The family bought the boat on Friday and was dead Saturday. The ill-fated family of five had purchased the 33-foot cabin cruiser the day before and launched it the following morning from Marina Del Rey, California. Cruising several miles south of Marina Del Rey, the father- a novice boater- ventured near shore and was capsized in heavy surf. The entire family perished.

I was at the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center in Long Beach California when this tragedy unfolded. Although the incident occurred several years ago, I clearly remember it. At the time, I was assigned to Coast Guard cutter Point Bridge, an 82-foot patrol boat- home port, Marina Del Rey. I knew exactly where the boat had rolled, I had rolled there many times myself while surfing in these waters as a teen.

The tragedy that befell the family unfortunately occurs too often. Talk with experienced Coast Guard rescuers and they will tell you that some of the most common, most life threatening, and most difficult rescues occur not in open waters, high seas, or major bays, but near shore. I recall harrowing rescues off rock-laden islands, shoal infested shores, and riprap laced sea walls.

I’ve witnessed many near shore disasters here on Lake Michigan. One involved the capsizing of a 21-foot Coast Guard inflatable boat off the Manistee North pier head. Three crewmen were tossed into the water when caught in a backlash of heavy seas crashing off the North pier head. Fortunately, the crew was wearing survival suits, which kept them afloat as the surf tumbled them onto shore unhurt. The boat wasn’t as fortunate; it sustained heavy damage.

Images of that near disaster dance across my mind when I operate our 25-foot inflatable rescue boat, or for that matter any Coast Guard boat near shore. Operating a boat near shore requires special boating skills and training that escapes most of us. In fact, the Coast Guard boasts a surfman rating, members of which are considered the Coast Guard’s elite boat handlers. The surfman insignia can only be worn after conducting extensive training in heavy surf off the shores of Point Disappointment, Washington. The hair-raising maneuvers often performed in monstrous surf can result in some coasties quickly pursuing career changes.

Most coasties, whether surfman or not, will tell you that the best method of handling turbulent onshore waters is to avoid them in the first place.

Experienced yachtsmen I’ve talked to agree. My cousin, Jimmy Wolfe, manages a yacht maintenance firm in Santa Barbara, California. He captains for and delivers yachts worldwide for the rich and famous. During a yacht delivery I made with him we were steaming south along the California coast in a 50-foot sloop. Eyeing the rugged California coastline just south of Point Sur Jimmy said: "When the weather picks up, I head towards open waters, there I have a much better chance than if I try to make port and end up splintered on the rocks." His words carried 30 years of experience. I listened.

Mostly, it’s inexperienced boaters who find themselves spilled onto shore or a breakwater. Should you, for whatever reason, find yourself nearing shore in heavy surf without power, drop an anchor and for sure don a life jacket. Recently, I assisted a boater whose 18-foot powerboat was floundering in the Lake Michigan surf. The boat was near shore and in too shallow water for us to directly assist. The captain had to walk the boat out into open water, and even then I had to commandeer a jet ski to carry in our towing line so we could hook up the boat.

With only 300 feet of towline and with shallow waters running well off shore, we were lucky to get the boat in tow. The captain’s feeble attempt to anchor his boat soon turned to worms. He had neither the proper ground tackle nor proper size anchor to hold the boat.

His engine had failed while operating near shore and the surf caught him and carried his boat just off the beach. He was lucky that surf conditions were mild so he was able to walk his boat out to safe water. By the way, he was not wearing a life jacket, but soon was after I spoke my mind. Often boaters who end up floundering near shore in shallow waters or end up grounded can not receive Coast Guard or other rescue assistance. Coast Guard rescue units, sheriff rescue units, and other marine rescue units can only go in so far before shallow waters restrict their efforts. In the case of the Coast Guard, we will not jeopardize a primary rescue unit for the convenience of a grounded boater. Understand, we will do our utmost to assist within the limits of safety, however, with life or limb at stake, well, that’s another matter.

Hopefully boaters will use common sense and avoid situations where life and limb are in the balance. Boat Smart- follow Cousin Jimmy’s advise- stay in open waters.

Another life-jacket story: Last week the Coast Guard launched an extensive search on Lake Michigan off New Buffalo, for two sailors who were separated from their over turned Hobie Cat. The night and day long search, which involved air and surface rescue units, located both sailors. One was alive after 17 hours in the water the other deceased, both were wearing wet suits and life jackets. The nighttime water temperature was around 55 degrees. Chief Ellison, Officer In Charge, Station St. Joseph, said both sailors were wearing dark wet suits and life jackets. He suggests that bright colors and reflective tape on life jackets would greatly enhance rescuer’s abilities to spot people in the water especially with the helicopter’s night sun. Excellent point, Chief; I couldn't agree with you more.

Boat Smart is now on the Internet: www.boatsmart.net (includes Lake Michigan water temperatures and local weather).

Use channel 16 for emergencies, and channel 9 for calling fellow boaters.