Seacraft sinks off Martha's Vineyard - Page 3

mitchman · #21 08-11-2011, 04:20 PM

Thanks for the kind words guys.

To answer some questions:

*The boat is in 100ft of water, but unfortunately I don't have GPS coordinates for it. I can point on a map, but that is about it. I thought about trying to recover it or the gear, but I think it would end up costing more than shes worth (not including the restoration work).

*Fox news said 150lbs of fish!?!? It was 1 bonito and 5 bluefish. No spin zone my a$$. We were targeting bonito earlier in the day, and small bluefin tuna at the end of the day where we sank. Didn't find the tuna until we started sinking, go figure (40-50" fish bustin on halfbeaks just off the bow).

*Uncleboo- nice work on sealing up your spalshwell. Unfortunately on my 1969 hull my splashwell it would have been difficult to construct a bulkhead with the rear console so far back and I had the real low molded in hatch seats.

*My next rig will definitely have 2 bilge pumps and a high-water alarm! I had two batteries as well, just not good luck with bilge pumps this year.

*Bushwacker - I don't think a 25" transom would have made much difference when I hit the gas with the amount of water in the boat; however, I think that 25" would have help from water from getting into the splashwell (and subsquently draining into the bilge) in the first place.

This will just be easier if I attach a photo for reference.

FishStretcher · #22 08-20-2011, 10:58 AM

Wow. Thanks for sharing this rather terrifying experience. I had already added foam to my 20' master angler. I think I will go add more today.

Is there a resource for how much flotation is in which years and models of SeaCraft? I have an excel spreadsheet with estimates based on hull density, volume of foam and such, but I haven't seen my stringers, so they might be full of foam dust or air.

I hope to put block foam under the cap/gunwale on the Master Angler to help prevent turtling.

KenB · #23 08-22-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

*My next rig will definitely have 2 bilge pumps and a high-water alarm! I had two batteries as well, just not good luck with bilge pumps this year.

OK, hope it's a sea craft. I think shrimp has an 18 for sale.

countshock · #24 08-22-2011, 02:39 PM

From a fellow Seacraft owner located on the Vineyard, so happy you guys made it. Ever since I read the story, I've been bringing my handheld VHF with me. I was out there that day (my birthday) bonito fishing at the hooter. I have a dual bilge pump set-up with them pumping out opposite sides of the hull. I work maintaining a large fleet of boats, and I have seen more brand new RULE pumps fail this year than ever before. Check your pumps people! Glad you guys remained calm and survived!

mitchman · #25 08-23-2011, 08:47 AM

Quote:

From a fellow Seacraft owner located on the Vineyard, so happy you guys made it. Ever since I read the story, I've been bringing my handheld VHF with me. I was out there that day (my birthday) bonito fishing at the hooter. I have a dual bilge pump set-up with them pumping out opposite sides of the hull. I work maintaining a large fleet of boats, and I have seen more brand new RULE pumps fail this year than ever before. Check your pumps people! Glad you guys remained calm and survived!

I must of passed you then cause I was fishing the hooter early before headin a few mi offshore midday looking for charlie. I think I remember seeing another seacraft out there! Its going to be a bit before I get another boat (funds), but I will be considering another SeaCraft!

DonV · #26 08-23-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

and I have seen more brand new RULE pumps fail this year than ever before

I wish I hadn't seen this. All I have is Rule pumps, it's not like they give these away, they are still a top dollar pump. I have them because I have had good luck with them in the past. Any reason why? Parts made in China, whatever....

Trayder · #27 08-23-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

From a fellow Seacraft owner located on the Vineyard, so happy you guys made it. Ever since I read the story, I've been bringing my handheld VHF with me. I was out there that day (my birthday) bonito fishing at the hooter. I have a dual bilge pump set-up with them pumping out opposite sides of the hull. I work maintaining a large fleet of boats, and I have seen more brand new RULE pumps fail this year than ever before. Check your pumps people! Glad you guys remained calm and survived!

I must of passed you then cause I was fishing the hooter early before headin a few mi offshore midday looking for charlie. I think I remember seeing another seacraft out there! Its going to be a bit before I get another boat (funds), but I will be considering another SeaCraft!

I was out there that day as well and am 99% sure i saw both of you. We left the hooter early, 7:30 or so, and i remember a 26 regulator and 2 20 SeaCrafts headed out, we were in my Conch 27 and went out to the lanes.

I would be very interested in where your 20 went down always up for an adventure if someone wants to recover it?

mitchman · #28 08-23-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

From a fellow Seacraft owner located on the Vineyard, so happy you guys made it. Ever since I read the story, I've been bringing my handheld VHF with me. I was out there that day (my birthday) bonito fishing at the hooter. I have a dual bilge pump set-up with them pumping out opposite sides of the hull. I work maintaining a large fleet of boats, and I have seen more brand new RULE pumps fail this year than ever before. Check your pumps people! Glad you guys remained calm and survived!

I must of passed you then cause I was fishing the hooter early before headin a few mi offshore midday looking for charlie. I think I remember seeing another seacraft out there! Its going to be a bit before I get another boat (funds), but I will be considering another SeaCraft!

I was out there that day as well and am 99% sure i saw both of you. We left the hooter early, 7:30 or so, and i remember a 26 regulator and 2 20 SeaCrafts headed out, we were in my Conch 27 and went out to the lanes.

I would be very interested in where your 20 went down always up for an adventure if someone wants to recover it?

I would be up for a search, however, I don't think the boat is worth recovering....there is a ton of tackle that went down with it though. Its roughly 6 mi S of MV....about directly N of inside fingers.....on the 100/110 ft line. I could find divers.. If my SPOT had functioned properly, I would of had GPS coordinates on it.....the SPOT is going to be replaced with a real PLB/EPIRB on the next rig.

KenB · #29 08-23-2011, 12:56 PM

Quote:

From a fellow Seacraft owner located on the Vineyard, so happy you guys made it. Ever since I read the story, I've been bringing my handheld VHF with me. I was out there that day (my birthday) bonito fishing at the hooter. I have a dual bilge pump set-up with them pumping out opposite sides of the hull. I work maintaining a large fleet of boats, and I have seen more brand new RULE pumps fail this year than ever before. Check your pumps people! Glad you guys remained calm and survived!

I must of passed you then cause I was fishing the hooter early before headin a few mi offshore midday looking for charlie. I think I remember seeing another seacraft out there! Its going to be a bit before I get another boat (funds), but I will be considering another SeaCraft!

I was out there that day as well and am 99% sure i saw both of you. We left the hooter early, 7:30 or so, and i remember a 26 regulator and 2 20 SeaCrafts headed out, we were in my Conch 27 and went out to the lanes.

I would be very interested in where your 20 went down always up for an adventure if someone wants to recover it?

I would be up for a search, however, I don't think the boat is worth recovering....there is a ton of tackle that went down with it though. Its roughly 6 mi S of MV....about directly N of inside fingers.....on the 100/110 ft line. I could find divers.. If my SPOT had functioned properly, I would of had GPS coordinates on it.....the SPOT is going to be replaced with a real PLB/EPIRB on the next rig.

The best seacrafts seem to be the old ones no one else wants... I think someone nabbed one down in florida that was sunk for a while. It would be a pretty awesome story if you raised the hull, and fixed all the problems that led to the sinking. Close transom, raise deck, refoam stringers, replace rule bilge pumps.

Can you get the coordinates from the fishing boat who picked you up? Pretty sure the CG might have those coordinates as well. It's not likely you guys moved much from the capsize.

If there was tuna gear on that boat, it's probably worth looking for, just for that.

mitchman · #30 08-23-2011, 05:54 PM

It would be a cool story, but, honestly, the amount of money I would sink into raising & redoing her.....I'd rather just get something else. Also, I don't have a workspace to do a rebuild otherwise I would of already attempted it. We had some decent gear that I wouldn't mind getting back, but it could be a shot in the dark. I am going to find out if the Capt has our coordinates though.