Updated: Coast Guard Calls Off Search for Missing NFL Players

[KLHJ2]

In a wierd kind of way I hope that they ended up in Cuba or something and they are still alive. At least then there is a possibility of return.

[CRedskinsRule]

FD, I really don't know anything about boating-it sounds like you do, so let me ask you with all of the hi-tech locating tools (GPS, sonar and any others), and assuming these guys weren't sparing any expense, what ways can they search for them? It seems like on land, with a cell phone and permission, the government, or "google lattitude", can find locations pretty quickly nowadays. Anything like that for sea-faring vessels?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

FD, I really don't know anything about boating-it sounds like you do, so let me ask you with all of the hi-tech locating tools (GPS, sonar and any others), and assuming these guys weren't sparing any expense, what ways can they search for them? It seems like on land, with a cell phone and permission, the government, or "google lattitude", can find locations pretty quickly nowadays. Anything like that for sea-faring vessels?

Cell phones are pretty useless as we can loose singnals while we can still see land. The best thing on the water is an epirb which is manditory on just about all boats except for personaly used boats. If they had an epirb on the boat the coast guard would have located them pretty quick They send out a single that is picked up by anyone who has radar on and shows up as a distress signal. Next would be a VHF radio which most of them now days have a distress button which gives out a distress over the radio with you location. The problem with the VHF is that its is only good for about 10 to 20 miles so anyone within that distance would pickup the distress signal over their radio. They also have hand held VHF radios now with GPS tracking but that is pretty new and only one company makes them. I just got one last week to have as a back up unit and it also gives you extra comunication if the boat sinks taking the boats VHF down with it. I just went over to a boating site and from what I read on a thread there its not looking to good for these guys. I din't know but the waters there are around 60 deg. and the winds kicked up 10 to 13 foot seas over night.

[CRedskinsRule]

sad to hear, but thanks for the info.

[That Guy]

the vhf and uhf radios i work with go a lot farther than 20 miles, but i'm not sure they're available commercial... aircraft avionics though, and the total system weight/size is pretty tiny.

[skinsfan_nn]

One of the boaters found clinging to boat.

Coast Guard finds one man clinging to boat - St. Petersburg Times

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

One of the boaters found clinging to boat.

Coast Guard finds one man clinging to boat - St. Petersburg Times

Well, I'm glad one of them made it. Doesn't sound good for the other 3. What a tragedy. Damn.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by That Guy

the vhf and uhf radios i work with go a lot farther than 20 miles, but i'm not sure they're available commercial... aircraft avionics though, and the total system weight/size is pretty tiny.

They can go farther but from a boat to boat or a boat to land the signal gets blocked. Now the taller the boat and the higher the antena will increase the distance.

[CRedskinsRule]

COAST GUARD FINDS BOAT WITH PERSON CLINGING TO IT

Posted by Mike Florio on March 2, 2009, 12:29 p.m.

In the end, it might be a very good thing that the Coast Guard opted not to call off the search for the four men (and two NFL players) who went missing at sea in a 21-foot fishing boat.

According to Bay News 9, the Coast Guard has found an overturned boat with a person clinging to it.

Assuming that it was the same boat that was carrying Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, Lions defensive end Corey Smith, Nick Schuyler, and William Bleakely, it is a sliver of good news amid a tragedy, because it means that three of the men have been lost.

Stay tuned for more.

UPDATE: The person who has been found reportedly is Nick Schuyler.

[53Fan]

Just heard it on the news. Does'nt sound good for anyone but Schuyler at this point.

[GMScud]

It's even more of a shame if they weren't wearing life vests.

[TheSmurfs22]

Apparently the boat has been found and one person has been found on the boat.

[CRedskinsRule]

Apparently Schuyler is alive and talking to the coast guard, so maybe he will be able to help in the search. I hope they find them.

[tootergray34]

man life vest or not...you'd think it'd be hard to survive floating in the water overnight wouldn't you? I'm not that experienced of a waterman myself, but I think that it would still be dangerous. I've got it on ESPN news all day here at the house. I"ll write something if I hear anything.

[sportscurmudgeon]

The fact that there was only one person still clinging to the remains of the boat that went out says that it is time for a few prayers for the other passengers.

Finding only one survivor with the boat is not the best of news...