Vessel 1 (FL4857EW), a self-bailing vessel, took on water approximately ten miles West of Bill Watts tripod.  The engine did not start and the bilge pump was not able to keep up with the workload and eventually stopped working.  

    A good Samaritan and his son arrived to assist with the rescue.  They loaded the victims onto their vessel and attempted to tow the submerged vessel to shore. They were unable to keep the water out of it due to a loss of the splash panel, which floated out of the boat once it was initially submerged.

  Subsequently, they abandoned it approximately seven miles from shore.  Two days later, vessel 1 was located approximately 12 miles from shore by a local shrimper.  The owner/operator later recovered it that day.
HERNANDO BEACH                