The overturned fishing boat that claimed nine lives in Oregon
over the weekend, caused a former Morgan Hill family to scramble to
save itself.
The overturned fishing boat that claimed nine lives in Oregon over the weekend, caused a former Morgan Hill family to scramble to save itself.
Mark Hamlett and sons Chris and Daniel, and son-in-law Brian Loll, were fishing on the 32-foot Taki Tooo, out of Garibaldi, Ore., and managed to survive through Mark’s quick thinking, according to friend Julie Belanger.
Hamlett told Belanger that the boat had weathered two 12-to-15-foot waves but, when a 20-foot wave appeared, he yelled to his sons to get below. The four rushed below decks and quickly donned life jackets when the water rose to their knees. In the meantime, the captain of the boat turned it so it caught the wave broadside.
The boat capsized and tossed everyone left on deck into the 50-degree water.
Fortunately for the Hamletts, a window blew out allowing the two boys to escape from the cabin area and swim to shore, which was a few hundred yards away. Mark Hamlett told Belanger he had to remove his life jacket in order to fit through the window frame. He, too, and Loll were able to swim to shore – he said the boat was about one-quarter mile out to sea. They were joined by five other passengers, all of whom wore life jackets.
Owners of the Taki Tooo said the boat carried enough life jackets for all everyone but that passengers are not required by law to wear them.
The Hamletts lived in Morgan Hill for about 18 months in 1989 and 1990, when the family moved to Portland where Mark opened Centerline Construction and Remodeling.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the tragedy. The boat’s captain, Doug Davis of Garibaldi, went down with his ship.
