parker23RIP
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This is a revised version of the story I posted on Striped-Bass.com, Stripers247.com and StriperSurf.com.
Rogue Wave
I haven't posted much lately on Striped-Bass.com, Stripersurf.com, Stripers247.com and Saltwateredge.com. I had a late start due to engine rebuild. Electrolysis ate a few holes in my 4-year-old block. Yamaha covered the entire $10,000 rebuild. The warranty expired in June 2007. Luckily I change my internal zincs every season due to my extended season and 250+ hours per year of use. Yamaha replaced everything that required lube at no cost. Wallmsley’s Marine recommended additional service items that I chose to have done while the engine was in pieces. Have I mentioned that I LOVE YAMAHA! I wish I could be a spokesman for Parker/Yamaha; I would sell so many boats. I know of at least 5 local striper guys that have purchased a new or used Parker after fishing on my war platform. I have had Yamaha Engines on my boats since I powered my 14’ Amesberry Dory. I have never owned a boat without with an engine made by Yamaha.
Back to the story:
I Steamed from Swansea Marina at 1800 hours Friday night July 26, 2008. I stopped to net some pogies on the way. After netting 200 fish, 30 for the livewell and the rest for chum, it was time to fish.
Fished a few spots on my way to Beavertail, nada. 2100 hours I ran to the House-On-The Rocks in Newport, RI, got a bluefish, a dogfish and 1 very large seabass on a live eel (which was the second time this month). 2230 hours stopped by my parents boat in Jamestown to say hi. 2430 fished Dutch, 1 large blue nothing else.
I dropped the hook at Dutch Island at 0130 and slept in the cockpit under the stars in a LLBean folding camp hammock I bought this winter, what a beautiful night. This hammock is freaking awesome, it’s so comfortable even for a large mammal like myself. It folds down to a very storable size and stows in its own gear-bag. Key to a good night sleep is no biting insects. I purchased BugOut pants and jacket from Bean as well. These are made of polyester and prevent even the smallest no-se-ums from ruining your sleep.
At 0330 I woke up and went to search for a few live bunker. 0430 started fishing the rocks outside Narragansett. 20 fish all over 20#’s. 2 fish in box a 33 and a 42 according to my 60# BogaGrip, which has been on the money every time I pre-weighed a fish for a tournament. At 0630 I moved to last rock pile off Camp Varnum following the dropping tide. I was leaning against the seat at the helm with the engine engaged to maintain my position away from the dangerous whitewater. I had 1 rod in each of 2 outrigger type rod-holders on the gunwale. Swimming a pogie on 1 rod and a clam belly on the other, while casting a Saltybugger Big Head popper into whitewater. The whitewater was at the end of my cast, 300ft or so. Boat was in gear, bow pointed out to sea to maintain my position away from the dangerous breakers. The water around boat was very manageable, loose sets of rollers, nothing breaking. The seas were very large and breaking 200ft south of the rock pile. There were 3 sets of breakers before the last rockpile of the reef. I casted around for a while catching a few schoolies and 1 mid-teen bass until I got a nasty backlash on my braid for the last 20 years. I fixed the backlash and then called a friend at 7:38 to see if I he was into fish. I told him to get here quickly because my pogie was doing “The Dance of Death” on the surface. At approximately 0740 I heard a roar and looked toward the bow as a monster wave (20’ or better crashed on the bow breaching the boat to starboard and filling her with green water. Everything that floated was heading for the sea. I dropped the rod, grabbed the wheel and hit the gas turning the helm hard to port as the next wave rolled in. The water in the boat headed aft at 20 knots driving all of the gear aft. I angled the boat at 30 degrees to the breaker and prepared for the worst. This wave was the biggest of the set and turtled the boat, sailing me through the air like a toy doll. Did I mention that I am a large mammal? The 3rd wave of the set flipped the boat 360 degrees from turtled position to upright back to turtle.
I took my personal inventory and knew I was ok. My next thought was to secure the boat from the rocks or preventing a navigation hazard to other vessels. Unfortunately, I could not find the drogue, I must have taken it off the cleat and stowed it in the console when I hit the sack at Dutch Island.
Plan B was the anchor in the bow locker. I reached under the bow opened the anchor locker and released the anchor to keep my baby off the rocks. The water was only 12-14’, so the anchor quickly hit bottom. The swirling sea wrapped the anchor rode around my PFD and my groin area.
The undertow pulled me under the boat and I popped up in an air pocket, smashing my nose on the helm. Luckily, a bloody nose, a few cuts and bruises were the only injuries I could feel. The air-pocket stretched from bow to stern, providing plenty of air for a little rest. I grabbed onto the helm with both hands and rode the rollercoaster for a minute or so. Once I got my bearings, I ripped the PFD off my chest and grabbed my dive knife from the calf holster on my right leg. As far as being prepared for safety, it’s my obligation to do so. I have been carrying a knife since 5th grade. It was either a dive knife or a rigging knife w/ marlinspike. This habit was learned from my ancestors (The Chase Family) who owned and operated whaling ships in New Bedford and Nantucket. We have ships logs on loan at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford Library and the new Nantucket Whaling Museum. The stories in these logs make my story pale in comparison are fantastic and are available online. Check it out over the cold months of winter when you are jonsing for a Striper.
Again, the undertow pulled me from the helm about 10’underwater (I touched bottom) to the transom of the boat, thankfully the engine was gone. I think it would have been the end if the engine were still attached. Inspecting the transom, the piston snapped and the bracket busted. I remember hearing what sounded like a 12 gauge buckshot a few short minutes before. The bracket was severed in half. Amazingly my Parker transom was not damaged, built like a brick sh1thouse. I managed to hold onto my knife by the Grace of God and cut myself free from the anchor rode. I held onto the swim platform on the stern and rested for a short time. Every wave set tore me away from the boat so I swam to the bow and managed to pull myself up on the gunwales and hugged the flared bow of my Parker23 hull. At this point, my boat was in the snotty area of the rock pile and the breakers were outrageous. I was unable to stay on the boat, I tried to swim away from the boat but it kept following me, riding up my backside and smashing my squash. I swam to the stern and pushed off the port side heading west. I swam as hard as I could to put as much distance between the boat and me. After a good 5 minutes of strong swift strokes I was at least 30 feet west of the boat and the breaking surf. Miraculously, I was not in too bad of shape. A few cuts, bloody nose and bruises were the only injuries I could feel at the time. At this point I was probably 300 yards from the Camp Varnum beach and convinced I was going to die. My prayers were answered, some how I made it into chest deep water and body surfed to safety. The last 100 yards were the most brutally painful experience of my life. I used my Van Staal Titanium pliers in my right hand and my H2Odyssey Titan Pointed Tip Titanium Dive Knife as a digging tool and to fend off the rocks. I hit every rock and made contact with every barnacle and mussel bed on the bottom. No wonder this place is Striper Heaven the structure/forage is unbelievable. I pulled myself onto a flat rock and started puking saltwater, my throat and my other end are still at tad raw from the flow of seawater through my body. I cleaned out my trunks and thought it was seaweed, however, I **** myself in all of the excitement. Innate body functions set off a series of fight or flight survival mechanisms resulting in a lighter more agile body free of excess weight.
15 minutes or so later my leg starts vibrating and I hear music. My ring tone is a heavenly kind of tune, I thought I was going mad or entering the pearly gates. I then realized it was my freaking cell phone in my pocket. This phone is a Verizon GzOne rated as water resistant, this phone kicks a$$. It has endured many rough days at sea and ashore, countless swims, drops and stress relieving tosses. The phone call was from a fishing Buddy that was fishing in the rocks at the mouth of the Sackonnet River. He asked if I was into fish and I relayed a quick version of the events. I called SafeSea, The Coast Guard and made the report and started calling friends and family. Please note, the area where the boat and I washed ashore is not accessible by land by to the public and very difficult to see anything on the rocky shoreline due to the size of the breakers and its rocky makeup. The Coast Guard and SafeSea were on the scene within 5 minutes, however, they were unable to reach me. I was still in the wash and needed to get on dry land. I wish I had my SIMMS corkers, I can’t count the times I fell on the slime. Thankfully, I wear Sperry “get wet sneakers while on deck. These shoes are fitted with a nylon elastic webbing on the inside that your feet become one with the shoe. The arch support and comfort of these shoes makes a 20-hour casting trip endurable. If I had any other shoe on, I know I would have broken an ankle or worse. While on dry land I watched my T-top float away with my radar dome as well as all of my floatable gear. I called more friends and family members to recount the episode. The phone is still in working order, even the Bluetooth connection works in my car. This phone saved my life. There is no doubt in my mind that I would have died from exposure if it were not for the quality of this phone. I have insurance on the phone and a replacement is being shipped. The insurance company wanted my phone and I said, “no way, this phone is my good luck charm and I am willing to pay the additional fee”. I will be writing a testimonial on the lifesaving value of this phone and will promote it to everyone I know that spends time on the water. I know of at least 3 guys who have purchased this phone after reading this story on the Internet.
The beach is set at the bottom of a very steep rocky vegetation filled bank. Visibility is nada from the base unless someone is in search mode. The National Guardsman would not have seen the boat or me unless they were in search mode. Narragansett Fire & Rescue and the Guardsman were on scene shortly after I made the calls to SafeSea and the Coast Guard. These guys were awesome; they walked me around the fence to the gate and checked me out in the ambulance. They joked with me to add a little levity to the unfortunate event. The Narragansett Police graciously drove me North Kingstown where we were met by a Wickford Police cruiser. It was my first time in the back of a cruiser that I actually enjoyed the rough ride on the hard plastic seats. No cuffs or the stress of impending doom added to the pleasurable experience.
My boat has slammed down on hundreds of rocks while fishing the **** over the last 3 seasons. I fish from March to late December, 736 hours in 3 seasons and I don’t troll. Many times a large wave has picked me up and deposited the boat high and dry on boulder fields. Boat listing at 30 degrees when the next set pulls me off the rocks. Every year I spend at least a g-note on bottom repairs, last year I had to have 6” of the skeg welded back on the engine that was lost in the rip at House on the Rock in Newport as well as $2000.00 of bottom repairs. They don’t call them ROCKFISH without good reason.
The National Guard stopped by my former spouse’s house and dropped off 1 of my 3 AquaSkins surfbags with its contents intact, a few 5-gallon buckets, a duffle bag, knapsack, a small Coleman cooler and an assortment of other items. A few days later I received a box of assorted items they shipped.
I went to see the gang at SafeSea. These guys/gals are incredible. They were so gracious and accommodating when I walked into the office looking like an oversized wet and bloody rat. They even fed me pizza slices and many glasses of ice water and gave me a SafeSea hat. Sunday 0930 I went to SafeSea to find out what was up w/ my boat. Then I went to Brewers for a shower. I removed nylon shards from the anchor rode with vice grips from my private parts and legs in the head at Brewers. The folks at Brewers must have thought someone was being murdered in the bathroom. I have been to many yacht yards/marinas and Brewers is one of the finest. Brewers Wickford Cove tops the list of all Brewers locations. I have befriended the gang that works there and would not think of changing marinas.
The boat was still on the rocks as of 2000 hours Sunday 7.27.08. The Salvage Team from SafeSea attempted salvage Monday at 0400 low tide to no avail, the surf was too dangerous. Tuesday at 1600 the salvage team from SafeSea spent 4 hours building the web of lines and blocks they used to pulled the boat from the rocks and towed her to Brewers Wickford where she sits on blocks. The topsides are trashed however, the hull was not breached. She remained dry as a cork during the tow and the bilge was empty when I checked it on the blocks. This blows my mind. The area she was in is all jagged boulders, not a sandy beach. She sat in the wash for 88 hours and the integrity of the hull was not compromised. Most other boats would have been reduced to a million pieces. I cried like a baby when I saw her condition. Seeing the boat was the closing of a very harrowing chapter in my life and my emotions went wild.
If anyone fishing the area finds some gear, I will reward you. There is a $2500.00 reward for a Rolex Submariner gold and stainless steel with a blue face that is sitting on the bottom in my Parker console. This watch has more sentimental value than monetary.
I am so thankful that I was alone, I am certified as a lifeguard and swam 1-3 miles a day for 5 years before I got FAT 8 years ago. Thank God I had to quit drinking/drugs last year. There is no doubt that had I been hung-over, I would not be writing this story. Most of my fishing is done alone. If I had to worry about a friend, things would have been much worse. Being a good swimmer helped, the dive knife and the VS Pliers were a necessity. I truly believe that God played the whole thing out for me. I have done a lot of bad things in my life due to my use of drugs and alcohol. It’s time for Bruce to pay back society. I started several new businesses in the last year and each one has a nonprofit element incorporated into the mission statement and corporate charter.
I learned what true altruism is from the fine people in AA. They saved my drunk a$$ life, now its time for me to help someone else. I recently established a new nonprofit organization, WhalingCityFamily.org, there is a commercial component to the nonprofit that will fund the many programs I have slated in our corporate charter. Including housing for families trying to get out of the grips of addiction and a community center in Providence, RI that will provide counseling, meetings food and healthcare. This is just a start. Much more good stuff to come.
I am so thankful to God that I am alive; everything that was lost will be replaced at replacement value by insurance. Make sure you check your boat or homeowners insurance. The additional cost is well worth the difference in settlement hassles and the amount you receive.
3 hours after capsizing I was home in bed ordering my new boat from Don’s Marine in Tiverton RI. Yup, you guessed it… It’s a Parker 25SE, 2 feet longer with a 9’6” beam and Yamaha 250 4 stroke plus every conceivable option and safety gear available.. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would own a new Parker. Did I mention that I love Parkers and Yamaha engines?
Please call me if you would like additional information: cell 401-742-4191 or at my business 401-822-2513 (password---“fishing”--- and the gatekeeper will pass you through. My email is [email protected]
Thanks for taking the time to read this story.
Bruce Demoranville
Rogue Wave
I haven't posted much lately on Striped-Bass.com, Stripersurf.com, Stripers247.com and Saltwateredge.com. I had a late start due to engine rebuild. Electrolysis ate a few holes in my 4-year-old block. Yamaha covered the entire $10,000 rebuild. The warranty expired in June 2007. Luckily I change my internal zincs every season due to my extended season and 250+ hours per year of use. Yamaha replaced everything that required lube at no cost. Wallmsley’s Marine recommended additional service items that I chose to have done while the engine was in pieces. Have I mentioned that I LOVE YAMAHA! I wish I could be a spokesman for Parker/Yamaha; I would sell so many boats. I know of at least 5 local striper guys that have purchased a new or used Parker after fishing on my war platform. I have had Yamaha Engines on my boats since I powered my 14’ Amesberry Dory. I have never owned a boat without with an engine made by Yamaha.
Back to the story:
I Steamed from Swansea Marina at 1800 hours Friday night July 26, 2008. I stopped to net some pogies on the way. After netting 200 fish, 30 for the livewell and the rest for chum, it was time to fish.
Fished a few spots on my way to Beavertail, nada. 2100 hours I ran to the House-On-The Rocks in Newport, RI, got a bluefish, a dogfish and 1 very large seabass on a live eel (which was the second time this month). 2230 hours stopped by my parents boat in Jamestown to say hi. 2430 fished Dutch, 1 large blue nothing else.
I dropped the hook at Dutch Island at 0130 and slept in the cockpit under the stars in a LLBean folding camp hammock I bought this winter, what a beautiful night. This hammock is freaking awesome, it’s so comfortable even for a large mammal like myself. It folds down to a very storable size and stows in its own gear-bag. Key to a good night sleep is no biting insects. I purchased BugOut pants and jacket from Bean as well. These are made of polyester and prevent even the smallest no-se-ums from ruining your sleep.
At 0330 I woke up and went to search for a few live bunker. 0430 started fishing the rocks outside Narragansett. 20 fish all over 20#’s. 2 fish in box a 33 and a 42 according to my 60# BogaGrip, which has been on the money every time I pre-weighed a fish for a tournament. At 0630 I moved to last rock pile off Camp Varnum following the dropping tide. I was leaning against the seat at the helm with the engine engaged to maintain my position away from the dangerous whitewater. I had 1 rod in each of 2 outrigger type rod-holders on the gunwale. Swimming a pogie on 1 rod and a clam belly on the other, while casting a Saltybugger Big Head popper into whitewater. The whitewater was at the end of my cast, 300ft or so. Boat was in gear, bow pointed out to sea to maintain my position away from the dangerous breakers. The water around boat was very manageable, loose sets of rollers, nothing breaking. The seas were very large and breaking 200ft south of the rock pile. There were 3 sets of breakers before the last rockpile of the reef. I casted around for a while catching a few schoolies and 1 mid-teen bass until I got a nasty backlash on my braid for the last 20 years. I fixed the backlash and then called a friend at 7:38 to see if I he was into fish. I told him to get here quickly because my pogie was doing “The Dance of Death” on the surface. At approximately 0740 I heard a roar and looked toward the bow as a monster wave (20’ or better crashed on the bow breaching the boat to starboard and filling her with green water. Everything that floated was heading for the sea. I dropped the rod, grabbed the wheel and hit the gas turning the helm hard to port as the next wave rolled in. The water in the boat headed aft at 20 knots driving all of the gear aft. I angled the boat at 30 degrees to the breaker and prepared for the worst. This wave was the biggest of the set and turtled the boat, sailing me through the air like a toy doll. Did I mention that I am a large mammal? The 3rd wave of the set flipped the boat 360 degrees from turtled position to upright back to turtle.
I took my personal inventory and knew I was ok. My next thought was to secure the boat from the rocks or preventing a navigation hazard to other vessels. Unfortunately, I could not find the drogue, I must have taken it off the cleat and stowed it in the console when I hit the sack at Dutch Island.
Plan B was the anchor in the bow locker. I reached under the bow opened the anchor locker and released the anchor to keep my baby off the rocks. The water was only 12-14’, so the anchor quickly hit bottom. The swirling sea wrapped the anchor rode around my PFD and my groin area.
The undertow pulled me under the boat and I popped up in an air pocket, smashing my nose on the helm. Luckily, a bloody nose, a few cuts and bruises were the only injuries I could feel. The air-pocket stretched from bow to stern, providing plenty of air for a little rest. I grabbed onto the helm with both hands and rode the rollercoaster for a minute or so. Once I got my bearings, I ripped the PFD off my chest and grabbed my dive knife from the calf holster on my right leg. As far as being prepared for safety, it’s my obligation to do so. I have been carrying a knife since 5th grade. It was either a dive knife or a rigging knife w/ marlinspike. This habit was learned from my ancestors (The Chase Family) who owned and operated whaling ships in New Bedford and Nantucket. We have ships logs on loan at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford Library and the new Nantucket Whaling Museum. The stories in these logs make my story pale in comparison are fantastic and are available online. Check it out over the cold months of winter when you are jonsing for a Striper.
Again, the undertow pulled me from the helm about 10’underwater (I touched bottom) to the transom of the boat, thankfully the engine was gone. I think it would have been the end if the engine were still attached. Inspecting the transom, the piston snapped and the bracket busted. I remember hearing what sounded like a 12 gauge buckshot a few short minutes before. The bracket was severed in half. Amazingly my Parker transom was not damaged, built like a brick sh1thouse. I managed to hold onto my knife by the Grace of God and cut myself free from the anchor rode. I held onto the swim platform on the stern and rested for a short time. Every wave set tore me away from the boat so I swam to the bow and managed to pull myself up on the gunwales and hugged the flared bow of my Parker23 hull. At this point, my boat was in the snotty area of the rock pile and the breakers were outrageous. I was unable to stay on the boat, I tried to swim away from the boat but it kept following me, riding up my backside and smashing my squash. I swam to the stern and pushed off the port side heading west. I swam as hard as I could to put as much distance between the boat and me. After a good 5 minutes of strong swift strokes I was at least 30 feet west of the boat and the breaking surf. Miraculously, I was not in too bad of shape. A few cuts, bloody nose and bruises were the only injuries I could feel at the time. At this point I was probably 300 yards from the Camp Varnum beach and convinced I was going to die. My prayers were answered, some how I made it into chest deep water and body surfed to safety. The last 100 yards were the most brutally painful experience of my life. I used my Van Staal Titanium pliers in my right hand and my H2Odyssey Titan Pointed Tip Titanium Dive Knife as a digging tool and to fend off the rocks. I hit every rock and made contact with every barnacle and mussel bed on the bottom. No wonder this place is Striper Heaven the structure/forage is unbelievable. I pulled myself onto a flat rock and started puking saltwater, my throat and my other end are still at tad raw from the flow of seawater through my body. I cleaned out my trunks and thought it was seaweed, however, I **** myself in all of the excitement. Innate body functions set off a series of fight or flight survival mechanisms resulting in a lighter more agile body free of excess weight.
15 minutes or so later my leg starts vibrating and I hear music. My ring tone is a heavenly kind of tune, I thought I was going mad or entering the pearly gates. I then realized it was my freaking cell phone in my pocket. This phone is a Verizon GzOne rated as water resistant, this phone kicks a$$. It has endured many rough days at sea and ashore, countless swims, drops and stress relieving tosses. The phone call was from a fishing Buddy that was fishing in the rocks at the mouth of the Sackonnet River. He asked if I was into fish and I relayed a quick version of the events. I called SafeSea, The Coast Guard and made the report and started calling friends and family. Please note, the area where the boat and I washed ashore is not accessible by land by to the public and very difficult to see anything on the rocky shoreline due to the size of the breakers and its rocky makeup. The Coast Guard and SafeSea were on the scene within 5 minutes, however, they were unable to reach me. I was still in the wash and needed to get on dry land. I wish I had my SIMMS corkers, I can’t count the times I fell on the slime. Thankfully, I wear Sperry “get wet sneakers while on deck. These shoes are fitted with a nylon elastic webbing on the inside that your feet become one with the shoe. The arch support and comfort of these shoes makes a 20-hour casting trip endurable. If I had any other shoe on, I know I would have broken an ankle or worse. While on dry land I watched my T-top float away with my radar dome as well as all of my floatable gear. I called more friends and family members to recount the episode. The phone is still in working order, even the Bluetooth connection works in my car. This phone saved my life. There is no doubt in my mind that I would have died from exposure if it were not for the quality of this phone. I have insurance on the phone and a replacement is being shipped. The insurance company wanted my phone and I said, “no way, this phone is my good luck charm and I am willing to pay the additional fee”. I will be writing a testimonial on the lifesaving value of this phone and will promote it to everyone I know that spends time on the water. I know of at least 3 guys who have purchased this phone after reading this story on the Internet.
The beach is set at the bottom of a very steep rocky vegetation filled bank. Visibility is nada from the base unless someone is in search mode. The National Guardsman would not have seen the boat or me unless they were in search mode. Narragansett Fire & Rescue and the Guardsman were on scene shortly after I made the calls to SafeSea and the Coast Guard. These guys were awesome; they walked me around the fence to the gate and checked me out in the ambulance. They joked with me to add a little levity to the unfortunate event. The Narragansett Police graciously drove me North Kingstown where we were met by a Wickford Police cruiser. It was my first time in the back of a cruiser that I actually enjoyed the rough ride on the hard plastic seats. No cuffs or the stress of impending doom added to the pleasurable experience.
My boat has slammed down on hundreds of rocks while fishing the **** over the last 3 seasons. I fish from March to late December, 736 hours in 3 seasons and I don’t troll. Many times a large wave has picked me up and deposited the boat high and dry on boulder fields. Boat listing at 30 degrees when the next set pulls me off the rocks. Every year I spend at least a g-note on bottom repairs, last year I had to have 6” of the skeg welded back on the engine that was lost in the rip at House on the Rock in Newport as well as $2000.00 of bottom repairs. They don’t call them ROCKFISH without good reason.
The National Guard stopped by my former spouse’s house and dropped off 1 of my 3 AquaSkins surfbags with its contents intact, a few 5-gallon buckets, a duffle bag, knapsack, a small Coleman cooler and an assortment of other items. A few days later I received a box of assorted items they shipped.
I went to see the gang at SafeSea. These guys/gals are incredible. They were so gracious and accommodating when I walked into the office looking like an oversized wet and bloody rat. They even fed me pizza slices and many glasses of ice water and gave me a SafeSea hat. Sunday 0930 I went to SafeSea to find out what was up w/ my boat. Then I went to Brewers for a shower. I removed nylon shards from the anchor rode with vice grips from my private parts and legs in the head at Brewers. The folks at Brewers must have thought someone was being murdered in the bathroom. I have been to many yacht yards/marinas and Brewers is one of the finest. Brewers Wickford Cove tops the list of all Brewers locations. I have befriended the gang that works there and would not think of changing marinas.
The boat was still on the rocks as of 2000 hours Sunday 7.27.08. The Salvage Team from SafeSea attempted salvage Monday at 0400 low tide to no avail, the surf was too dangerous. Tuesday at 1600 the salvage team from SafeSea spent 4 hours building the web of lines and blocks they used to pulled the boat from the rocks and towed her to Brewers Wickford where she sits on blocks. The topsides are trashed however, the hull was not breached. She remained dry as a cork during the tow and the bilge was empty when I checked it on the blocks. This blows my mind. The area she was in is all jagged boulders, not a sandy beach. She sat in the wash for 88 hours and the integrity of the hull was not compromised. Most other boats would have been reduced to a million pieces. I cried like a baby when I saw her condition. Seeing the boat was the closing of a very harrowing chapter in my life and my emotions went wild.
If anyone fishing the area finds some gear, I will reward you. There is a $2500.00 reward for a Rolex Submariner gold and stainless steel with a blue face that is sitting on the bottom in my Parker console. This watch has more sentimental value than monetary.
I am so thankful that I was alone, I am certified as a lifeguard and swam 1-3 miles a day for 5 years before I got FAT 8 years ago. Thank God I had to quit drinking/drugs last year. There is no doubt that had I been hung-over, I would not be writing this story. Most of my fishing is done alone. If I had to worry about a friend, things would have been much worse. Being a good swimmer helped, the dive knife and the VS Pliers were a necessity. I truly believe that God played the whole thing out for me. I have done a lot of bad things in my life due to my use of drugs and alcohol. It’s time for Bruce to pay back society. I started several new businesses in the last year and each one has a nonprofit element incorporated into the mission statement and corporate charter.
I learned what true altruism is from the fine people in AA. They saved my drunk a$$ life, now its time for me to help someone else. I recently established a new nonprofit organization, WhalingCityFamily.org, there is a commercial component to the nonprofit that will fund the many programs I have slated in our corporate charter. Including housing for families trying to get out of the grips of addiction and a community center in Providence, RI that will provide counseling, meetings food and healthcare. This is just a start. Much more good stuff to come.
I am so thankful to God that I am alive; everything that was lost will be replaced at replacement value by insurance. Make sure you check your boat or homeowners insurance. The additional cost is well worth the difference in settlement hassles and the amount you receive.
3 hours after capsizing I was home in bed ordering my new boat from Don’s Marine in Tiverton RI. Yup, you guessed it… It’s a Parker 25SE, 2 feet longer with a 9’6” beam and Yamaha 250 4 stroke plus every conceivable option and safety gear available.. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would own a new Parker. Did I mention that I love Parkers and Yamaha engines?
Please call me if you would like additional information: cell 401-742-4191 or at my business 401-822-2513 (password---“fishing”--- and the gatekeeper will pass you through. My email is [email protected]
Thanks for taking the time to read this story.
Bruce Demoranville
