I was the USCG Accident Investigator on this capsizing incident back in 1988 and Interviewed the survivors and crew of tender and flew out to Montague Island to craw aboard the Linda’s Draw after it came ashore as a total wreck. Vessel had fuel management issues, weight management issues, too much weight aloft, skiff shifted to port and loosely secured. Excellent work from Tender crew who saved the lives of Linda’s Draw crew. Vessel was heading north following the Herring Sac Roe Fishery in Southeast Ak. to PWS. This was a big money fishery back in the day before EV Spill in 1989 and then it all collapsed. I also was Lead Investigator on EV Grounding a year later.

Love how they are soooooo just like "well let's start picking ppl out the water"

I was fishing on an identical boat as this one and had gotten across the Gulf of Alaska just a day ahead of those guys. I worked with the boat owners son who was driving this boat. I’m thankful they all made it.

If you watch the video Linda's Draw was crossways on top of a massive roller that was breaking from both directions. The wave just picked the boat up and laid it on it's side. You may ask how I know this. I was a crew member on the Alaska Eagle at the wheel when we found them. Not only did I take the video, I threw the lines that got all three crew members onboard the Eagle. My name is Gale Hann and I worked for Ted Morehouse for four years.

That little boat put up a valiant struggle to stay afloat before being overwhelmed by the waves. Glad to hear the crew was rescued. That was some nasty storm.

I grew up on fishing boats. My family's history on the ocean goes back over 150 years. Have lost many friends over the years. What use to be caught along the shoreline you need to go out 200 miles to catch today. If you are not a believer the ocean can make you cry to God to save you. Total respect to anyone that goes to sea for a living!!

Those folks who work in conditions like this have balls of steel...just scary...hats off to you

Every time we sit down to eat a chunk of fish, it's worth remembering that men go out in mountainous seas to catch that food. It truly is the last, great frontier and those guys have more balls than 90% of the rest of us!

Respect! I'm 13 years old, and from Norway. In only 2 years i'm going to work on a fishingvessel in the North-sea, can't wait :D

Our seiner was in the same storm, heading into Prince William Sound for the Herring season. Actually saw the video in Cordova on the Alaska Eagle when they got into town. The main reason it was floundering so bad was because the seine (net) was in the fishhold without the bin boards in, causing it to shift weight over to port. Also the skiff had shifted to port creating even more stability issues..

You know the crew of the boat that capsized must have felt like their time had come. I've been out in heavy swells but never in seas like this in a fishing boat. The feeling of biting off more than you can chew and trying to survive is something that makes my.heart go to this crew and the crew that rescued them.

WELL DONE RESCUE...HEROES! Hope all three was all of them! God bless You!

As a Navy veteran I can tell you there are very few things more terrifying than knowing you are going down.

If it looks rough in the video, it's absolute hell in real life.

I remember watching an original copy of this video on VHS as a kid. I believe the Linda's Draw was leaving the Sitka Sac Roe herring fishery for the Togiak Sac Roe fishery in March. I think it was a combination of poor fuel allocation and the skiff broke loose putting the weight on the port side. That line, "Okay, start picking people out of the water!" has been in my head since I was little.

Thank God the crew made it....Thank you Alaska Eagle for a job well done!

Crazy stuff. Have a friend who ran a skiff off Kodiak through the 70s and 80s. Has all sorts of crazy stories of living there all year round. Thanks for sharing and stay safe out there :-)

Fisherman deserve so much respect, they work so hard for their money and risk their lives. God keep them safe.

I fished beside Linda's Draw and new the crew back in the 80's. Nice boat.

This happened just outside of the entrance to Prince William Sound. Boat was bound for Cordova. I'm from there and from what i know about this incident (just things I heard from my Dad and other fishermen) the owner of this boat had his son running it. The guy was scared (of course) and kept too much power on. This is not unusual. You want to just get inside shelter and out of the storm. Hard to deny adrenaline and slow down. Many times if you just pull back on the throttle in deep sea conditions you reduce risk considerably. Also, they had the jitney on deck, and it filled up with water, plus they had the boom up with the power block on it. This all caused too much weight too high on the vessel, reducing stability. This is just what I've heard. The video seems to confirm this, but I wasn't there so I may be wrong.

I wouldn't do this kind of work no matter how much it pays, but, I salute those who do !!

I am from copper center and grew up going out on a 300ft tender commercial fishing with Ted Moorehouse. He rescued a crew that capsized in the early 90s. It aired on Good Morning America. Takes an incredible amount of courage to fish our waters and rescue people.

The year was very good for fishing industry in Alaska. I was in college and got information about fishing in Alaska in needed seamen, it said for few months the season you could eared $50K or $70K. Very attractive ads, but my father said your education would last longer for future earnings. Beside, we have five big fishing vessels in South Vietnam before 1975. Our family had been in fishing business for very long time. Very difficult works and extreme environment when bad weather at sea.

It seems there was already some kind of malfunction in this boat prior to the capsize.

I fished and skippered in AK in the 80's and 90's. This boat is a seiner, probably 58', the same type I worked. I also took that boat through the Gulf geared for blackcod and halibut off Seward and Kodiak. It's pretty obvious that they have lost most of their main engine power - there's a little prop wash showing, but not enough to maneuver in those conditions. I don't know how they got themselves into this situation, but I see some major mistakes on the part of the skipper/crew. 1 - it's common in fair weather to haul the skiff up on deck for travel, but when the weather starts looking shitty, you get the skiff off the deck and tow it to lower the center of gravity. I'd guess an average skiff weighs a couple of tons. Like I said, I don't know the circumstances here, so I don't know why it was still on deck. I notice also that it's shifted to port like it wasn't tied down good enough to begin with. It's making the whole boat list. 2 - Another strategy in a seiner when you know you're about to get your butt kicked is to lower the main boom and the block down to the main deck and winch it down tight, further lowering your center of gravity. I wouldn't guess the weight of the boom and block, but your're talking a huge chunk of thick steel tube and a heavy block all the way at the top of it. AK seiners have combinations of lead, concrete, and steel in the keel that makes them like Weebles. Remember the old kid's toy? Weebles wobble but they don't fall down? Same concept. Although lowering the boom can make the period of righting quick enough to be uncomfortable for the crew, it keeps you away from laying over so far for so long that any subsequent waves can pound you down. Two more things I wonder about - It looks like they have two (either picking or stabilizer) booms that are still up. No matter what they are, they should be down also, and rigged tighter, not flopping around. The other thing is that they seem awfully high in the water. Don't know what fishery they were doing, but "if" they had a seine, it should have been in the bottom of the hold and not on deck before they left for a trip in the Gulf. Also by '88 many boats had been converted from the old dry-holds to refrigerated wet-holds, where the fish hold is filled with refrigerated sea water. This boat is one of two things - running an empty wet-hold or one of the old dry-holds. Been there, done that, so many times I can't count.

I was on a 53ft ketch in a gulf storm with seas far bigger than that in 1980. The boat behind us lost 2 overboard never recovered. I love the comment the crew mate said about not being on a sail boat. A strong 40-50ft sail boat with a good skipper would have been fine in those seas. That skipper needs to have his certification pulled.

Respect to all the fishermen and coast guards across the World 💯💙💙🙏🏽

I'm glad they were able to rescue the 3 fishermen.

people who complains about seafood price should watch this....or don't eat seafood at all!

Alright start picking ppl outta the water! They knew and were just waiting for it to finally happen.

I got motion sickness just watching this. Glad everyone was saved.

Cool kettle of fish there, good job on saving your buddies. I guess the capsized ship had lost its power for some reason, getting hit sideways by those mothers of a wave sucks big time.

Every time I've seen this, I always wonder, Why weren't they jogging? Even "tanked down" (fish holds flooded to to provide weight and raise metacentric height), both of those skippers had to know how prone to surfing and broaching a purse seiner can be. Linda's Draw seems to be taking these seas on her quarter, the worst possible direction. The boat will surf, become uncontrollable as she exceeds her hull speed, then "head up and broach". The nautical term for that situation is, "Fucked".

Dear God. I grew up on lake Erie. One man's heavy seas is another's typical day. That video made my eyes tear up. Wow, such power in our oceans and great lakes. God bless those who find themselves in rough seas, be it in a 14ft Utility boat on an inland lake, or a 180ft Trawler.

I respect any man or woman dare go out in those seas to work in order to provide for their families. When that ship capsized I can only imagine how helpless that feeling must be. I hope they all survived and are still enjoying life... -Godspeed!

No wimps on board everyone involved has the courage of a lion, glad everyone ok

You couldn’t pay me enough.. that’s scary place be at the mercy of the monster

I got seasick on a lake once. It was like a millpond too! Don't know how these guys do it. Maximum respect.

Fuckin A.... As a guy who grew up on the water, former EMT and prior service Coast Guard this video hits home. It happens so fast. Makes my heart race. Good video, thanks for sharing. Sorry about the boat, glad your friends made it home.

Been there done that Good Luck and God bless may your futures be filled with fair winds and following seas!!

Thank god you’ll made it to help them. How scary man there family’s must have been sick with fear

Honest hard working people like these fishermen working in extreme weather conditions risking their lives for an honest living n to help feed the world get paid peanuts in comparison to crooked fininciers bankers n shares dealers, doesn't this make any dissent man sick to his bones?

So blessed you were there to get them!!!!

4:30 Your welcome

Yup I knew it. I was waiting for a wave from the side and thats what does it everytime; hands down. Must always cut into the wave.

shakein it up like that, fuel filters clog....been there,done that....yep, engine conked out in big storm.......quickest fuel filter change i ever did, scared the crap out of me the whole time while below decks, definitely put me in survival mode .....and yes, why was the skiff picked, i never like having the skiff on board in big weather

This footage really gives a more truthful depiction of how violent the water surface is.. it's waves from every which way and the amount of movement on the filming vessel is conveyed too.

I spent three days Hove To, in the Gulf of Alaska, in the same weather conditions, in my sailboat a Ingid 38' "Solitude." Helm tied over, storm jib. She'd sail up, then fall off. Perfectly content, like a duck, sleeping with it's head between it's feathers. That was in 1993 or 94.

God bless those people that saved their lives that day.

It’s a hard way to make a living! But we love what we do and wouldn’t change it

Awesome photography !!

These guys were under pay and under rated. I don't know how if a person can get spotted floating in that condition. I saw a guy got picked out or spotted out in the Malacca Straits when his boat got roll and sink plus he lost his father in that mishap. I can't see a thing between the waves but a crew from another boat spotted him in the sea. The water on the straits are walk in the park compared to Alaska waters. Wow!! Balls of steel for sure

"You're gona need a bigger boat..."

Did the engines go out, I've never been on one of these boats but I know you don't want to run parallel to the swell.

I just knew this guy was going to miss the money shot all the way through. Pleased to see he “just” managed to capture the moment but barely. Glad all crew were rescued. Incredible scenes.

Hats off to these brave rescuers

The camera person is FIRED lol

The sea was angry that day, my friends.

My brother was on the Loch Lein which sank in the Tasman Ocean in 1988 in similar sea's ... FV being operated by Simunovich out of Auckland at that time .... dangerous job .. good result.

That was hard to watch. My dad lost his life when the Pacific Surf went down in the Gulf in 1977.

It appeared the ship had no propulsion or steering! and was at the mercy of the sea!!

I was a commercial fisherman out of Kodiak and Dutch harbor for 6 years..pot-fishing is all I did. dam that sainer is lucky that bigger boat jogged by there side

I learnt one thing about the sea, you will see many things beyond human explanation and no two waves are the same. No one is braver than a sailor

I think when a big wave hits the stern diagonally behind it can easily flip it. I think this is the Achilles heel of boats and ships.

thank God the other boat was there!

I thought I saw Lieutenant Dan in that other ships mast.

The crew had no chance to save the vessel. It can be seen from the beginning they were taking on water and struggling tremendously in the underpowered boat to keep turning into the waves. They did a good job keeping her afloat awhile. But it looked inevitable there were going to capsize.

The reason they capsised was probably cause they had it's beams up so high into the air, that makes ships and boats unsteady but if they have two beams whit anchoors/heavy wheights at each side it would be much more stabile

Probably should've been towing the skiff, thats just making the boat that much more top heavy.

The power skiff should have been in tow and the power block lowered to the rear deck in these conditions...IMHO. It even looks like the skiff started to move around to the port side of the boat just before it capsized (fished a purse seiner for 10 years).

Superb boat behavior and badass crew members: I wish everyone has been saved.

After watching for what seemed like 3 hours, it finally flips over.

The skipper was messed up. The seiner was listing to the port side because the seine skiff was further to the port side. The skipper should have cut the skiff and saved the seiner.

Capsize at 4:35

even as a fisherman, made my heart sink. were they wearing survival suits? best $270 bucks ive ever spent!

wow...it's that easy for a ship to go over....i thought it would take a bigger wave..no wonder it's the most dangerous job in the world....these guys are john wayne of the seas...and the way the guy was so calm on the radio,like another day in the office..they have my respect fully....and i'm a roofer and i have had some hairy times doing that profession but this takes the cake.

From my experience you can handle huge seas if you point the bow into the sea and throttle back and slowly go into it. To fast to dangerous and if you get side on you are in trouble. So this vessel had either none or very little power and the skiff should have been let go and the boom lowered. I have been in some very angry seas and if the vessel is not stable you are in trouble. I think a lot of things went against this vessel, poor management being the number 1.

id hate to be on that boat. lol

Thank God someone was there

Well done Alaska Eagle!

The way she wallows makes me think she's top heavy.

Why were they sailing across the waves and not heading in to them?

KZfaq needs more people like you.

I grew up around the off shore commercial fishing and shrimping industry in Florida down to South America. Now I live in Alaska. You couldn't get me on a boat up here. Rite there, just this easy. Most of the people that die in the water don't die of drowning or hypothermia, the die of a heart attack from the shock of the cold water. That price you pay for those fish is CHEAP.

This looks like a flooded engine room. Engine loss in a gale will sink any sort of ship.

Get the Skiff off the deck in weather like that Rip to the 4 men

I've fish in southeast Alaska most of my life ,I see at least one problem with that boat ,not laying the booms down on ,the deck- getting as much weight low ,it might not have save it ,- but I would done that at least.and probably not putting the skiff on deck. Bummer ,I've always been very cautious though

These guys run these boats so top heavy it's hard to believe that more aren't lost. If you ever get a chance, take a look at one of these seiners when it's up on blocks, it'll make you wonder how they stay right side up at all.

I would be puking my guts out, and when finished with that, my shoes and socks

4:30 youre welcome

I was at my brother's place in Cordova Alaska watching this on the news the year it happened.

That is crazy footage!

If it weren't for Alaskan fisherman our Coast Guard would be bored to death

Just watching made me want to puke!

In conditions like that, it's a challenge even to stand up - you need to hold on with both hands. I've sailed in the Gulf of Alaska, and was always too busy hanging on to even think of filming anything. This guy did a good job just filming at all.

@Kingseiner Did you notice the power block was hoisted way up in the working position instead of being lowered to the deck and dropping the center of gravity?

Great video. Did anyone die?

if I cant catch it within sight of land on a nice day then I don't really need to eat it

first responders are life savers!!

Nice job video man Almost saw what I waited 4:40 seconds to see