Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Crab vessel that sank in Gulf of Alaska CG Searching

As you know, there are no absolutes, but the ballasted rafts have been tested in extreme conditions without flipping.

https://www.viking-yachting.com/global/faqs

Q: What are the bags beneath the liferaft?

A: The liferaft has four 55 l quick filling, weighted ballast bags attached beneath, providing maximum stability and preventing capsizing in heavy seas. The oversized openings around the top and the sewn in weights allow the bags to fill quickly creating immediate stability.

Q: If we are only two people in an 8-person liferaft, will it flip over?

A: No. The ballast bags and sea anchor provide stability.

You or I either one...

Lawler and Gribble say they woke due to the boat taking on a severe list, it's not stated as to what the rest of the crew was doing prior to that.

For those that have been involved in the industry very long and fortunate enough not to have been directly involved in a Coast Guard investigation where a death has occurred have surely been close enough to one to know few facts surface before all active investigations are completed.
The story will be public in about a year.



That'd be a hard call to make.

From just the information in these news reports it been stated that the captain commented on having a list and seeking a sheltered area when he was speaking to his friend on the phone.

It "appears" that the list went from dicey to severe all in one wave which woke Lawler and Gribble.
While they were scrambling to get into survival suits and out of the wheel house they rolled further yet, another big wave?

After that, once out on the deck, yet another wave knocked both of them off the boat.

Maybe the rest of the crew were scrambling to try to save the boat?

I can't help but think back to the story of the men that lost their lives when they did abandon their distressed vessel shortly after leaving Kodiak. (Nights of Ice, Working on the Edge?)
One or two of the men survived and were looking at their swamped but floating boat the next morning after the sun came up.

So sad to hear. I spent 12 years commercial fishing up there, and I can assure you that things can go bad out there way faster than you can react to them. No matter what you read, or watch on TV, you'll NEVER understand until you actually go do it... year after year, season after season.

Rest in peace...

The icing obviously changes the center of gravity and righting moment. The heavy sea state obviously confounded the stability issues.

Definately need to give these rescue guys props.

I remember an epic story from the Sitka Air base from a ways back - prolly the Loran days. Similar situation (probably not 10 degrees air temp). Helo trying to find the needle in the haystack. Down to the minimum fuel required for a safe return. Find the guys in the water as the clock is running out. Someone must remember than story?

And don't forget the guys who keep the equipment running in top condition. Anyone remember poster BW (Brian Womack). He used to post here. I know he was an A&P guy at the Sitka Base. Think he had to go the the sand box.

here is one pretty good story; I knew CDR Whiddon (USCG, ret.) when I lived in Kodiak.

https://marthakotite.com/believers-...a-father-and-son-stranded-in-sitka-sound

here is another https://www.amazon.com/Night-Orion-Fell-Survival-Story/dp/0615591930

I still know him and his son...

talks like a furriner, don't he? Ian still work at the seafood place?

They both do... I believe the accent is Welsh, not English, and the boat was a troller, not a trawler... but still a good story.