Two boys missing...

[TomParis]

that makes sense, thanks for your response and sorry for hijacking this thread. Praying for the families.

[Fr. Frank]

Originally Posted by Terry England

People have made the Fort Pierce to Bimini run in 13' Whalers, when the conditions are right. Others have broached 40 footers in the same inlet - it's all about the sea conditions with some boat handling skills mixed in. Some days a Gheenoe is too big and some days an aircraft carrier ain't big enough!

Having made the trip from Lake Worth to West End in a 13' Whaler several times, I know it can be done. Like denny, I've also made the trip in a 20' Seacraft many times. But I never made the trip in a small boat except in the company of other boats, and never without filing a float plan after carefully checking the weather.

I confess I don't understand the desire to not have private boaters looking. When I inquired if Civil Air Patrol was looking, I was told we were, but only up to a few miles offshore. (On the other hand, I was informed on the QT that at least two aircrew teams composed of CAP-trained personnel are looking further offshore [up to 50 miles] in a personal aircraft so as to avoid the governmental restrictions)

Remember that the Civil Air Patrol, which is the US Air Force Auxiliary, performs over 80% of all airborne SAR operations nationwide. But CAP rarely searches offshore, and is limited to searching only within power-off gliding distance of shore by rule, except in special circumstances, when requested by the USCG.

One statement I heard about Homeland Security limiting private searchers because they worried bad guys might use the confusion to sneak in struck me as profoundly callous if true.

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by TomParis

that makes sense, thanks for your response and sorry for hijacking this thread. Praying for the families.

Way back when I was a pier rat down in Boynton, I used to see jon boats going out an inlet classified as unnavigable by the USCG. They would ride the trough out and come back 6 hours later.

A few years back a 42 ft. dive boat rolled goin` outta Boynton. This man was a dive master, had a 100 ton offshore ticket and ran charters for over 10 years there. On a glassy morning
you can easily take a 13 whaler to Bimini or West End.

If you have not been humbled by mother ocean, chances are you don't have much wheel time.

Last summah, we were commin` in LWI just ahead of a noon squall. As we passed Sailfish
Marina, a disabled Mako asked for a tow, I stopped and I asked where they wanted to go.

They said Currie park. I said can you hear my graphite rod humming? They said yes. I said lets go to Phil Foster and now. They declined. I said please come with us. They declined.

Yet another night.
I have many thoughts and so few words.

Many prayers,
GFS

[Calibogue]

This whole ordeal is gut-wrenching and I cannot stop thinking of these boys. A fine friend of mine grew up in Titusville/Rockledge and every time I see the pic of that boy holding up the cobia, I see my buddy Dan at that age!
Independent and adventurous are just a couple of words that come to mind....exactly the way I was at that age and not to bound by an extended list of rules or reservations!
Like so many others growing up, I hunted, I fished, I camped, I explored and rarely had a float plan and often did things in the outdoors without an adult knowing where I was or exactly when I would be home.
My 7 yo asked me about it yesterday and I explained to her in detail what has happened and in all likelyhood what there fate is at this point. She listened, I got choked up thinking about it and it brings tears to my eyes as a parent right now thinking of how alone, lonely and scared those boys are/were.
I had my first boat on the May River when I was 10 yo and fished all over the damn place. Offshore wasn't my thing back then but I had buddies who did venture to the ledge with a compass, loran, and jerry jugs in the back of a 17 foot boat!
Although the parents said these boys weren't allowed to venture out of the inlet, that is what boys like myself did at that age, you bent the rules a little bit to be adventurous and it developed upon your self confidence as an outdoorsman.
I will teach my children safety and give them boundaries but I will never crush their adventurous spirit!
God speed boys!

[gofastsandman]

This is video of a boat coming in on Friday around 2 pm.
Frequency looks to be shorter than 2 seconds.
This is a 30 ft boat.
These squalls serve as a stark reminder to us all. I bought a plb from Rich at Cape Marine Supply a few years ago.
Things happen fast out there.

The search continues. Fingers crossed. Hoping for a miracle.

https://www.facebook.com/WPTV5/video...c_location=ufi

[castalot]

Any updates

[NoBones]

Yeah,

Private salvage company went to retrieve the boys boat that the CG found off Daytona week ago Sunday..

It was not there ??
Thought they would have placed a locater on it..

Daytona News Journal

[castalot]

The beacon would have been to easy
You mean it wasn't where the left it in the current
But still nothing on the boys?

[DonV]

Ken,

This is one off those "you must be kidding me" things!!! Let's hope no one runs into it at night....if it's still floating......

[gofastsandman]

Lil Kenny said his sea tow buddies found the boat not CG. Said CG wanted to anchor it up.
Some things here just don't jibe.