Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray
The guy who stayed with his boat off of Venice last month survived also.
The rest drowned. Best to stay with the boat, it is easier to find from the air than a person by his self.
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Speaking of that!
Some of you guys may remember when I was rigging my new boat, that I removed a stock "T" from the bilge. This "T" was made of plastic and was used to connect 1.5" tubing for the livewells. Looks like one of these broke under the floor of the Mako when it hit the Gulf, causing the subfloor to fill w/ water. They think the water caused one of the batteries to short, shutting down one engine. As soon as the boat stopped, it rolled due to the choppy conditions and the weight of the water in the hull. With the sea water temps in the low 50's - upper 40's, these people had little chance of surviving w/o survival suits on. The 4 fatalities all had time to put life jackets on, but the only one that survived did not have one on and scurried out of the water and onto the overturned boat.
Guys - Check those hoses ( reach in there and grab them - tug & pull!) If any signs of cracks or worn areas, replace them! Look for those plastic "T" connections which should be outlawed for boat use!