I've fished commercially since '97. For most of that time I was either Engineer or Mate. Spent a lot of time on boats right similar to the Andrea Gail, including some time on the Hanna Boden when she was in the lobster/Jonah crab fleet. If I were to make a guess as to what did the Andrea Gail in, I'd be likely so suspect her fuel, not the barrels, but her tanks, specifically her fuel vents which were on deck. Typical fuel vents on boats like that have a u shaped pipe coming up from the deck usually right up under the gunwales as far outboard as practical. On the open end of the pipe there is a bell fitting which functions as a check valve, a form of float valve really, that if the fitting gets submerged the ball floats up in the housing and mates with a ring in the top of the bell, which seals most to all of the seawater from getting in and contaminating the fuel. Now I'm not sure which tanks they were drawing from at the time (no-one is) but I would bet significant money it would have been her saddle tanks as they were fairly close to her LCG and LCB while in a loaded state, with her lazarette tanks likely having been used earlier in the trip and topped off with the fuel from the barrels to avoid getting her too far out of trim at any time. Now back to those vents, a goodly few of the boats I've been on have had issues with their vents, fills or some times both; they are all just pipes welded to the deck which also forms the top of the fuel tank, and it is precisely that weld which caused four out of the seven fuel contamination issues I've had to deal with. There is often dissimilar metals between the pipe and the deck and whatever rod was used to weld it in place, its a hotspot for corrosive problems, and is pretty good for letting seawater into the fuel, and diesels do not like trying to burn seawater. Now if the aluminum ball in the bell housing for the tank vent is also shot; and I've only ever encountered a few what weren't you can get a surprising amount of seawater into your tanks. Ideally you would re-weld the fill pipe and slop some paint on it, and you also typically know what tank is know for leaking the worst and which one leaks the least, when you are expecting foul weather the in the next day or so, you align the fuel system so that the main is drawing from the best tank and you also probably go and change the filters on the racors and while you're down there also drain the bowls all around for the racors on the main and any generators you have aboard to make sure that there is as little chance of water getting to the engines and stalling them out as possible. Now for my theory, there is lots of stuff that is lashed all over the deck of a working boat like that and some of it is quite heavy. It wouldn't take much of a knock to snap off a vent or a fill that was already not in the best of shape, and with no record of her vents being repaired for her midships tanks in the previous 5 or so years there is very little reason to assume they were in good shape and a fair bit to recommend that they were in fact at least partially corroded at or around their junction with the deck plates. It is also very likely that something lashed to the deck or gunwales would come totally or partially adrift in the weather they were steaming through. Letting fairly small but continuous amounts of water into the tank, until it got to the point that the fuel/water separators and racor bowls could no longer keep the fuel to the engine clean enough for it to continue running. This would naturally cause it to stall out and necessitate the realignment of the fuel system to draw on a different tank and to have the fuel lines downstream of the racors or at the very very barest minimum downstream of the engine mounted fuel pump to need to be purged. Not an evolution they would have had time for. Now the best they could hope for is to have enough steerage way left to lay the boat onto the port tack and have heave to after a fashion, with the raised "wave wall" what you call her raised bulkhead on the port side offering some shelter to the deck. It's her most stable option at that point however it does mean that she will have been drifting beam to the seas, which you don't have to be to nautically inclined to figure is probably not ideal, but without power it would be the best option. Unfortunately before there was any chance of regaining powered, it is entirely probable that she took a coamer that knocked her down and she down flooded from there, likely going down in less than 3 minutes from that point. Main points of water ingress likely being through the fish hold hatch and through the wheel house door, as I am fairly certain at that point in time she was fitted with a partition door there instead of a true water tight door. But that's just my take on it. Two boats I've been on that had particularly bad fuel problems were the old Genesis and the old William Bowe. Genesis had the issue that her tanks were just flat out dirty as the day is long from years of bad ownership. you had to change the racors on an almost daily basis in good weather to keep the engine and generator going. On the Bowe it was a pure crap show, there was not only dirt and gunk in the tanks but algae and seawater a well, with known deck leaks on all 4 of her fuel tanks that would let water in. The Bowe also had a lot of other problems as well, not the least of which was centered around her generators. The #1 produced somewhat questionable voltage and the frequency was a bit wonky varying between 58 and 62 hz for not particular reason, which on its own not great, but the kicker was that the #2 gen would randomly kick off line. There being no mechanical backup for the steering pumps, and they not starting back up on their own after a loss of electrical power meant that they would have to be manually reset. I'd like to say that such issues are unique to those vessels but that would be a lie. As the fleet ages such problems only become more and more common, don't forget that most of the US boats that were around when the Andrea Gail was built are still fishing. It's a problem that needs to be addressed however I'll not be the one holding my breath for it to happen.

The Flemish Cap? Went there once... in '62. Lots of fish...and lots of weather...

Dang man you’ve added so much back story to Billy Tyne that we never got from “The Perfect Storm”

I was on a 210 ft supply boat coming back from iceland when that storm came together. It was the worst storm I have ever been in. We had 42 containers on our back deck and it was the scarriest 24 hours of my life working offshore. We heard maydays from several vessels but in 80-90 ft seas there was nothing we could do even if we were closer to them.

Major respect to the folk who work on ships like this one. Such hard, dangerous work - they definitely earn what they make

"Dont steam through a hurricane, you wont get paid if you are dead" Me.

Compassion and empathy saved one crewman. kudos.

Usually it’s hubris, poor planning, or lack of regard for safety that causes these kinds of accidents. This is just plain awful luck. RIP.

This story could make a great movie!

I grew up in New Jersey, right on the water. I remember that storm, and, how bad the flooding from the surge was. Half my town was uner 4 feet of water.

I'm on the West Coast. Fuel tanks above the waterline are shunned; and I've never seen fuel drums loaded on the bow. It sounds like they needed a bigger boat to long line that area.

Definitely my favourite maritime channel. I bet that guy that looked into the swordfish's eye, and gave the game away will remember that sword fish for the rest of his life.

I lived right in the ocean in 1991 with my gf, when you opened the sliding glass door to the deck, the deck butted right up against the seawall, when the waves started crashing up on the deck it was beautiful, high tide was still hours away, then the waves started crashing up over the roof, dark green ocean water running down the windows, it was awesome, my gf kept saying we gotta go but I loved it, then a wave brought a boulder and smashed through the sliding glass door, by the time we left both sides street were flooded, i backed the car across the street, we had front row seats to waves ripping the house apart, washing it out to sea, in the morning the only thing left was the foundation and us in the car. 1991 Marshfield, Mass. The perfect storm.

fun fact: I lived in Gloucester during 99-00. When they were filming The perfect Storm. The Crow's nest pictured at 9:43 is not the real bar. That was a set built for the movie; at the end of the pier.

This is gonna be hard on my little boy! John C Reilly The Perfect Storm

Took my Motorcycle to Nova Scotia on the Scotia Prince, a 470-foot-long ferry that would take passengers, vehicles and cargo from Portland Maine to Yarmouth Nova Scotia. Kind of like a mini cruise ship with food, gambling and cabins. Made the trip around 5 or 6 times in my life but during one of the first few we went through a pretty bad Nor'easter . Every so often you could hear the explosion of the Bow crashing into a huge wave and then view out the cabin window would be obscured by water and then clear. Scared the hell out of me. Can't imagine being in something like that storm in a little vessel like the Andrea Gale. RIP Boys

Kosko's remarks about the dying swordfish kinda got to me, I won't lie.

I saw the movie in the theater when it came out and I wasn't expecting much but I was very pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed the movie, the story and the acting. I actually shed a few tears towards the end and that's not something I do often without good reason.

Another theory,based on a similar long liners sinking,is that the Andrea Gail stuffed her bow several times with such force that the hull compressed and her sides split.Kinda like stepping on a beer can that’s standing up .As the beer can compresses the sides split open.She was a steel hull and all that energy pushing on the bow has no place to go and she can’t displace all that energy by flexing.That energy has to go somewhere so it may have forced its way out the sides by splitting the sides of the hull.Ive been fishing commercially for Tuna for 38 seasons and have been caught it some extremely nautical conditions,where I could feel the entire boat flexing and torquing under the strain and they were fiberglass hulls that flexed.

i was on the water that night passing threw the area were the Andera was .that night the storm came threw and just grew and grew ,the captain never turn in ,and i the second engineer made none stop rounds , the captain and i talked some ,he told me then that he knew some boats were in trouble , our ship was 297 feet with 3000 horse power and plow threw the sea ,the waves where 50 to 70 feet and even bigger ones .

The side about the former cook’s reasons for leaving was fascinating. Great story-telling instincts to have included that!

Fellow fisherman. My fathers boat, the Carla Ann (family boat) nearly sank for the same reason. Fuel Drums loaded on board. Full of fuel for an extended trip. The extra weight proved seriously dangerous. My father said he would never do it again.

Your presentation and story telling here is fantastic. Ignore the idiots in the comments who think they know better but clearly have done no research or have any knowledge on what they speak. Excellent work as usual.

The things some people have to perform and endure just so we can buy our groceries conveniently is truly incredible. The next time you buy a slab of swordfish, say a prayer for the men who have perished trying to get that piece of fish to you.

This is an interesting idea, the fuel and water leading to the loss, but the ship was sunk after an extended voyage, where a lot of that extra fuel and water would have been used. The crew knew they were sailing into bad weather and probably would have transferred fuel to the main tanks to lower the center of gravity and reduce free surface effect from partially filled tanks. They might have even dumped the extra fresh water to increase freeboard and increase stability. This was a crew of experienced sailors.

I've been waiting forever for someone to do a good telling of this particular story. And it's YOU of all people, love it! Finally man, thank you! Love your videos brother.

Many members of my grandfathers family are listed on that memorial. Fishing was and still can be so dangerous. It’s a hard life for sure.

I’m good friends with Linda Greenlaw. She is an amazing woman.

I still remember watching it on the news when the Andrea Gail went missing, the fleet pulled together looked for survivors for a couple of weeks, even the Coast Guard looked for well over a week until they found items from her. It was also the quietest movie theater I ever sat in when the movie cam out.

Another excellent story well documented and clearly told. Congratulations!

"The sea's getting colder." That is one hell of an understatement. It will drop to just a few degrees over freezing (from somewhere in the 60s F during summer). In the area off Cape Cod at least. (which isn't too far from the area discussed here) My father lives on Cape Cod year round. One year I went and jumped into Nantucket sound in Jan. or Feb. Lets just say I'll never do that again. Holy hell that was cold. I have never felt anything like that before in my life.

This was very sad. George Clooney died in the incident.

Thank you for the info. You are always so respectful of the lives lost, I truly appreciate that

You're doing a really great job! I'm glad that I've come across your channel!

The perfect storm I love that movie

That story about the fish looking up at Koskogot to me. I don’t like killing anything. I rescue spiders out of my house. It’s probably a girl thing lol

I believe that swordfish did indeed communicate with him and love little gems of the supernatural in real life. Divine intervention.

this is one of my absolute favorite movies. perfect cast, perfect soundtrack, the perfect storm. And for a year 2000 movie it has friggin great cgi. This is my Titanic. Not gonna lie, when the Andrea Gail sinks at the end and Marky Mark is there alone in the ocean, in the storm, i always tear up a bit lol

God bless all the fishermen who risk their lives on the sea. RIP to the crew of the Andrea Gail & all others who have lost their lives at sea. Fair winds & following seas shipmates. 🙏♥️🙏♥️🙏♥️ 🫡 🇺🇸

You did an EXCELLENT job describing this story Paul. Love hearing you tell these exciting/terrible ocean incidents step-by-step.

Very happy to see that you did this because the movie was so vapid. The story about the cook is beautiful and tragically poetic. Is he a writer? Who would hear that powerful small piece but for this video?

You have real talent for explaining things to where a person like me. Who has never been on a ship can understand! Great job

You'll notice in the photos that the Andrea Gale had a stern ramp. Having one indicates she was originally built with the capability of being rigged as a stern trawler. Thus rigged she would have had net reels, nets, gallows frames, winches and more lifting righing aloft. All of this equipment would weigh significantly more than longline gear for swordfish and would have been accounted for by her designer. The barrel theory is doubtful as that wayer and fuel would hae been consumed by the time of the storm. I worked on trawlers in the North Atlantic and Bering Sea for forty five years with 30 as captain and while i can imagine how the Andrea Gale sank the fact is no one knows.

My sub was stuck on the surface waiting for permission to go to Nova Scotia and a Nor Easter popped up out of nowhere. I was stationed as Look Out and the waves were pounding me and the Officer of the Deck. We got beat up for 3 hours before the XO called it and brought us down. I had never seen waves so big as in the North Atlantic. They would tower over us and each time a big wave hit it would go completely black. I had bruises on my entire back like someone kept hitting me with a sledge hammer.

Always exciting to see a new Waterline Stories post... Keep up the great work, love all of it. May all involved in these stories rest in peace.

If they were at the end of the trip you generally always burn your tanks down and then would transfer all the fuel from the drums down into the hull as soon as you can. No captain with any experience would leave all that weight on the bow longer than they had to, especially knowing there is weather coming

I remember that storm. There were 30' to 35 ' breakers throwing boulders the size of small cars over the sea wall. Boats were blown hundreds of yards in land. The lobster traps were all over the beaches and the fishing fleets took a pounding.

I was an actor in the movie 8 Seconds the life and death story of Lane Frost a young Champion Rodeo Bull Rider that died in the arena after the bull he just rode turned around and gored him. Luke Perry, Steven Baldwin, Cynthia Gery and many other good actors were in this 1994 hit. The director had made Rocky movies, Karate Kid and many other block busters. I was from Texas and knew of Bull riding and Rodeos so I was hired to be a Rodeo Clown, bar fighter, EMT and just being one of the bull riders too. The way the studio portrayed the family dynamic was terrible. They made his father look like a cold hearted azz that didn't love or care about his son. Which was the complete opposite of the truth. Hollywood got the basics wrong and made the family seem like they didn't love each other when they did completely. Just because they say "based" on a true story. Very little of the story is actually true. This goes for all movies that were based on a real person or event. It's heartbreaking to see how Hollywood can just make things up to make the movie seem more than it really was. Lane had a great story to tell without lying about so many things in his life. Sorry this is so ling. 30 years and several movies later it still stings.

Important: Don’t name your ship Andrea.

Another great presentation. Thanks!

I thought I knew everything there was to know about the sinking of the Andrea Gail but you have some excellent nuggets included that I was unaware of. Thanks

excellent coverage, thank you!

i spent that storm deckhanding a 40 ft launch boat in NY harbor. even as protected as the harbor was, it was HORRIBLE. 15 ft chop on the leeward side of tankers, 50 plus mph steady wind, gusts that wanted to blow you right off the deck. 12 hours of that had me beaten down. the idea of facing that unprotected in the open ocean of the north atlantic in a 66 ft boat is the stuff of nightmares

Nice touch with the animations man 👏🏻

My absolute favourite channel ANYWHERE! Love your work!👏👏👏

Thank you for another very well-done documentary. You're the best!

More likely. The violent rocking of the boat caused the fuel to splash around in the fuel tanks. The engines sucked some air and stalled. With no propulsion, they ended up sideways and got hit broadside from a large wave and capsized

I love your channel and stories! (I have a very soft spot for ships of all kinds.)Thank you for presenting this to us.

Another great video from my favorite site. Glad you back to normal 😉😉😉

Who eats swordfish?45 yes old and I've never eaten or saw swordfish on a menu.

i wish they could find that boat.

Wow - another absolutely fascinating WaterlineStories video - it reminds me of when my folks and I went on a Whale-Watching Boat Trip off the coast of Boston,MA (fortunately the seas were still and the weather was perfect) but the North Atlantic can change on a dime. Thank you again for bringing us these world-class productions my friend. Subscribing to your channel is one of the best things I've done this year.

Not too sure about this one! Saw the Hannah Boden a few days ago on the Norfolk fishing lobster gear 🤘🏼

Excellent video. Thank you for covering this one 🤘

I have always hoped a good maritime channel would cover the Andrea Gail. I have read about it but not seen anyone cover it yet on yt. Great job as always.

The perfect storm staring George Clooney. Great movie, sad event.

Your best work to date. Well done

The Crows Nest is still around! Been a fair few times when I used to work in the area

I absolutely love this channel!

Great, thanks for this. Nice to hear some facts

This is a story that will stay close to me for the rest of my life.

Interesting content! I've Subscribed. Keep up your waterworld tales. Greetings from the French Alps.

Well done . Thank you doing this , nice to know the reel story , Not Hollywood Stlye. Rest in Peace Longliners.

Great cover!

Bro been waiting for you to do this!

Thank you for this story. I've always wanted to know the details.

This was a superb and principled video.

Can’t wait for the Baltimore bridge video

In a room full of blind men who can truely see? They payed the price for a butt load of fish and cash. Because thats what you do. It payes the bills. No fish- No money. Maintnance and weather be damned. Its sad and tragic. My heart to the families and friends of the men and women who fish the big water.

The A./G. At the time, was considered on the smaller side of boat's fishing sword in the areas they were. However, At those times and on The Grand banks, everything in this video was common practice. Pushing weather, boats & Men to their limits just was an accepted way of life. It was a really nice boat w/great crew on board from everything I have heard. Long lining for sword must have been pretty cool in those days. I remember the day of the storm. Knowing how it was on land I can NOT imagine just how vicious it was off shore. Measured waves in a few places were 90 ft.+

Thanks again friend.

Very informative video.

Awesome video's mate, subbed.

Excellent video!!

Great movie👍

excellent presentation. like this channel. brings to mind william halsey's typhoon "cobra", december 1944.

great video💚💙👍👍👏👏👏👏

We had seawater get into one of our tanks not far from off Hinchinbrook in Queensland that left both main engines and the generator dead. It was coming on dark with heavy seas so we had to switch tanks then drain all the fuel lines, filters and assorted fittings, all the while testing the diesel and dropping heaps into the bilges. Being side on to the swell had everybody getting seasick, this being aided by the 46 degree engine room temperature and the diesel in the bilges. Anyway whilst sweating and spewing profusely we managed to bleed one main engine to not only turn us into the swell but prevent us from dropping an anchor in an effort to not go into the cliffs that we were steadily approaching. We kept at it down below and bled the port engine then the generators. It was the harshest conditions I’ve ever worked in by far and as we had our children on this trip there was always that background pressure spurring us on to get the job done.

These maritime stories are captivating

Perfect timing!

My daughter was born 15 days earlier and lived right on the Ocean

After more than a month at sea, it would be my guess all those extra barrels/drum of fuel and water(to use and make ice) would have been used up and empty. That was the whole point of having them , not to bring them back to port full of fuel and water . I venture by the time of their return trip they had little fuel* and water left. They had a ship full of fish and a bad storm. I don't think empty drums would have meant anything. * note- low fuel tanks might have been more of issue than full fuel tanks in a storm.. In older boats especially. The fuel has more room to "slosh" around in the tank stirring up all the sediment and crud in the tank and also mixing up any water in the fuel tank, which normally "sits" in a bottom layer. Other ships have had engine failure because of water/sediment contamination caused by rough seas.

I was crewing on a yacht delivery from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean when this happened. Hurricane Grace was forming to the North of us and a tropical storm to the South. Luckily we navigated between the two and made landfall safely. Whilst at sea we could hear fishing vessels over the radio to the North who were caught in the tempest. Years later when the book and movie The Perfect Storm were released I found out about what had happened to the Andrea Gail. I still think about those brave men who lost their lives that day and all the countless others who have sacrificed themselves working at sea. I have also crewed on fishing boats and so have an even deeper respect for these guys. RIP all the brave men and women who died so we could have a fish supper.

Keep them coming :D

Thanks, man. Fair winds

How terrifying. It was probably an immediate capsize

You take from the sea , it takes from you .

Nice job-read the book, saw the movie and now I now the real parts.

That was a great movie.

Out catching fish for food, only to become fish food. Nuts