Aimless and Abandoned boat in Gulf of Mexico

Found this boat on my solo crossing of the gulf May 2013

[@Ritercrazy]

I am a ham radio operator. This scenario is why I am. To help those in particular need is great. Glad you were safe.

[@davidhoffman5789]

Very interesting video. Use of AIS, various marine radio attempts, and HAM radio operations. Showcased the value of HAM radio operators. Thanks for taking the time to post the video.

[@Kiwionwing]

David Hoffman cool old fashioned ham guys to rescue again.

[@Lumpyone]

Empty and abandoned...that means you could have towed it and claimed salvage. Some $$$$ for future sailing....

[@Reacar1]

Even though the ppl were already rescued, you did Great job making sure there was no one in danger. You sir are a good person. The world needs more of you.

[@spencerboaz2385]

Thank God you didn't catch them during shift change . I lived on my boat for 6 years and only had to talk to the coast guard a few times . Glad we have them but sure hard to get anything done on VHF . You never know what you will find floating out there . Never heard anything more on the boat ? I worked for a charter service in FL. to make a little cruising money for a few mounts . Guys would rent a sailboat to try and talk their wife into buying a boat they would go out and it would get a little rough and when they could get back to land the wife would get off with the kids and tell hubby where he could stick that sailboat and they would send me to get it and bring it back . It was a fun job didn't make a lot of money got some good tips a time or two . Got to sail some nice boats a bit , got to keep all the food and booze they left on them most of the time . You wouldn't believe how much booze people bring for a few days trip . I am slowly working on two boats now . I have a Westsail 32 and a Bristol 27 just restoring the Bristol 27 and started with a hull and deck with the Westsail it has never been in the water I still need sails but Butch at C&C sails is a good friend and has done a lot of sail work for me and friends in the Houston area . C&C does great work if you ever need sail work .

[@sublime4us]

I was a Radioman in the Coast Guard. There are procedures that must be followed for every situation and important details must be confirmed, especially when lives are potentially at stake. Then also the information was being relayed, adding to the repetition and confusion. He couldn't just say, "abandoned vessel at such and such coordinates - okay, gotcha. Thanks." Just be happy you didn't have to tap it out in Morse code (my class was the last one that had to learn it - class of '92 - and I'm still pissed about it! lol).

[@lonniepee9804]

I came around later and had to pass the 20 words per minute code requirement for the Extra Class license, N1MO

[@RetiredCG250214]

Having retired from the Coast Guard they have a major flaw when you contact them. Generally you are at first talking to some 18 year old kid that may have only been in the service for two months, and as no idea how to communicate information that a salty captain is assuming the kid understands. Hopefully he will just get a piece of paper out and write things down while the officer of day makes his way to the radio to talk to you. The terrible radio situation can lead to people not getting the help they need in an efficient manor. Semper Paratus!

[@donjvalley]

Kevin, thank you for this video --- it was very helpful and informative. I'm retired and just started sailing this year, in the Gulf of Thailand. I knew that I wanted things like radar, AIS and SSB on a boat, once I buy my own, but the 14.300 frequency was some new info for me and will be very helpful if/when I'm in the area. I've always thought that the USCG rescued people, NOT boats, and think your actions were 'spot-on'. So much to learn and so little time --- thanks, again....

[@PlanktoniusRex]

Great work. I wouldn't have gone aboard either because who knows what kinda situation could await. Being that far out at sea alone warrants a bit of caution. I think you did great and though 99% of the time the ham operators on 20 meters are just casually talking here is an instance when they were needed and they took care of this immediately. Very impressive. The sailing looks fascinating but to be out there alone on a small craft knowing that the only barrier between your arse and the unforgiving sea is the fact that there isn't a hole in the boat takes a brave soul. You have my vote and my respect ;-)

[@kriss1956]

That was great, mystery and an explanation in the comments. I lived on a houseboat long ago and boat people never seem to change, most friendly and helpful. Your sailboat is beautiful and well outfitted, my dad lost his dream on a beach in Mexico because he skimped on electronics. He bought the ferrocement hull after watching it being built and did the rest himself, so you can imagine how hard that was. But he was grateful for the time he got.

[@Gcal1956]

Amazing stories you find on KZbin and then to find comments from strangers who where involved in the rescue , makes it that much more amazing.

[@DuanesMind]

Nice video, Great to see all the Hams and coastguard helping each other out to relay the messages.

[@ardentizzy7720]

It must be a very strange experience to find a boat adrift like that and not knowing the reason why it's abandoned....great video...

[@GoMiGman]

Must've been a tremendously eerie feeling to come across something like that! Reminds me of the movie "Dead Calm" with Nicole Kidman and Sam Neil. Same exact thing when they came across another sailboat and..... I like how you dealt with it, especially not being overly curious and getting close or even boarding it! Looks like you're a seasoned sailor. Good stuff and stay safe out there.

[@castaway123100]

It's a dangerous situation. You can't board another boat without getting permission to come aboard. There could be some guy in there sleeping with a gun under his mattress and you could end up shot. He did the right thing.

[@GoMiGman]

I think that was pretty much the point of my post.

[@DVincentW]

GoMiGman or like Open Water 2

[@GoMiGman]

DVincentW Haven't seen that! Any good?

[@DVincentW]

GoMiGman Yes it is serious fierce situation when everyone on a boat dives in the ocean, none of them put the ladder down

[@tolpacourt]

Moral of the story is, don't name your sailboat "escape pod."

[@kennethcohagen9037]

Glad there was a happy end to the story. It amazes me that people go sailing in such small craft when the ocean can be too much for much larger vessels. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheMysterySpace]

This was to cool, I found myself extremely interested. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@davidrounds3245]

Most people do not realize their are still pirates. The anti gun, why do you need a gun comments are just ignorant. Imagine for a second tying up to that boat and having several guys with guns come out to relieve you of your boat and feed you to the sharks? Their is good reason to approach situations like this with extreme caution, especially if you are alone.

[@Xelbiuj]

David Rounds I'm pro-gun but boarding a ship while armed is fucking suicidally stupid. 1. You're the threat at that point and any occupants can/SHOULD shoot you. 2. It's unlikely you'd find a pirate on the boat still, why the fuck would he be hanging around? The boat wasn't sending a distress signal, they're not going to just wait till someone happens by.

[@louminatti3776]

Gun? Get a sword…pu$$y.

[@Tableaux15]

Interesting video. I can still remember seeing sailboats from time to time when I worked offshore GoM. Once our workboat found a Boston whaler floating upside down with the motor hanging by the control cables. Turned out it was being towed by a yacht and the seas got to rough so they cut it loose.

[@chadsimmons6347]

" HEY KEVIN KAIDEN " most interesting thing ive seen in a long time makes me wish i were there instead of being stuck in kansas city missouri VERY HAPPY to get to view this THANKS-4-GOOD-VIDEO ( SIR ) !

[@andrewc0128]

1:00 "Im going to give him a blast of my air horn" "beep"

[@bosscars7_3]

lmao

[@ThatMSportGuy]

It's way to late for me to be laughing like this

[@andrewc0128]

Zephyr Trident Don't wake up your neighbors ;)

[@ianthomas1201]

+Andrew C I haven't laughed this hard, and long, since I heard a man say: "This is the second time that I've been FUCKED, by Dairy Queen".

[@brianervin]

Ian Thomas. Gotta love Tourette's Guy!

[@thesailjunkie]

For those wondering why the skipper didn't claim salvage and take the boat in tow, a Hunter Cherubini is not a terribly expensive boat ($28 - $39K) and this one was abandoned due to a failure unknown to the salvaging skipper thus reducing the value further. So, over 100 miles from land is a long way to do a single-handed tow, risking your own vessel and your safety, for such a small payout.Regardless of where you sail, it can get ugly out there pretty quickly. The skipper made the right decision and left the vessel adrift.

[@doowael]

Great video, thank you for sharing. It was quite an adventure for this landlubber. Good to know the couple survived. God bless you and your crew for rescuing them, Clay.

[@VirtualSuperSoldier]

Holy crap. With that kind of run around, be glad you weren't in trouble!

[@nasanction]

Between you and me, You did everything anyone could expect of a good sailor. Cheers!

[@LAPGOCHINSTRUCTOR]

Ham radio wins out again - well done to the operators involved with relaying the info to the CG :)

[@Speakno12]

I think you did an excellent job with the video. Also taking time to report the location. After the boat was retrieved, it was offered at $36,000. It was sold, out of Kemah, Texas. Last year a coworker and myself viewed another video, and that person boarded the boat. I always wondered what could have happened. My coworker has since retired but I sent him this video and the comment from the guy that assisted the old couple. He also was happy to know the outcome as well. Scary. I'm amazed at guys like you that go that far out,.. and I was in the Navy,.. '77-81'

[@KevinKalden]

Speakno12 thanks for watching.

[@SteedanCrowe]

Kevin, this was great. I like the titles about dealing with the government, they gave you quite a hard time. Fair winds!

[@FerasAbuTaha]

Who are the 362 douchebags who did'nt enjoy this so much that they HAD to thumbs down it. This man is sailing around the gulf, doing what most people only dream of. I sit in an office all day, and I don't have a boat. Kudos to you Kevin Kalden sir for living the dream.

[@MM0SDK]

As an amateur radio operator, i enjoyed this video. 73's MM0SDK

[@timthomastransmission6020]

Great video Kevin!! Thanks for being willing to help. I run net control 2 times a week on the Maritime Mobile Service Net. I usually confirm the information given over and over as we keep getting hit with fake calls that sound so darn real. The real calls will either stick with it OR peel me out for having to give it over and over. Here always for ya Cap!! Tim KB2RMC

[@KevinKalden]

Oh I know the need for repeating things. I check in regularly when traveling.

[@rickkelly6466]

You Sir are very brave. So many things can and do go wrong at sea. I watched the sailing team that found the drifting boat with the mumified man dead at his desk. I'm glad these folks made it home safely. Bravo

[@colinsphoneemail]

A fine example how hamradio can save your life or relay emergency information. fine job gentleman.

[@user-mp9rd4hg8b]

+Colin Sevier Agreed. And the HAM base station operators are the unsung heroes here. Without them relaying between Kevin and Coast Guard, he would not have made contact. And if Kevin was calling mayday, we'd all be listening in to help.

[@WORRO]

Awesome video, job well done on reporting the vessel in question Sir. ~~John

[@ChoppingtonOtter]

Really interesting video. You were very patient with then asking the same questions over and over!

[@bajskorv1991]

Amazing! Cool with the HAM radio operators relaying the info

[@maurice6227]

Now THIS is reality TV. I'm loving all of these abandoned buildings, boats, homes, videos.

[@beemo9]

You're in "that part of KZbin" again.

[@Starfish0888]

This is really cool. As a HAM radio operator it goes to show how much of a help the radio can be!

[@ray_biker7406]

This is yet another proof that ham radio works when everything else fails. You coild probably use a newer radio with DSP noise reduction. My Yaesu FTDX 3000 sounds like VHF FM when operating on HF bands. It practically has zero noise and sounds crystal clear. Good luck on your travels.

[@n40tom]

Wow this is so true. The Coast Guard is such a pain in the ass to deal with it is unbelievable. I came to the aid of a sinking vessel it was unbelievable the shit they put me through on the radio. After they came to the scene they took the people from my vessel to thier cutter. Then another Coast Guard Cutter came on scene and gave me what they called a safety check. such bullshit I received two tickets 1 for having my registration numbers in the wrong place which was not correct. and another ticket for up to $10,000 for not having my VHS license with me. I had it I just could not locate it at that moment. this was the early 90's you needed that then. I called the commandant in Norfolk Virginia and explained to him what had just happened he told me send me the paperwork to him and don't worry about anything. it made me very reluctant to ever help anyone again. It left A very bad feeling for me that I will never get over. So much for being a good Samaritan.

[@moevilla561]

Did u pay 10 BIG ONES?

[@donclark4685]

Great Video. Oh, how I would Love to go to sea again. I was Tin Can sailor in the sixties, so it's been a long time. Hope for more of your Videos.

[@robbygee2539]

This was very educational as to handle such a situation- granted I had a boat. I dont see me stumbling upon many abandoned boats adrift here in Wyoming.

[@gobbly1337]

who needs to buy a boat, just rent one, sail around the gulf for a bit, and you'll find one of your own!

[@Eduardoolimaa]

gobbly1337 lol

[@stephanmaher9174]

Hey Kev. I liked your video. Reminded me of my sailing days, and the adventure of a ghost ship is pretty awesome. Ignore the haters. Thanks for posting this.

[@jds8950]

I was told many many years ago, to always pass side by side, not behind a drifter like that. Reason being, they can have crap behind them for hundreds of feet. What do you think? Great video and kind of spooky!

[@PotatoGunsRule]

I couldn't have resisted the urge to board her.

[@drServitis]

+PotatoGunsRule That's how you get AIDS.

[@alexgopow]

+drServitis he's not wrong.

[@drServitis]

AlexGoPow™ Well, he can get AIDS if he wants to, I guess. Not sure why he would want to get AIDS though.

[@alexgopow]

exactly, don't forget to add the 2!

[@dillrepair]

+PotatoGunsRule awww jeez. so many wonderful replies to this gone unsaid.

[@Charleroifa]

Pretty cool video. I enjoyed listening to the amateur radio conversation.

[@BombillaShooter]

actually, I thought this video was rather interesting. learned some stuff today. thanks for posting!

[@newhampshirevideo]

You have the patience of a saint my friend.

[@Vidcasts]

Captain with compassion. Nice to see boaters that still care. Nice video Kevin.

[@Vidcasts]

Jake, The rudeness & ignorance of many boaters nowadays. A bit pessimistic perhaps, but am sure some will validate it.

[@capitanbradley7256]

Commentary is hilarious. Not a funny find, but your comments are funny. Fair winds, Captain.

[@WillPhoneman]

Ham radio is awesome! I've met so many cool people through this hobby. 73's

[@ericbarnett6771]

Rarely have I sat through a 15 minute youtube video. Great job!

[@gregmitchell6213]

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard rescued two people from a damaged sailing vessel approximately 50 miles southwest of Terrebone Bay in the Gulf of Mexico, Friday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at 3:21 a.m. from the off-shore supply vessel Lady Brandy that a man and a woman aboard the 36-foot sailing vessel Escape Pod were in distress due to damaged sail and rigging and requested assistance. Sector New Orleans directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to the scene. Once on scene, the aircrew hoisted the man and woman aboard and administered first aid to the woman for a laceration on her leg. The aircrew then transported the two people back to Air Station New Orleans to awaiting emergency medical personnel and were transported to Ocshner Medical Center in New Orleans. The towing vessel Paul A. Callais is towing the disabled sailing vessel into Port Fourchon. The man and woman's conditions are unknown.

[@rogerscottcathey]

Curious. Was this in time proximity to this video? Otherwise, how did it get loose?

[@yoman5136]

This kept getting better and better !

[@WheelDweller]

How do you know there aren't skin divers attached? They're supposed to set flags and anchors- supposed to keep one aboard, but it doesn't always work out that way. And who knows what kind of TRAPS might be set for drug dealers, etc? No, I think this was the right thing to do...

[@Nic7320]

@12:52 FYI: I have private healthcare and I still have to deal with idiots. Some of them have Dr. in front of their name.

[@yonny1954]

Good job. I would love to see more of your travels

[@northstar2007]

Wow, thats awesome to hear! Glad to know there's more young people getting into the hobby

[@kernowrock555]

The Radio Ham was helpful in relaying information. Maybe the coastquard needs antenna like the Hams !

[@kernowrock555]

+Ed Kelly haha! ...The world must stop for doughnuts !

[@2233golf2]

Smart decision of the skipper not to go aboard the abandoned boat....you never know if a crime had been committed.... Thanks for the video.....

[@Sethemiah]

If you've ever heard of it, i live where they have Hamvention. that's always quite a spectacle, and i love how efficient the ham radio system is compared to the systems that are supposed to be in place.

[@1234bogusname]

Super cool video. Thanks for posting this, and hope you do more sailling vids! That boat was c r e e p y. Glad to hear they got rescued.

[@Stormtours]

I'm a licensed master and general class ham (WX0USA); this is one of those few videos that I really liked - felt like a movie almost "What'll happen next" sort of thing. Things for uploading. That said, next time you find a boat adrift and the USCG has "cleared" it so-to-speak; salvage it and save it from drifting around the world and hitting something, plus you can make some nice money.

[@carlinshowalter1806]

Would be hard to do by yourself plus you would be risking your boat to do so.

[@Effay513]

"Escape Pod" out of Huston, TX. Hmm, not much to think about there. lolol

[@benjaminscherrey2479]

I would have been extremely tempted to go for salvage on that nice boat after calling it in. But I'll be the last person to doubt the decision of a guy single sailing actually on the scene. Handled yourself like a true sailor keeping the waterways safe for everyone.

[@goodtimefolkrock]

we had a 52" Bristol growing up "Halcyon" was her name...great vessel used to dock it in Charlotte Harbor ...i have many fond memories of cruising the Gulf When i was a teenager....

[@MNeilGri]

Thanks for sharing. I always find the radio communications on boats interesting (perhaps because I don't yet have a boat, and am uncertain of how they usually play out.). Most people leave out the com chatter from their videos

[@crispyspa]

I was thinking of the movie "Water World" with Kevin Costner. LOL Probably best that you did not board the other vessel, but I really wanted to see the inside.

[@davidhamilton9129]

awesome adventure and awesome of you to report the abandoned vessel,it could be a trash vessel that's been dumped and drifted,someone could have had medical issues.and been inside dying,or someone could have had a seizure and fell over board and that's what's left,so many reasons to just make sure

[@ralphholiman7401]

Interesting video. Amazing how many times people abandon sailboats and they are still floating weeks or months later. Would have been cool to salvage it, but as a sailor I probably wouldn't have tried either without more people available.

[@asuwish0000]

Great video! Thanks for caring enough to stop and call it in. And THANKS for sharing the information on the radio channels and showing how inept our current system is. Happy sailing!

[@timinbisbee]

I doubt the person is diving while the sails are in tatters.

[@smack00]

Great video! Thanks for posting

[@onthebeaches]

Thanks for sharing this rescue and I can attest how bad some of the people that run these emergency services can be. I had a rescue in a canyon while hiking with some of my team members and 911 had to call back 3 times to get GPS coords that we gave them over and over and over...if you get my drift. Good thing it wasn't a life or death situation.

[@KevinKalden]

onthebeaches1 I regret it if my video portrays the service as sorry. I just likened the layers of tape the USCG has to go through to what can be expected with national healthcare.

[@SKOALO1]

What a sweet to travel. Love the ocean.

[@cigman101]

Is this the boat that SurvivorMan used in one of his episodes?

[@stemtostern7611]

KK, The Tug Kelly is a pushing interlocking Tug hauling Sulfur to Tampa, Fl. I worked on that Tug a couple times. The radios generally turned down low where you can still hear it or who ever was on Watch just wasn't paying attention. You guys on the Sail Boats show up pretty good with the reflectors. Happy Sailing to you!

[@allangooge9679]

So glad these people are okay. Good all the Ham international guys are there to help. 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@Jeffro-im5el]

Interesting... odd that the CG had previously rescued the occs, but why would they leave the boat adrift? Anyway, good job! 73 OM !

[@Numantino312]

Kevin did the right thing. myself, i would not have boarded that boat for anything either. crime scene? piracy? drugs? and that's without anything going wrong while pulling up alongside & boarding it. also radio transmissions are not private. his notifying the coast guard could be listened in on by others with ill intent. i don't think most viewers understand the concept of being solo on a small vessel in the gulf.

[@UZI9MMAUTO]

Thank you for the video. Im shocked the CG didnt hear you on the VHF. I remember in the 90's a incident. I was deep in the woods with a 2 meter HT. I was talking to a friend accidentally on a CG allocated frequency. (The CG suddenly uses a new channel) Other than channel 16. My output was 1/2 a watt and I was 20 or so miles inland from the coast. My chatter was with another on a HT with same output about 1/4 mile away. About 2 minutes into my conversation.I hear what sounds like a 3rd party with a dead key. Then the sound you hear when a beam starts to position your way. My S meter topped to the end. Suddenly I hear the audio noise get loud. Then the coastguard with a female voice informed and warned me. (Mentioned the law I was breaking, etc etc) So weeks later I moved to what I knew as a open channel. You know what happened. I talked to someone in the CG and he explained how they can instantly zero in on a signal. Maybe they were having coffee or on break? Even though they know the signal is coming from the sea. Live streaming Satellites that can a ticks eyes on a fallen seagull in the ocean. Did you have a emergency beacon or do you? Again nice video!

[@theoldwizard998]

I loved your editorial comments !

[@youbigdummy4866]

The end of the vid looked like a perfect storm could have been brewing.

[@dusangajdos4672]

one of the best way to keep your mind of crises and upcoming war , gasoline or diesel prices . WAKE up 11111!!!!!!! ?

[@KevinKalden]

Liam, sorry you did not like the movie. Feel free to go to the ticket booth and ask for a refund.

[@Pwhisperer]

Kevin I like your video. I find this kinda thing fascinating and likely would have handled it the same way if i were in your shoes. Please make another video like this if you encounter other abandoned vessel. Be safe !

[@Injudiciously]

+Kevin Kalden I watched that all the way through ,, AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN BOARD IT??? SERIOUSLY??????

[@comicsans6330]

+L Ofaday i would've could have been a distressed soul on board unable to communicate

[@comicsans6330]

+Comic Sans The towing vessel Paul A. Callais is towing the disabled sailing vessel into Port Fourchon. apparently they didn't do there job quite to standard

[@patrickc466]

I liked your video too! it's comforting to know there's people out there looking out for others. good people, you and the amateur radio operator. I document the things I come across up here in Canada while sledding and dirtbiking. you'd be surprised the things I come across.

[@iRumplestilskin]

Had to give this movie a thumbs up for the health care comment! Loved that.

[@SvenAnderson]

Very informative, thank you for sharing

[@Chris.Davies]

Why wouldn't you take the boat under tow, and claim it as salvage? My understanding of maritime law is that an abandoned boat can be claimed by the first person who boards it.

[@slgordon3]

I do have a fondness for those old Hunter Cherubini sailboats. I spent a lot of time on one.

[@rockybass3129]

My girlfriend and I are planning a trip to bring my recently purchased Cal33 from Biloxi to Baytown. Made one failed attempt already, long story. This next go will see us home. Really makes me wish I had the funds for a SSB before going. Well we do have cold water survival suits, life boat with motor and enough fuel to drive our selves home, PLB, radar, sonar, AIS GPSX4 most everything I could think of. She just today agreed to go with me :) So now I will have something to do.

[@rockybass3129]

Including a raymarine evolution autopilot, and I do have a backup actuator just in case.

[@Ilovejoeyd95]

i love how the ocean works, you can buy a nice 45K sail boat one day and the ocean will take it and leave it lost forever the next.

[@aaronman2000]

In 2011 HMS Richmond was on her way home from the NAG through the Bay of Biscay and we came upon an abandoned freefall lifeboat, after investigation we found it had been lost by an Italian merchant ship however that investigation took place via VHF/HF with serial numbers given before we EVER sent out a highly trained boarding team to investigate for safety purposes. Boarding that vessel would have been dangerous and a violation of another's property. You did well Kevin, and in accordance with Maritime Custom.

[@Domal88]

What Kind of Rig were You using Kevin, when communicating on 20 meters. I liked the video..And the price was just right. Dave KB1BZF

[@PDXPok3R]

Quick follow-up. This was a boat the coast guards had to rescue an older couple from after their boat became disabled. The boat was later retrieved by a tow boat no doubt hired by the same couple. there's an article somewhere explaining this and a video taken off the rescue on the coast guards website. this lone sailor just happened to come across it between rescue and retrieval.

[@Gerald10284]

The couple was rescued by the coast guard due to broken rigging and sails. Here is a link. www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/1764699/Coast-Guard-rescues-2-from-sailing-vessel-in-Gulf-of-Mexico

[@leoncarpenter958]

i dont guess that tow it talks about happened

[@JeevesReturns]

Excellent seaman. Knows the rules and how to handle himself. Good guy.

[@KevinKalden]

lol. But I would get a good VHF first. The ham license was only 15 dollars and there are so many handy things you can do with it. Thanks for watching.

[@nickacelvn]

All i can certainly ascertain from this video is that when you need the coast guard (even on a distress frequency) you cant get hold of them ... one would assume the would monitor there frequency's a little more closely

[@KoolBreeze420]

Why would you not go onboard? I am curious I Am Canadian and on the great lakes if we seen something like this we would check to make sure no one was there and to weak to answer or perhaps tied up or in some sort of distress but on the great lakes cold could make a person unable to respond. Here's a link to the story of the 2 people being rescued off that boat named escaped pod. My dad and I got into trouble once on the great lakes we got pined in a storm on some rocks and we lost our anchor we called for help they did not help us get the boat loose they "rescued" us and left the boat there this seems to be common practice they just let the boat go off as litter and let them sink or whatever we went out the next day to try and find the boat and the plug had worn loose and she sank we were able to rescue her and being freshwater was easily fixed.

[@Numantino312]

the gulf of mexico is far less friendlier, far less civilized place than great lakes. lakes are surrounded by two countries complete with modern coast guards & tranquil shorelines (except detroit/chicago). the gulf comes complete with the problems of mexico & cuba, not to mention anything, anyone that comes in from the atlantic/caribbean: refugees, piracy, drugs, crime scene on boat. Kevin was solo in semi-hostile open seas. he did the right thing: radioed coast guard and kept moving. as far as weather goes, sounds like you understand lakes the same way i do: always respect the great lakes, never turn your back on them, they can do everything that the pacific can: rip tides, storms, rogue waves, etc.

[@maurice6227]

Numantino312 This. Who knows if he would have walked in on some crime scene? Good job on his part for being smart.

[@craigelliott5406]

What a life! Wish i had the cash & the know how to just sail away. :) An adventure & danger every day.