Boat capsizes in Raritan Bay

[pcheesesteak]

Sad.


https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2020/11/1-person-dies-after-boat-capsizes-in-raritan-bay-authorities-say.html

[Gerry Zagorski]

Very sad... Not sure of the details but a lot of people get caught off guard thinking “It’s the bay, how bad could it get?”

I’ve encountered a lot more and much worse conditions in the bay over the years then in the ocean. This typically happens when you have a strong wind against tide situation. This causes the waves, particularly in the bay, to get very steep and stack up so close, they break on each other and you’re like a cork in a washing machine. If you were to loose steering or your engine in these sorts of conditions it’s trouble, especially in a small boat.


Be safe and remember, getting back in is more important then getting out.

[Poppa Devil]

Prayers to the family.

Very well said Gerry the bay is no JOKE

[Gerry Zagorski]

Prayers to the family.

Very well said Gerry the bay is no JOKE

For sure Poppa and even for the experienced boater. Last fall I saw a forecast for 15 to 20 out of the west and it was nearing the end of the season and the Stripers were running hot. I knew the ocean would be flat like a pancake in shore but I had to be careful timing my trip through the bay both out and back. Looked at the tide chart and the plan was run out on the beginning of outgoing and come back home and through the bay right around slack tide so I'd avoid wind against tide.

Well it certainly was nice on the ocean side, even with the wind picking up to more like 20-25 out of the dead west it was flat calm. I started my trip back home from the Sea Bright area so I'd make slack tide when I rounded the hook. Saw some birds playing around and Stripers swirling on top on the way home and made the mistake of stopping on them.

Next thing you know I'm an hour past slack with an incoming tide and I know it's going to be evil once I turn the corner at the hook.. As I get up towards the hook I warn the guys it's going to get rough so secure everything, sit down, hold onto something and get ready.

A pretty crazy ride once we turned the corner and headed west... Pulled the throttles back just enough to make way and we're taking green water over the bow and hard top. Not a word was said the entire ride slugging it home through the bay.

You couldn't of fit a playing card between the cheeks of my butt and I couldn't turn the wipers off of and relax until we were well inside the break wall at the marina.

Lesson learned.

[Detour66]

Very sad. I hate to read this kinda thing The bay is almost always rougher than the ocean. Especially with a wind against the tide situation. Better to be safe than sorry.

[amr72]

The bay has tried to kill me more than once.

[Duffman]

Sux seeing a story like this. Poor dude left for a day on the water and never goes home.

Something that really, really concerns me for next season.......due to covid, everything related to the water sold like hot cakes this year. Boats, yaks,skis, etc.

Gonna be a ton of inexperienced people on the water next year. Could get ugly. Quick.

[Capt. Debbie]

I was working for S/T that day and time. Followed on VHF radio and went out.

Distress was called in by Good Sam at 10am who took one person off capsized boat off Keansburg. NW about 20 knots. Seas 2-3 feet. Occasional 4 footer. Boater must have been in water a while- loopy. No one say it flip but that boater.

Original Good Sam message said boater HE WAS WITH ONE OTHER PASSENGER. Good Sam took boater into dock ( not clear- Monmouth Cove made sense) . Good Sam left scene.

Then NYPD, FDNY, NJSP and Monmouth Sheriff all arrived searching for 2nd boater search. Dropped drift buoy to gauge body drift. NYPD Aviation drops two divers and under water search is conducted in and around flipped boat.

Nothing found. I think after hour of so the USCG decided ( NOT THE SOON TO DIE BOATER) what he was alone. I was DECLARED there was no 2nd POB ( only witness was dead guy). Which I think is weird. I guess it didn't matter. After a few hours he either blew to NJ shore and walked away or he/she drowned.

No further info on where he launched or name. Boater died later that afternoon in hospital. He was likely in water a while before Good Sam saved him.

I was out the in same sea conditions headed up to VZ in a 26 foot high freeboard Towboat and is unpleasant. Big breaking white caps from the NW. They run across the bay to NJ side and are big with steady 20 knot wind. 3 or 4 footers.

My guess is a wave broke over the O/B transom and the boat rolled over within seconds with those sea conditions.

Frankly it's disturbing being out there in seas that killed someone only a mile or two away in a protected Bay on a sunny day. But that NW wind is about as bad as it gets absent a REAL STORM out of the E or NE.

[NoLimit]

Big boats get real small real quick in the wrong conditions