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Author Topic:   Langara Fishing Lodge Tragedy

Roarque posted 07-31-2008 08:16 PM ET (US)
Langara is a world famous salmon fishing resort near the Queen Charlottes north of Vancouver Island. They offer guided fishing in Boston Whalers where the guests are outfitted with Mustang Survival gear. They also offer self guided boats and it was one of these Whalers that capsized in heavy seas near the Lighthouse for those familiar.
One of my fishing friends was at Langara last week when this happened. One angler stayed with the overturned Whaler; the other ( her father) was knocked unconscious and floated face down away from the craft and drowned. Neither angler was wearing a life jacket or survival suit.
Langara guides nearby responded to a Mayday and found the woman clinging to her Whaler but the 61 year old man was already dead and attempts to save his life ended in failure.
Let's always remember that survival suits are necessary for ocean fishing and that Whalers may not sink but they can and do capsize.
The Whaler's buoyancy may have saved her life as she had the presence of mind to stay with the boat in the heavy seas and waves that would have surrounded her.
Tom W Clark posted 08-29-2008 12:54 PM ET (US)
Actually, the victims were guests of the Oak Bay Marine Group operation at Langara Island. The victims were brought to the Langara Lodge after being recovered.
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story. html?id=f7a5c5b2-75a6-4e03-95a7-8e0c90b96ca7

Tom W Clark posted 08-29-2008 01:10 PM ET (US)
Not the first time for OBMG:
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/1999/m99w0095/m99w0095. asp?print_view=1
Buckda posted 08-29-2008 01:32 PM ET (US)
Thanks for that post Tom -
The sea state of the second accident, along with the operator's experience, seem to have contributed greatly to the accident.
They were in a 17' Boston Whaler hull, and the seas were running 6 to 8 feet (3-4 Meters). I don't know if that is swell or chop (in the great lakes, those kinds of seas are ugly, indeed).
Also, this point is particularly poignant: "When transiting an area of rough water, a vessel's safety is, to a large extent, dependent upon the boat-handling skills of its operator." - from the report posted above.
pglein posted 08-29-2008 01:50 PM ET (US)
Interesting that they identify the Marbella 8 as a 1997 Edgewater, yet the picture sure looks a lot like an 18' Boston Whaler Outrage, possibly older than 1997.
This kind of oversight does sort of call into question the validity of the report, but overall, I'm sure it's an accurate account.
Regardless, both are sad tragedies. I wonder if it's wise to send inexperienced boaters out into the waters of Queen Charlotte Sound in such a small boat with no guide.
Another thing that caught my attention is the use of a 70hp engine with tiller steering on an 18' Whaler. This is certainly not conventional. I can understand the desire to not provide too much power for a rental boat, but it does leave the operator without the ability to increase speed and outrun weather, as well as, possibly, reduce visibility while underway.
Tom W Clark posted 08-29-2008 01:55 PM ET (US)
The boat in the 1999 accident is a 1997 Boston Whaler 17' Standard, built in Edgewater FL, which is what the report correctly indicates.
OBMG appears to not use Whalers anymore at Langara but instead these goofy looking things:
http://www.mvcharlotteprincess.com/gallery/ :

daveweight posted 08-30-2008 02:40 PM ET (US)
What a terrible waste, I spent 9 years in the Royal Navy and I can't swim. I couldn't swim then and I still can't.
What is the point of having safety equipment on board if you don't wear the bloody stuff.
David Weight

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Author	Topic: Langara Fishing Lodge Tragedy
Roarque	posted 07-31-2008 08:16 PM ET (US) Langara is a world famous salmon fishing resort near the Queen Charlottes north of Vancouver Island. They offer guided fishing in Boston Whalers where the guests are outfitted with Mustang Survival gear. They also offer self guided boats and it was one of these Whalers that capsized in heavy seas near the Lighthouse for those familiar. One of my fishing friends was at Langara last week when this happened. One angler stayed with the overturned Whaler; the other ( her father) was knocked unconscious and floated face down away from the craft and drowned. Neither angler was wearing a life jacket or survival suit. Langara guides nearby responded to a Mayday and found the woman clinging to her Whaler but the 61 year old man was already dead and attempts to save his life ended in failure. Let's always remember that survival suits are necessary for ocean fishing and that Whalers may not sink but they can and do capsize. The Whaler's buoyancy may have saved her life as she had the presence of mind to stay with the boat in the heavy seas and waves that would have surrounded her.
Tom W Clark	posted 08-29-2008 12:54 PM ET (US) Actually, the victims were guests of the Oak Bay Marine Group operation at Langara Island. The victims were brought to the Langara Lodge after being recovered. http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story. html?id=f7a5c5b2-75a6-4e03-95a7-8e0c90b96ca7
Tom W Clark	posted 08-29-2008 01:10 PM ET (US) Not the first time for OBMG: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/1999/m99w0095/m99w0095. asp?print_view=1
Buckda	posted 08-29-2008 01:32 PM ET (US) Thanks for that post Tom - The sea state of the second accident, along with the operator's experience, seem to have contributed greatly to the accident. They were in a 17' Boston Whaler hull, and the seas were running 6 to 8 feet (3-4 Meters). I don't know if that is swell or chop (in the great lakes, those kinds of seas are ugly, indeed). Also, this point is particularly poignant: "When transiting an area of rough water, a vessel's safety is, to a large extent, dependent upon the boat-handling skills of its operator." - from the report posted above.
pglein	posted 08-29-2008 01:50 PM ET (US) Interesting that they identify the Marbella 8 as a 1997 Edgewater, yet the picture sure looks a lot like an 18' Boston Whaler Outrage, possibly older than 1997. This kind of oversight does sort of call into question the validity of the report, but overall, I'm sure it's an accurate account. Regardless, both are sad tragedies. I wonder if it's wise to send inexperienced boaters out into the waters of Queen Charlotte Sound in such a small boat with no guide. Another thing that caught my attention is the use of a 70hp engine with tiller steering on an 18' Whaler. This is certainly not conventional. I can understand the desire to not provide too much power for a rental boat, but it does leave the operator without the ability to increase speed and outrun weather, as well as, possibly, reduce visibility while underway.
Tom W Clark	posted 08-29-2008 01:55 PM ET (US) The boat in the 1999 accident is a 1997 Boston Whaler 17' Standard, built in Edgewater FL, which is what the report correctly indicates. OBMG appears to not use Whalers anymore at Langara but instead these goofy looking things: http://www.mvcharlotteprincess.com/gallery/ :
daveweight	posted 08-30-2008 02:40 PM ET (US) What a terrible waste, I spent 9 years in the Royal Navy and I can't swim. I couldn't swim then and I still can't. What is the point of having safety equipment on board if you don't wear the bloody stuff. David Weight