Northwest Sea Disasters

Northwest waters off Oregon and Washington pose unique dangers to boaters.All of the navigable bars that a boater must cross to reach the ocean, such asthe Tillamook Bay Bar, the Columbia River and Depoe Bay are hazardous. When aboat is in danger or actually sinks, the Coast Guard comes to the rescue. Searchand rescue itself poses hazards, often times compounded by delayed or inaccuratedistress calls from the captain. In addition the captain may fail to providetimely communication and leadership to crew and passengers during the crises.This book reviews the sinking of five charter boats. Four of them, thePearl-C, Cougar, Gambler, and the Taki-Tooo accountedfor the greatest loss of life in the charter boat industry in Oregon andWashington. Survivors of these charter boats provide vivid and dramatic accountsof the sinkings and search and rescue. We also review the sinking with the lossof life of the Aleutian Enterprise in the Bering Sea, crab boats off theOregon and Washington coast, as well as the loss of the Sea King during astorm as it was being towed across the Columbia River bar. We focus on the humanelement in decision making during emergencies at sea, and provide guidelines forboaters to consider their own experiences at sea with respect to safety. Anunderstanding of the hazards on our Northwest waters are important torecreational boaters who go on their private boats to fish off shore.