Aboard his tuna boat Nipper, Hourihan navigates the waterway with great caution every time he passes through. When the moon is full or new and the river runs faster, Hourihan said the rivers come together in a whirlpool action which can overturn boats operated even by experienced mariners. Hourihan heard the rescue helicopters Monday night and knew there was trouble in the river again. It s early for boaters to be out, and that s part of the problem, Hourihan said. A large percentage of accidents happen at this time of the year.
People see a nice day and throw caution to the wind.
Maybe they have a new boat and want to get out there. But there s not a lot of boat traffic to pick you up if you capsize like during the summer and the water at this time of year is very cold. With the water temperatures like they are, it becomes recovery rather than rescue pretty quickly. Hourihan also lamented the closing of the Scituate Coast Guard Station. Taking a boating safety course and always wearing a life jacket are the other things Pooler urges all boaters to do.