(Photo by KCE Reader MJ)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A boat appropriately named “Double Trouble” found itself in some serious trouble on Lake Michigan Saturday morning when it began taking on water with five adults aboard, prompting a large response from emergency crews and numerous boaters who tried to help.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha Fire Department Deputy Chief Scott Krueger told Kenosha County Eye Saturday afternoon that there was initially considerable confusion about exactly where Double Trouble was located. Numerous boats were attempting to assist, and latitude and longitude information being relayed to emergency crews was ambiguous.
Ultimately, Krueger said authorities determined Double Trouble was 6.5 miles due east of 52nd Street in Lake Michigan.
Among the first mariners to respond was Richard J. Tanner Jr., owner of Stellar Charters in Kenosha. Tanner was one of the first to hear the emergency call. He and his crew immediately pulled up their fishing lines, abandoned what they were doing and headed straight for Double Trouble to help. Tanner was among several civilian boaters who converged on the distressed vessel before and during the official marine response.
The Kenosha County Dive Team launched its boat and made it to Double Trouble before the U.S. Coast Guard arrived, according to Krueger.
Krueger said Dive Team members were in the water and ready to help if needed, but fortunately they did not have to take meaningful rescue action. The Kenosha County Dive Team is a multi-agency team commanded by Somers Fire Chief Ben Anderson.
(Photo by KCE Reader MJ)
At about 10:37 a.m., radio traffic confirmed that local marine units had reached the distressed boat. Kenosha Fire command described Double Trouble at the time as a “sinking vessel,” and firefighters reported that the boat was taking on water with five adults aboard. All five appeared able to move on their own, and there was no reported need for emergency medical treatment.
Despite the danger, the five adults aboard Double Trouble chose to remain on their boat during the rescue and tow. Radio traffic initially indicated responders were preparing to move them onto another vessel, but that plan changed when all five elected to stay aboard.
(Photo by KCE Reader MJ)
Numerous other boats were also trying to help Double Trouble, according to Krueger. A boat named Fish Hunter II seemingly helped tow Double Trouble toward safety as emergency marine crews accompanied the vessel back toward Kenosha.
The U.S. Coast Guard responded from Milwaukee and eventually arrived on scene after the County Dive Team. Once the Coast Guard joined the operation, Kenosha Fire personnel reported there were no medical emergencies and began releasing resources that were no longer needed.
At about 11:34 a.m., Double Trouble was nearing Kenosha as the operation continued.
The boat eventually cleared the breakwall and entered Kenosha Harbor. Radio traffic indicated the Coast Guard assisted after the vessels entered the harbor, while the County Dive Boat was released back to the dock.
Krueger told KCE that Double Trouble never actually sank, but was in danger of sinking. He did not know Saturday afternoon what caused the vessel to begin taking on water.
After making it safely back to shore, Double Trouble was lifted out of Lake Michigan at the yacht club, Krueger said.
All five adults aboard made it safely back to Kenosha, and no injuries were reported.
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4 Responses
I wonder if one of the water exhaust lines ruptured. Many years ago I worked on a 40′ boat out of Waukegan. When we were headed in I noticed a lean to the starboard side but thought it was due to 3 rather large customers standing in that corner. Once we docked and the customers departed the lean didn’t go away. Pulled a hatch and the bilge was full of water. One of the exhaust lines had came apart and was pumping water directing into the bilge. Customers on that boat have a great story to tell.
Great coverage of a potential emergency. Kudos to the civilian vessels that assisted. The bigger story may be the fact tha the Kenosha Coast Guard Station is no longer a full time post. This should be investigated and our elected officials should demand it return to full time status. They tried to take the seasonal Coast Guard helicopter out of Waukegan airport and Illinois elected officials there and in DC fought to keep it for this area during the summer. Besides the pleasure and charter traffic on the lake, there is a steady amout of commercial vessel traffic on the lake all year long. We need and deserve getting our full time Coast Guard station back.
Latitude and longitude , by their very nature , are not ambiguous.
1) So many unknown variables… I am basing my opinion on pure supposition from years of boating. I have zero idea if the following could be true because I don’t have all the info.
2) THIS I DO KNOW: You get your ass out of a sinking boat like this one. You depart off the bow. The boat doesn’t need help sinking from weight. You’ll need 2 people left in the boat. One at the helm and one pulling the drain plug.
3) A commenter above mentioned a clogged line on the bilge pump. Maybe, or something related. But, one of the things a new boat owner does first is to locate everything operating the boat. This includes the manual plug. Pump not working? You need to get the water put somehow.
4) Great … if you found the plug … pull it while the driver is gently accelerating, as soon as it’s out and you have a good hold of it, SHOVE IT! Bring the trim up high so you’re running almost flat and going full throttle. The water will begin a drain process. Cap the plug as soon as the water inside of the boat has subsided enough to run properly. Re-cap the plug as fast as humanly possible. I try to start this process before slowing and bringing the trim down. Yeah, obviously I’ve done it … and every craft is different, so think more of a large inner lake boat.