very sad. I hope they find the guy but it's not looking good.. Parying for the family.

It was a single console boat. If he speared a wave pretty good, the amount of water that comes over the bow is overwhelming. It�s crazy how much comes over. It could�ve easily washed him out of his seat.

More info on this tragic accident. Read Koby Krieger's and JT Kenney's comments at the bottom.

http://www.bassfan.com/news_article/9104/search-continues-for-co-angler-at-okeechobee#.WlFgIRNSzOQ

This from a guy that was there.

Its not good. The lady in room next to us visited bill (angler) at hospital. They speared a wave and Nik went out. By the time he stopped he tried to go back and get him, engine would not fire. He went to try trolling motor and another wave knocked him off boat, co angler was last seen waving at him. He had to tie his self to the troll motor cable to stay with boat. He was able to get away from boat and to land before it crashed on rocks. It was 30degrees and windy as hell, water temps were low 50's where we were. I would imagine by the time he stopped he was already a long ways from him. Then the wind pushing boat did not help when it was dead in water. I dont know all the details yet but this was from someone who actually saw him and asked right b4 we left today. Its probably the most accurate thing we have heard so far from a reliable source. I pray they find him alive.

Steez,

By the time that video was made, the boat had (apparently) been swamped for 12 or more hours (so the battery was likely dead). Once you take on a lot of water (one wave can do it), your freeboard is virtually nil, and then wave after wave will begin to wash over the boat. Getting a boat moving again, into the waves so the bow rides over them, is crucial to any chance of ever getting water out of the boat. Even then, the standard bilge pumps in many boats today are unlikely to be able to do it in such extreme conditions, in my opinion.

I don't know yet if he ever got it started again, or if he ever got it moving into the waves to effect any chance of dewatering. Everyone should keep in mind that the big picture outcome of getting swamped may be determined in what steps you take IMMEDIATELY after taking the first wave into the boat...along with how well your equipment is prepared for dealing with this serious situation.

My modified setup will pump almost 3X the water compared to the boat's factory configuration. Some who run big water even put a dedicated pump (large at that) in the cockpit floor of the boat. I'm thinking of doing that also (at least 1500 GPH).

ChuChu, thanks for posting that. From the bassfan article, the accident happened at 0730, 8-10 miles outside the mouth of the Kissimmee River. Sounds like the main lake was furious and winds were high. Amazing to me that Kisiah survived 11+ hours in those conditions. Pray for the recovery of the co-angler. His family really needs that right now.

Following this has me ordering a ACR personal locator beacon. It's one of the few that don't require a service plus its waterproof and buoyant. About $250 for a added piece of mind.

I go to a number of places where you are quite a way from anything. We go out to the Breton Islands from Venice in bay boats for example. Weather can change quickly or unexpected. Equipment can fail. Accidents can happen. Even the most experienced can get in a life threatening situation.

It would be a great idea the tournament trails to made it a beacon mandatory. They go a long way. Lots can happen. No one may know something has occurred until the boat doesn't check in.

I read that as well

On another forum someone mentioned that maybe the kill switch came off upon impact with the wave and that could be why the motor died/didn�t re-start. Seemed like a very plausible situation.

That�s some interesting insight into the conditions.

We speared a wave on Tawakoni last year and I was halfway out of the boat from it. I went to the beach a lot when I was young in San Diego and never got hit that hard by water as that day. I understand how it could happen. Prayers for all involved

The kill-switch theory is an excellent one. In safety articles I've read, that oversight typically gets mentioned as to why some incidents got a lot more serious than need be - all because an engine restart failed due to a disconnected kill-switch. I've had this puzzle me after I got up with the vest on and later had trouble starting the outboard, only to realize I had pulled a dunce move. Because the plastic tabs can get broken, I carry a spare in the boat, too.

It's a VERY long way from the NW part of the lake down to Pahokee Rocks (by the Pahokee airport). I'm familiar with that lone utility pole light there as well. It's a landmark of at least 40 years I think.

In the video of the boat rolling against the rocks, is the trolling motor stowed? It looks like it. That is odd. If it is stowed, no way was it used to look for someone and then the boater fell out.

I'm probably wrong.

Maybe he tried to deploy and got knocked out before he even had a chance to deploy

The story is that the co was ejected, then the boater couldn't start the boat and then "searched for a bit with the trolling motor" and then was thrown from the swamped boat.

I don't know.

Im sure that the shock of the incedent impairs judgment and ability to think and remember clearly.