I'd want to have. See you on the salt---in decent weather!
ron m

Double G · 05-23-2005, 08:48 PM

Welcome aboard Foulweather. Thanks for sharing your story. Very sobering since most of us ifishers don't carry rafts. Sure glad you and your father lived to fish another day.

Megabites · 05-23-2005, 08:49 PM

Holly *#*$ not something I'd want to go through. Thank god no one was killed. Great story.

Your story has perfect timing too. Read the thread "1st Annual Salty Dog USCG Appreciation Day".

Welcome!

Mark Mc · 05-23-2005, 08:56 PM

Hole-Lee-Smokes....that's not just a story, that's a near-death experience. Thanks for putting it into words for us. Sounds like you were crabbing? In the winter? A lovely time off the Oregon coast. Glad you have settled into this civilized world of fishing for "fun."

foulweather · 05-23-2005, 09:04 PM

Yea my wife didnt give me much choice about commercial fishing after that. Now im a paper maker in Toledo, Oregon . Im just glad that she is letting me enjoy the ocean in a sport fashion now. I love the sea and respect it greatly. Mother nature is tough and when he wants to open up she just swallows.

Coho-gill · 05-23-2005, 09:06 PM

As a rookie to a veteran, thanks for your story. Makes me think more conservative about my upcoming adventures with the new bigger and better boat. I like the quote I've seen on someone�s posts, "When you enter the ocean you enter the food chain".
One of my motto's I live by is � �don't get cocky�.

Bait O' Eggs · 05-23-2005, 09:08 PM

welcome

Thats a heck of a story

Reelentless · 05-23-2005, 09:23 PM

WOW!

Thanks for taking the time to post your experience. Im glad everything turned out ok and you are here to tell it.

Welcome aboard.

Bridge Dog · 05-24-2005, 04:46 AM

Thanks for the story. Very sobering. Welcome aboard

Mr. Fisherman · 05-24-2005, 04:58 AM

Welcome aboard and thank you for sharing.
I bet you and your dad have a very good relationship after getting through that together.
I am glad your boat was prepared and that you are both alright.
Lets go fishing.

NorthRiverRick · 05-24-2005, 05:08 AM

Thanks for the story, a real eye opener

Welcome aboard!

Reel Creel · 05-24-2005, 05:11 AM

....

.....

05-24-2005, 05:53 AM

Welcome Aboard!

Silver Eagle · 05-24-2005, 06:14 AM

Welcome aboard, let none of us ever take Mother
Nature for granted............Ray

saman · 05-24-2005, 07:20 AM

Excellent story...I'm glad you lived to tell about it. I look forward to hearing more stories from your commerical fishing adventures?

Quote:

The sea was a sharp 18 to 20 foot swell with a 10 to 14 foot chop. :depressed:

They don't call it Port Awful for nothing.

slabhunter · 05-24-2005, 07:42 AM

Welcome aboard!

Thanks for sharing with us!

sturgn · 05-24-2005, 07:56 AM

Cool story of your guys survival, you sound like a Dog to me, welcome aboard!

Billfisher · 05-24-2005, 08:10 AM

Admittedly, your story tops the rest I've heard here. That having been said, I'm not at all envious! You and your Dad deserve a lot of credit for fighting through that, and using all your brains to manage that experience before you found yourself swimming. Good job, and welcome to the Salty Dogs!

P.S. Did you ever get the EPIRB fired up, and did it work?

edsr · 05-24-2005, 08:14 AM

Welcome aboard - Plan on attending a T/A meeting so we can meet you.
edsr

RODACTION · 05-24-2005, 08:17 AM

Again.....WOW, I'm glad everything worked out and you made it to dry ground. You and your father are very lucky. Thanks to you and the Coast Gaurd. I have a friend who's boat went down at night off the Washington coast. His father did not make it. Thanks for the great story.

Flush Release · 05-24-2005, 09:52 AM

Velcome Velcome comunzie in

foulweather · 05-24-2005, 10:44 AM

After the boat sank the hydro static release set the epirb off. and the coast guard recived the epirb hit. Anyone that is going to spend alot of time at see I suggest investing into an epirb they are great so the coast guard can find you we were also lucky to get radio contact and give them our coridnance.

foulweather · 05-24-2005, 10:46 AM

What is a T/A Meeting ?

OceanBlue · 05-24-2005, 10:59 AM

TA = TUNA!holics Annonymous. It started as a support group to get us through the off-season. It quickly turned into an opportunity to get stay in touch and "enable" the TUNA!curious.

It's informal, open to everyone and always fun and informative. Just watch the board. You'll see one pop up soon, I'm sure, although we're getting close to off-shore time, so there may not be another one soon.

Welcome!

And thanks for the story... I think... I've gotta shake these chills now!

Something Good · 05-24-2005, 11:16 AM

Great story, I think you've ruined intro stories for everyone else who joins in the next few months.

Tell us all about the boat you are getting.

Thuan

foulweather · 05-24-2005, 11:26 AM

Well I am in search of a boat I have found a few that I am interested in . Y-marina in coosbay has a good selection of boats. Im not rich so I am insearch of a used one. Im looking for a 21 to 24 foot bayliner trophy. I would like to find one with a V6 and has the alaskan bulkhead. 1980 to 1995 or so I have looked at alot of older ones in early late 80 I like the style of hull thoughs have. My buddy/ running partner has a 23 foot bayliner trophy 1989 I really like that style. but his has a 4 cylynder where I would like to have a V6 in mine. I dont want a V8 because of fuel consumption. If any one has any good ideas on where to look for a good used boat as far as boat dealers go please let me know.

Something Good · 05-24-2005, 11:35 AM

Those Trophy's look like great fishing boats. I tow my boat from Portland to the coast a lot so I opted for the lighter weight of an aluminum boat with outboards.

Good luck in your search,
Thuan

foulweather · 05-24-2005, 11:39 AM

Yea I like the aluminum boats but I went on on another friends of mine his is a 20foot I think its a north river But it was unpleasant ride it beat me to all heck. My back hurt for a month after that trip. The fiberglass trophies are a really good ride I think. I also have plans on just mooring it in newport through fishing season so it wont take much towing. I decided to moore it because of the crowds at the boat ramps.

Spindrifter · 05-24-2005, 11:42 AM

Wow, that probably gave life a new meaning.

Someone was watching out for you guys....What kind of boat and how big, by the way?

OceanBlue · 05-24-2005, 11:44 AM

See TA meeting post here: http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat....o=&fpart=1

foulweather · 05-24-2005, 11:45 AM

52 foot Dragger / Crabber

Crustycritter · 05-24-2005, 12:55 PM

:shocked: WOW!!! :shocked: Welcome. Hopefully things will never be that tough again.

puffins crew · 05-24-2005, 01:29 PM

Welcome aboard!!

Thank you for the reality check intro story.

Peace, Tom

Orca · 05-24-2005, 03:15 PM

Foulweather,

Thanks for the intro. Glad to have you and your father with us to tell the story.

I found my Trophy in the Seattle area. There were a lot more of these there when I was looking. I think I looked at about 6 in 1 day and picked out the one I wanted. Have a look through the Boat Trader online. There are many with that 4-cyl, so that will limit the number (good and bad) that you have to look at. Prices were also lower there than down here, although prices are even lower in-land if you can find one in Central/Eastern Or/Wa.

Hope to see you out on the blue soon.

foulweather · 05-24-2005, 04:09 PM

Cool thanks

Gundog · 05-24-2005, 05:03 PM

Welcome aboard, Holly cow what a story. I hope I can never top that story.

.
Mike

whaleraddict · 05-24-2005, 05:57 PM

This story deserves the academy award for the best Newbie story ever. I was entranced. I am glad you both made it and survived such a harrowing experience. It sounds like you did the right things under very stressful conditions

. Welcome aboard

saltwater only · 05-24-2005, 06:16 PM

Great story as you know not to many live to tell about it.

Deepslayer · 05-24-2005, 09:13 PM

Welcome aboard. Great story! I was feeling your pain throughout the story. In fact I just got the shivers and goose bumps! :shocked: I can see where you got your moniker name from.
,Ed

Bigriverdawg · 05-24-2005, 09:54 PM

You and your dad are very lucky, glad to have you aboard.

Salty Walty · 05-25-2005, 06:29 AM

Welcome aboard and great story. Be sure to say Hi to WakmStakm there at the Mill.