Two dead after boat capsizes

[DavidJ]

Extract from AOL News

A FATHER and his 12-year-old son have died and another son, aged 14, is missing after a motorboat capsized off the west coast of Scotland.

Sean Ridley, 34, and Michael Ridley, 12, died in hospital after spending up to five hours in the waters of Loch Ryan near Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

Rescuers are still searching the loch and surrounding area for Mr Ridley's other son, 14-year-old Stephen, following the accident on Saturday night. Seven coastguard teams and local police are all involved in the search.

Clyde Coastguard was called at 8.43pm by the yacht Catalina, which had found two people in the water at the entrance to the loch.

They were Brian Ridley, the father of Sean, and another man Harvey Haughton. The dead, injured and missing are all from Westleigh in Greater Manchester.

The two men told their rescuers that there were three more people in the water.

"It has also been reported to the Coastguard that they had been in the water for up to five hours.

"The upturned hull of their motor boat was located later by the Stranraer in shore lifeboat, with its stern three foot under water."

Brian Ridley and Mr Haughton were taken to Garrick Hospital in Stranraer where they were said to be recovering.

The party of five had been on the loch on board a 16 foot cathedral hulled small motor boat. Coastguards are at a loss as to why it capsized in good weather.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[kimhollamby]

Possible cause

Speculation, but I heard of another similar case (fortunately without loss of life) where a small cathedral hull boat turned turtle. Reason was that it had originally been built with porous foam buoyancy between hull and deck mouldings and the foam also had substantial voids due to it not filling properly on construction...an issue in the 1970s and early 80s particularly.

Voids and foam gradually fill up with water over the years and the free surface effect of water sloshing moving from one side to the other was enough to dip the gunwale. If used for angling, people all on one side, you can image the bilge water moving across (perhaps quite slowly, but then it would be slow to return).

Certainly if the boat was an older build especially I would personally be quite careful of any foam-filled spaces.

Digressing slightly, but best system I have ever seen for built in buoyancy is Ryds in Sweden. That manufacturer tools for each of the voids, injects closed cell foam into the tooling, gives each block a gelcoat wash and then epoxies them in place as hull and deck brought together. Massively impressed with that in factory and also with creak-free result out on the water. My visit was back in mid-90s but assume it is still done the same way.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[PGD]

if it is true, condolences to the family, can't say any more than that really.

If it isn't press should get the facts right, not let them get in the way of a good story!!!

Peter

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mssa.org.uk>http://www.mssa.org.uk</A> Marine Service Standards Assistance

 

[jimi]

Re: Possible cause

Wash from a fast cat ferry? Stranraer to Larne?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[rog]

Re: Possible cause

Excuse my ignorance but what exactly is a cathedral hull

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Possible cause

It's a 'mild' version of a catamaran, though the two 'hulls' are underwater at displacement speed

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide

 

[duncan]

Re: Possible cause

I thought it was more like a tri, than a cat, with all the hulls stuck together !

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Blue_Blazes]

Re: Possible cause

A tragic loss of life, whatever the cause. Better to leave the speculation to the police and the Coastguard Agency, IMHO.

Bill.

<hr width=100% size=1>One of these days I'll have a boat that WORKS

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Possible cause

Oops, think you're right, forgot the bit in the middle. They usually have clearly define 'outer' hulls.

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide

 

[rich]

Re: Possible cause

on the news today you can see the fast ferrys in the back ground,I know! what they can do to my boat!"

<hr width=100% size=1>rich )

 

[DavidJ]

Re: Possible cause

I dissagree Blue Blazes. We can all learn from the speculation because, although they may not be the actual cause on this occasion, it can contribute to awareness of boat safety issues.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Alistairr]

The Loch ryan accident was caused by the 16'fishing boat taking a wave from the Stenna HSS Scotland to Ireland Catamaran ferry side on. And the boat flipping over. 2 men survived, 2 bodies found and still searching for the 14 year old son..
Also in Scotland at the weekend a 20 yearold lad died in Loch Lomond when he went for a late night swim. Some people don't realise how dangerous the loch can be, it is shelved with undercurrents, it gets deep very quick , At some part you can wade in to 3 or 4' of water then suddenly it drops too 30' 40'.
Some of you know i go on about beahing boats, that is why it is very difficult to anchor, you can be just 10' from the shore and still be sitting in 100' of water. As a matter of interest the deepest part of the Loch is 630' just south off Ardlui where i keep the boat.


Alistair



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.hamptonandmcmurray.co.uk>Hampton and McMurray</A>

 

[gonfishing]

This unfortunate accident brings it home to all of us, to be constantly aware of safety, and the need to wear lifejackets and have radio etc to hand, i have only just recently parted with a cathederal hull 14ft boat perfectly safe with 2 adults not sure about 5, sounds like it was badly and tragically overloaded.

julian

<hr width=100% size=1>WHAT??? more petrol!!!

 

[Blue_Blazes]

Re: Possible cause

I respect your opinion David, and to a point I agree with you. However, such public speculation as on this web forum seems to me to be a little insensitive to the bereaved.

Bill.

<hr width=100% size=1>One of these days I'll have a boat that WORKS

 

[kimhollamby]

Normally it is me...

...weeding out speculation. However, it seemed a timely oportunity to pass on some info that might have got forgotten on dangers of older foam-filled boats, whether or not relevant.

Just flown back into UK today to see that high speed ferry wash is being blamed in national newspapers. The expose in the Daily Mail seems far more insensitive but is any of it is true there are lessons to taken aboard, especially as this might comprise at least the second such identifiable incident in UK waters.

<hr width=100% size=1>