THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 7, 1995 TAG: 9507070389
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER CHRISTMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WANCHESE LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Ron Cavenaugh thought he finally was headed for smooth sailing.
After eight long years of penny-pinching to make payments on his boat, the Bottom Line, the 47-year-old fisherman was but two payments away from owning the vessel outright.
But Wednesday night the 40-foot boat he had scrimped for and labored on for so long sank in the Atlantic Ocean, taking with it Cavenaugh's livelihood and dreams.
``I just couldn't believe this could happen,'' Cavenaugh said Thursday between puffs from a cigarette. ``I was just getting to a point where I could get ahead in life.
``I thought things were going to get a little easier.''
Disaster struck after 9 p.m. Wednesday. Cavenaugh and crewmembers Harley Hayes and Marco Williams had been long-line fishing for tuna about 40 miles southeast of Oregon Inlet. After dinner, the crew relaxed, waiting for nearby boats to drift away before setting their gear.
The piercing shriek of the Bottom Line's alarm shattered the calm. Cavenaugh discovered the 8-year-old boat was taking on water. For 15 minutes the three men bailed water with 5-gallon buckets, while a bilge pump pushed out water.
``We did all we could,'' said Hayes, a 37-year-old Wanchese resident.
Realizing that the water was rushing in faster than they could get it out, Cavenaugh ordered Williams and Hayes to abandon ship and seek safety in a nearby boat. Cavenaugh stayed aboard a bit longer.
``I was not in the least bit worried about drowning,'' Cavenaugh said. ``I wasn't afraid of dying. I just kept trying to keep the boat up - I didn't want to lose it.
``I thought if I stayed there,maybe there was something I could do.''
There wasn't.
After a few minutes, Cavenaugh donned a life ring and swam to the nearby Reel Action, where his crew had found safety. The U.S. Coast Guard arrived and brought the three men ashore.
Cavenaugh said he appreciated the selflessness of the crews of the Reel Action and another nearby boat and the Coast Guard.
``Those people were there 100 percent for us,'' Cavenaugh said. ``They took their time to be with us and help us, and for that I am so grateful.''
The crew said they still do not know exactly what caused the Fiberglass boat to sink. Cavenaugh speculated that there could have been a crack in an exhaust line. The boat had no noticeable holes.
Hayes said he still cannot believe the Bottom Line - the boat he has worked on for four years - could sink.
``I've been on the water for years, and this is probably the best one I've been on,'' Hayes said, shaking his head. ``It was my favorite one, anyway.
``I just never, never thought she'd go down.''
While Cavenaugh said he's ``not crying about it'' and had insurance on the boat, questions gnaw at him.
``Why did this happen? I don't know,'' Cavenaugh said. ``I don't even know how it happened.''
He said he hopes to get another boat. He has already been offered a job running another vessel, but he said he still feels a bit shaken.
``This kind of thing can really destroy your confidence, you know?'' he said. ``I keep asking myself, `What if? What if?'
``But I know I did all I could.'' by CNB