Boat snagged on submerged trap buoy and sunk in Tomales

From https://fishlawsons.blogspot.com/

Pardon the wall of text; that's how it appears in the original.

"A little more info about the boat sinking on Sunday. In response to my query, Michael Ivey sent me an email: "So while out crabbing on Sunday with my friend( only 2 of us , 3rd person was a kayaker that’s saved us)   , Our boat got caught in a crab trap rope pulling it under water instantly and the life jackets went under
water with the boat. We were left in the middle of the water swimming for our life's for about 20-30 minutes until a kayaker heard our screens for help. He was able to pull my friend to shore then a come back and get me. If not for him not sure we would still be alive. The helicopter came and brought me to safety and paramedics checked on my for hyperthermia while the fire department was able to get my friend to safety with their jet ski.""It sank across from the red barn market area on opposite side , not exactly sure though it all happened so quick.  I think the kayakers wife is the one who called 911 because she told him she heard someone screaming for help and he said his wife was on the phone with 911"  Be on the lookout for a submerged boat across from the Landing, as there's a chance the boat may rise to the surface at slack tide. Give the Lawson's Landing a call on VHF 74 if you see it.  Also, for everybody playing along at home, he had life jackets but was not wearing them at the time of the accident. I'm sure Mr. Ivey will agree, just because the water is nice and you can't see a reason to wear one, the reason may still be there, lurking just out of sight. I am guilty of not wearing my jacket when it's nice. My father (who went on a lot of rescues in the 70's and 80's, some of them successful and many of them body recoveries) says that he's seen more boats saved by life jackets than the people that should have been wearing them (The stored jackets floated the boat, not the human). I guess it's time to get an inflatable one. I also guess that it's safe to assume that the entire world is out to get you. Because it is."

Thanks for sharing the story WillFo.

It’s the second story I hear about boat safety. The first was about a boat that lost engine power. Makes kayaks look more reliable

It’s the second story I hear about boat safety. The first was about a boat that lost engine power. Makes kayaks look more reliable

I use to be a hardcore kayaker and would go where the boats are fishing fairly offshore in norcal standards. I was content each night before knowing that it could be my last trip. With my boat, don't have those thoughts  (and I go fairly offshore from boating, norcal standards.. solo too)

An EPIRB (or PLB for kayakers) might be a good investment. Being in the water for 20 to 30 minutes without a PFD sounds like a long, long time...

Wow That would be a shocker!
My thing at work is expect the unexpected!
It goes for Big Blue as well
Glad they made it!

 A Gold Star for the Kayaker

We’re they going WOT and caught the buoy and line…

I've read and re-read the story a dozen times since it was posted and I cannot make sense of it at all.  Does anyone know what kind of boat it was?  I'm trying to imagine a situation where catching a buoy line (even if snagged on the bottom) via the stern (prop) causes a boat to go under, let alone quickly.  Nuts... I can't wrap my brain around it.

Here is the beginning of the report at: https://fishlawsons.blogspot.com/

 "Today, three crabbers in a 12 foot boat were cruising down the channel off of Sand Point when the boat came to a sudden stop. Water immediately started coming over the transom and within seconds the boat sank. The three crabbers were able to swim to shore on Tomales Point and were brought back over by the Marin County Fire Department and the CHP helicopter. From the third-hand account I heard, it sounds to me like they ran over a crab rope and buoy that were held underwater by the ripping outgoing current, and that ripping outgoing current then washed over the now stern-anchored vessel. That'll sink you quick. I'm guessing that the 48 degree water is probably not conducive to continued human life, so good on those guys for getting to shore quickly. If you read this and you are one of the guys and I got the story wrong, please let me know at [email protected] and I will correct it. Otherwise, it seems that the murder traps almost got one today."

Here is the beginning of the report at: https://fishlawsons.blogspot.com/

 "Today, three crabbers in a 12 foot boat were cruising down the channel off of Sand Point when the boat came to a sudden stop. Water immediately started coming over the transom and within seconds the boat sank. The three crabbers were able to swim to shore on Tomales Point and were brought back over by the Marin County Fire Department and the CHP helicopter. From the third-hand account I heard, it sounds to me like they ran over a crab rope and buoy that were held underwater by the ripping outgoing current, and that ripping outgoing current then washed over the now stern-anchored vessel. That'll sink you quick. I'm guessing that the 48 degree water is probably not conducive to continued human life, so good on those guys for getting to shore quickly. If you read this and you are one of the guys and I got the story wrong, please let me know at [email protected] and I will correct it. Otherwise, it seems that the murder traps almost got one today."

Ah, thanks for the additional info!  That clears it up.

I was writing this before Mark posted the answer looks like a good guess

I read only twice; I think when a boat is traveling fast enough, even if it catches on something that is not anchored, like a trap, there is enough resistance in the water to cause the trap to pull the boat in the opposite direction. For example, the boat may tilt, causing water to temporarily flow over the gunnel. I would imagine just a few seconds in this position are enough to destabilize the boat and now, even without the pull, water is coming in faster and the boat sinks.

On the water, things can go very wrong very fast.

Floatation! And it doesn’t take much

This is a good picture for yakkers who tend to overload and paddle the ocean on faith

I salvaged a very heavy boat around 30’ under the golden gate that was submerged upside down and hidden just below the surface so you wouldn’t know it was there

It took only one floatation bag about the size of a big black garbage bag to get it high enough in the water so it was visible and safe to tow and work with safely

The boat these guys sank either had nothing built in to keep it at the surface or was overloaded. Any boat should be set up so it will float even when full of water

Same story with the guy I brought in at Muir, his yak was so heavy with gear, trolling motor battery etc it got water inside and sank really fast


Tomales is a very sharky place for a long swim

Tomales is a very sharky place for a long swim

Indeed. I'd be worried about the water temp first tho, especially with a running tide in TM. Yikes.
Glad this was a rescue and not the alternative.
I gotta get some more pool noodles in my trident for the upcoming season....

Lucky guys! PFD on the boater, not in the boat. A Boston Whaler would have floated full of water, but not many others will do that (stuffing not pool noodles into the ‘yak).

From my long-ago power boat days, I seem to recall that when the boat was stopped quickly the boat's wake would come rushing up the stern.
Also, re.: inflatable PFD's: In this month's Latitude 38 (free Nor Cal sail-cruising mag available in boat stores and marinas (at least for a few days after the 4th of the month - or on-line  " 'Lectronic Latitude" ) there is a discussion about whether one should trust inflatables, though conceding they are better than nothing, and discussing how closed-cell foam ones help to protect the torso from violent blows like one might suffer on a sailboat thrashing about in rough seas.  I've spent many days and nights wearing foam vests and only in very hot weather could I understand why people were reluctant to wear them all the time.