The owner and operator of the 2004 38ft fountain stated that on the morning of 04sep he and 6 other family members departed charleston (ivo shem creek) for a day of bottom fishing offshore. They departed charleston harbor and headed on a course of 108 degrees for approximately 22 and a half miles offshore. Within 5 minutes of stopping 22 and a half miles offshore, the engine compartment water alarm went off. The operator opened the engine compartment to find that it was half full of water. Operator said that the engine compartment water alarm comes on when there is a foot or more of water in the engine compartment and that the bilge could not keep up with the flooding. After immediately closing the compartment, Operator  made a "mayday" call at approx. 10am (sat) and stated they were in a 38ft fountain and they were going down 22 and a half miles off shore. Occupant said he pressed the distress button on the radio, but after the "mayday" transmission they only heard static on the radio and did not hear sector charleston's umib or any other traffic. Operator  immediately tried to start the boat and only one engine would work, but it would not go over 1200 rpm's. They turned the boat around to head back towards charleston, however the flooding was too much, the boat became diw and was swamped. Before it swamped leaving only the bow out of the water, everyone put on life jackets and tied themselves to the anchor line (the anchor was cut off) and attached the anchor line to the themselves, a cooler and a suitcase. After about 8 hours of the bow of the boat sticking out of the water, the tied the line to the bow of the boat. Operator stayed in close proximity to the boat and the other 6 remained on the anchor line trying to get as far away from the boat as they could get to stay out of the leaking fuel. 

After the boat sank with the bow sticking up, they didn't remember seeing anyone on the water or in the air until around midnight (only one subject was wearing a watch). They said they observed both helo's searching to the east of their position initially and only Operator  remembered seeing the c-130 in the distance. Most of the accounts estimate helo's never flew directly overhead, but got close when the helo's departed the scene (they estimated for fuel) and the time in which the seven p.i.w. were located. 

An interesting account is that between the hours (approx 0330 and 0430), a large fishing vessel came within 50 yards of them and was traveling at approx 6-8 kts. A few stated that the boat shined a spot light on them, but not everyone had the same account. The vessel was either a sport fisher or a shrimp boat with most claiming a sport fisher with down riggers. The unidentified f/v was headed to the east.

All 7 were located alive, hoisted into two separate helo's. The helo with 5 dropped off at jzi due to its fuel status and were transferred to musc via ambulance. The helo with two flew directly to musc.

The extent of injuries included slight hypothermia, dehydration, sunburn and chemical burns from the gasoline in the tanks. There were no other reported injuries.

The owner/operator stated he had two vhf radios. One mounted in the vessel and one hand held. The antennae on the mounted radio was approx 14ft high (eight feet to the radar bar and then a six foot antennae). He did not have an epirb on board and he stated that once the boat started to go under, the windshield collapsed under the pressure of the waves where his hand held vhf and his flare kit were located. He stated that both radios were 25 watt's each.   

Once the boat sank some of the items came out of the boat. These items included a cooler with drinks and food as well as a suitcase (item they had in the cabin of the vessel). While everyone else was on the anchor line, operator remained on the bow of the boat to get a height advantage to keep an eye out for passersby and to signal the incase anyone came by. 

operator described the sea state as not bad, but the swells got worse through the night (building to 5-6 ft).