Sad

From the article:

“… around 10:20 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff's office received a call about the missing boat.

The U.S. Coast Guard was informed of the situation around 11:40 p.m.”

Why would the sheriff wait an hour and 20 minutes to inform the CG? That makes no sense to me.

The family member who posted in various facebook groups stated they called the sheriff to do a wellness check and the sheriff was dispatched to the parking lot to search for the truck and trailer and determine if they had returned or not. Once they confirmed it was still there, they called the family member back and at that time they alerted the CG.  I would have called the CG and then the sheriff personally, or contacted the harbor to check vs the sheriff as they're already on scene, but that's the series of events leading to CG Dispatch.

When you call in an overdue vessel to the CG, they will also be contacting local law enforcement to go to the parking lot and check for a truck.  However, that is in parallel to them also launching assets to start doing trackline searches based on the reporting party's knowledge of a float plan.  The better your float plan, the more accurate the CG can come start their search.  Obviously, you also calling the Sheriff isn't going to harm anything and is a good belt & suspenders approach.

From the article:

“… around 10:20 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff's office received a call about the missing boat.

The U.S. Coast Guard was informed of the situation around 11:40 p.m.”

Why would the sheriff wait an hour and 20 minutes to inform the CG? That makes no sense to me.

The family member who posted in various facebook groups stated they called the sheriff to do a wellness check and the sheriff was dispatched to the parking lot to search for the truck and trailer and determine if they had returned or not. Once they confirmed it was still there, they called the family member back and at that time they alerted the CG.  I would have called the CG and then the sheriff personally, or contacted the harbor to check vs the sheriff as they're already on scene, but that's the series of events leading to CG Dispatch.

When you call in an overdue vessel to the CG, they will also be contacting local law enforcement to go to the parking lot and check for a truck.  However, that is in parallel to them also launching assets to start doing trackline searches based on the reporting party's knowledge of a float plan.  The better your float plan, the more accurate the CG can come start their search.  Obviously, you also calling the Sheriff isn't going to harm anything and is a good belt & suspenders approach.

Absolutely. Even a post it note on the car dashboard with a an ETA for return and rough destination can literally save your life.  I especially do this while fishing areas with limited Cell and access. Parking along HW1 for example, a sheriff is likely to stop and look at an unattended vehicle and this could very well save ones life; super important for us going to more remote places.

Is it weird to wear a PFD with a marine radio clipped to it on a boat? I don't think I've ever seen it but I'm thinking of doing it next time I find myself on a fishing boat. I don't find it uncomfortable, and it could save a life or five.

Shoulda woulda coulda...I think I'm that guy on a boat...

A friend of a friend laughed at me for wearing my pfd/with vhf going out to federal waters. I didn't care.

I'm sure he's thinking differently now after these two incidents.

Mr. X, I hope you stay. I agree that we all make mistakes, but we should always be willing to learn from our own or others' mistakes.
Calling Ch. 16 is like calling 911 to check your cell phone. 

Paul

From the article:

“… around 10:20 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff's office received a call about the missing boat.

The U.S. Coast Guard was informed of the situation around 11:40 p.m.”

Why would the sheriff wait an hour and 20 minutes to inform the CG? That makes no sense to me.

The family member who posted in various facebook groups stated they called the sheriff to do a wellness check and the sheriff was dispatched to the parking lot to search for the truck and trailer and determine if they had returned or not. Once they confirmed it was still there, they called the family member back and at that time they alerted the CG.  I would have called the CG and then the sheriff personally, or contacted the harbor to check vs the sheriff as they're already on scene, but that's the series of events leading to CG Dispatch.

When you call in an overdue vessel to the CG, they will also be contacting local law enforcement to go to the parking lot and check for a truck.  However, that is in parallel to them also launching assets to start doing trackline searches based on the reporting party's knowledge of a float plan.  The better your float plan, the more accurate the CG can come start their search.  Obviously, you also calling the Sheriff isn't going to harm anything and is a good belt & suspenders approach.

Absolutely. Even a post it note on the car dashboard with a an ETA for return and rough destination can literally save your life.  I especially do this while fishing areas with limited Cell and access. Parking along HW1 for example, a sheriff is likely to stop and look at an unattended vehicle and this could very well save ones life; super important for us going to more remote places.

That's a great idea... thanks for sharing!

Mr. X, I hope you stay. I agree that we all make mistakes, but we should always be willing to learn from our own or others' mistakes.
Calling Ch. 16 is like calling 911 to check your cell phone. 

Paul

Meanwhile pilots are out here meowing on guard.

Radio transmission has become increasingly sloppy across marine and aviation bands.  What X did is in no way an intentional breach of protocol, and there is a considerable language barrier.  Gentle correction is a much better approach.  Calling 911 to check safety equipment isn't a proper use.  Calling to prank order a pizza is criminal use.  There is a difference.  We should cut the guy some slack.  Especially with pilots mewing on guard.  Those guys should get keelhauled.

And again, looks like only 1 died so far.