Why follow the channel markers all the way out when you can simply cut across?

Regardless of any other failings, at least he gave a proper briefing on the safety equipment and had a level head on his shoulders. This is why I go out Manasquan instead of Barnegat.

Kudos to the CG members who are always there for us.

Thank you USCG!!

Who pays to clean up the mess?

The northern jetty is submerged at times, this is true. Usually, the misinformed people who knock into it every year are weekenders out for the day or those that risk banging their prop up to pop a plug into the jetty for bass.

However, I wouldn't expect this from a 38' Betram sportfishing vessel with a CAPTAIN on board. This isn't their first time to the dance. I figured they would know better, but I guess watching your boat (and business) go down is consequence enough. It could have been worse.

Way to go BLCG. Job well done.

God bless the crew and that brave coast guard rescue swimmer who put his life on the line to save those people

I know theses people personally there was fog and the tide and waves pushed them off course and the GPS and radar didn't pick up on the change of course until it was to late.

I personally know the captain and have been fishing with him numerous occasions. He is the best and safest captain ive had the pleasure to fish with. Keep your negative comments to yourselves. Joe s.

Accidents happen, even to the most experienced watermen. Luckily no one was injured.
Thanks to the USCG for their swift response. Once again, you risked your lives to save others. You are so appreciated.
-Jersey Girl :-)

If fog was the factor, maybe should have stayed at dock till it lifted. A captain should know that heavy fog will affect radar and GPS. I know how fog affects my gps in the car.

why can't they just move the rocks????

Or just move the whole barnaget inlet

Yea patchmeup, they should just move the rocks above water so everyone can see them, LOL!!!
I know Al the Captain too and can assure everyone he was not trying to cut across the rocks. Just one of those unfortunate mistakes that happen, it was one nice boat too.
Now for the other nuts or Bennies as we call them that I've seem skim across those rocks on the north jetty in their "too small to be in the ocean boats", they were just damm lucky and should play the lottery!

Or dredge out Cranberry Island Inlet again.

I did the same thing in heavy fog one morning. I was following my GPS (not a plotter) and if you are just bit off you can run into trouble. Luckily my boat was much smaller and I just thunked the jetty a bit with the prop.

obviously there were other mitigating factors such as the fog and the tide. I am not blaming the captian by any means. Everyone was afe and unharmed. Maybe its time that the state takes a serious look at the problems with that inlet and does something about it. This State wastes so much money on useless crap. Maybe they could use all of our money for the good of its residents for once.

The Stork was just trying to deliver a few "bennies" to Davy Jones's Locker. It happens every year, and he chose the fog because he didn't want any witnesses. "Bennies" should simply stay on shore and leave the fishing and boating, especially through Barnegat Inlet, to the pros and locals. As a matter of fact all "Bennies", except the hot looking female types, should stay in the North where they belong.

A few comments about GPS spurred me to do some research. I know on my boat and in my car, fog has never affected GPS signals. Here's the skinny on this whole debate:

http://gpstracklog.com/2005/09/does_cloud_cove.html

Regarding radar, it seems fog will generally not affect that either, except in extreme cases in polar regions:

http://diraux.d1south.org/small-boat/310ch1.pdf

Skip to page 13.

Googin!

I personally know the captain as well and I know he takes safety very seriously. He does not deserve any negative comments that have been said and there's more to this story that has not been said

i agree with dan nee fog does not affect gps or radar i know this for a fact i am a comm fisherman out of barnegat and traverse the inlet average 200 days a year day fishing this inlet IS hairy sometimes if your not familiar or comfortable you should not travel out in fog !!! radar and compass are the most reliable as well as a good plotter but the plotter can have a lag effect also the tides run very swiftly and you can be turned around in a heartbeat autopilots cant do the job of a good helmsman stay sharp my friends

Is there any way he can be fined, for that mess he left on the floor of the sea..... There should be.

Dennis, we're happy you are OK! Your friends J & K

I have spent countless hours over the past 30 years fishing the north jetty of Barnegat Inlet in all kinds of seas and weather. With the fog as thick as it was this morning I have no doubt that the same could have happened to anyone including myself. It only takes a few seconds of being slightly off course to find yourself in a world of trouble there. Rich Siegel of the BeckyD

Alby - I'm just glad you and everyone else are safe - stay strog and it'll all work out.

Best capt and crew on the east coast.jmc

worst that happened is a bruised ego..gunna catch a few for that at the dock!. Could have been a bad day.

I think he is a pretty damn good Captain taking the time and efforts to show the charter where the equipment was a briefing on how to use it, GOOD JOB CAPT I myself have been on many ships that were take the money and give them a rod and bait a pat on the back for good luck.
Glad everyone is ok and to the Coast Guard another Victory for the log books.

He is a very good captain one of the best he is not to be blamed for any of this it could of happened to anyone there shouldnt be a negative comment on here. His care for safety saved everyones life.

He may be a great capt.and it could of happened to anyone..But who would you put the blame on Ben?Lets blame the sea floor that he hit that's been there for century's

Guess he'll be watching the fishing channel this summer.

Certainly we are all grateful no one was hurt.
I have seen big vessels cut those rocks before and with a high tide it can be done.
But it's foolish because it's so dangerous.
If you are fishing by those rocks you better stay alert.
The captain is responsible and needs to explain.

Bad things happen to good people we need to see the good job that he did when all hell broke out! Got in touch USCG got them to the boat got everybody off the boat to safety. My hart go ya .

It is amazing that all of you know it all "captains" have been boating all your lives and never had any incidents happen to you. I have had my 100 ton Masters license for 20 years and consider myself a good, knowledgable captain, and yet I have had incidents that were sometimes beyond my control and sometimes just plain my fault. I personally know Al and can tell you that he has more hours on the water than most of you armchair captains. If you were not there then you do not know what happened. So if you need to make comments, at least make knowledgable ones. God bless all on board.

I am reading all your comments and cannot figure out why they do not mark these rocks better if this is a chronic problem?

I personally know Al as well. He's a very good friend of my husband and my husband has spent god knows how many hours on southern comfort including helping with charters and doing tournaments. You're all judging Al and pointing the blame how about just being thankful no one was killed? I'm honestly appalled by some of these comments and the way you're all acting! You should be ashamed of yourselves! Al is a good man and a good captain what happened to him has happened to many others in that inlet... I can't for the life of me understand why you're all looking to point the finger and blame, blame, blame! Don't you think he's probably blaming himself right now? Don't you think he feels horrible it happened and all the men onboard were at risk? Not to mention he just lost his boat!!! Stop kicking the man when he's down and just be thankful they're all alive DAMN IT!

Al stork is a great guy who is the first one to help people when they have problems off shore.No one but Al knows what happened.I don't care who's fault it was all that matters is Al and his crew are ok.Thank you USCG!

I know Albie, Tommy & Al Senior...great...COMPETENT people...please don't throw negative comments around about things that you know nothing about. I'm a USCG Captain also, and Al's reputation is spotless. Things DO HAPPEN that you can't control. I was on scene and saw the boat, my stomach dropped and I can only imagine how CAPTAIN AL feels. Mike Collins

Well put john

Other than my father, I would trust this man more than anybody else on the barnegat bay. We all make mistakes, so stop beingso negative.

At the end of the day mistakes can be made by even the most experinced of captains. The most important thing a captain can do is be responsable for the crew and passengers and he did a fantastic job and should be commended on getting everyone off the boat safely and the coast gaurd to the scene as quick as he did. No comment on the negativeness....

I have been on that boat for over 7 years as a mate. Al is one of the best and safest captains around that make sure safety is a priority. All you people who put the blame has no clue about the ocean, inlet or captaining a boat. Everyone one should be thankful everyone got off safe and uninjured. All you people keep your negative comments to yourself.

Thanks Al for handling a bad situation in the best possible way, saveing your crew. Bad thinks happen to all of us, and usually makes us better for it in the end. There are no better captains in new Jersey than you, and no one any more upstanding and respected as good man and father. Keep your chin up.

We can all agree Barneget inlet is bad. I think a better question is now, Can something be done to prevent accidents like this?? Can we raise the top of the jetty to above water, make it more like Manasquan??

People, people, people, When are you going to realize that the few here making really over-the-top insulting (and childish) comments -- like "billy jones", and "keeping whats mine" and others are intentionally trying to get your goat?
They are TROLLS!
They only show up on various stories to say truly rude and stupid things to rile up the rest of you. The ONLY way to deal with trolls is to IGNORE and FLAG.
Flag repeatedly, and if the Patch is worth the time to read, the troll's posts will disappear. School is out in a couple weeks, it's only going to get worse. IGNORE and FLAG.

Look at some of the 6th-grade-silly names we see around the Patch lately:
Hugh G. Rection, Milly Bays, Ben Dover, Suzie Rottencrotch, Etc.
Then we have billy jones and all his sock-puppets (No, it's not a band!).

Click on these names, go to their profiles, (notice how 'new' to the Patch they usually are) and look at the kind of comments they routinely post: Childish, insulting, rude and inflammatory remarks, with the occasional over-blown saccharin "Golly Gee willikers, I just meant....."
apologetic disclaimer thrown in somewhere along the line for good measure.
It's a game. Don't play it with them. They will eventually get bored and go away.
If not, then at least save a lot of time and space by not replying to them.
Oh, and yeah- flag them too!

Yes, stay calm is so much more mature and I'm sure it's what your parents named you.

Regards,

Mike Oxbig

Stay calm stop, just stop,just because I care about the environment and you don't doesn't make me wrong. So go back to bed.

Billy jones go do something useful. There are no environment issues everything is contained. You have no clue what happened you were not there. So stop running your mouth.

No environmental issues are u kidding me. Oh so let's all go down to the beach and throw in gas tanks. This guy is a nutcase.

You have a lot of growing up to do staycalm..You and that john lane character

I also think that jay should be banned from this forum for asking people to meet up with him so he could do physical harm to them..Thats just uncalled for

Thank you staycalm for making fun of my god giving name..Feels like I'm back in high school.

Listen jay you don't want any piece of this. But thanks anyway scrub.

What the hell does this so called John lane know about anything..Take my advise mr lane..Why don't you make like a tree and leave this site

BILLY JONES - Breaking news alert for you! I just found out the name of the boat was the S.S. Minnow and they were only going out for a three hour tour. What happened was the weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed, if not for the courage of the fearless crew the Minnow would be lost, the Minnow would be lost... lol.

This is a serious situation David..Grow up!!!

I don't know the captain personally but my brother inlaw does him n his father know captain very well but fog GPS whatever word was steering possibly acted up so before all of u people who don't know captain personally as I don't talk bad I've been told by many people he is the safest in the business n I believe the people that tell me cuz they've been on many trips with him on the boat

Hey Patrick, if Capt. Al Stork took navigating out of the inlet and past the jetty a little more serious than this wouldn't even be a situation for discussion. Everyone considering him the best boat captain has obviously forgot Captain Edward Smith.

Billy you obviously have no clue what's going on with the fuel. If it were ruptured don't you believe that would be the number one thing on the news? And if it were posing an immediate environmental risk would it not be the first thing they took care of?(for all we know they already have) They're not going to leave hundreds of gallons at the bottom of the bay and allow the tank to dissolve... Do you really think ANYONE here wants a full tank of diesel in the water? No. Obviously not. You just feel the need to push buttons and raise tempers! You instigate. Before calling my husband a nut case and a scrub perhaps you should examine yourself to determine why you can't keep your foot on the floor and out of your mouth! Grow up there buddy, log off the computer, maybe get a job, or maybe even a wife! Anything to keep people like you busy instead of putting down people you don't even know like an amazing man, Al Stork! If you're so concerned with fuel at the bottom of the bay how about petitioning to have the jetty raised as was mentioned in a previous comment? Or atleast having it marked more obviously... Southern comfort wasn't the first boat to fall victim of the jetty... And obviously isn't going to be the last when people like you would rather sit infront of a screen and b*tch then be proactive and DO something... Billy please just stop typing already, you're making me lose faith in the whole human race with just your own ignorance!

Good job by this Capt. and crew to have ALL saved and again walking this earth. With that said; I remember a Capt. who had to land his plane in a NY river and ALL were saved, don't remember ANY environmental concerns then, why now ? Because you overlook the fact what ALL were saved and you have nothing else better to do but complain ! Again GOOD job Capt.AL....sorry for your boat, but that can be replaced, lives can't !!!!! WWJD...look inside yourselves Nay Sayers !

Glad everyone is safe. This was his home inlet, the term captain is used quite loosely these days. GPS, plotters and all the gadgets made heros out of zeros with no basic navigation and seamanship skills. Just my .02. rk God bless the Coast Guard

Tracey relax. I'm able to have my opinion, and I do. This so called captain should never set sail again. And I'm sure a lot of people agree. The sea would be a safer place without guys like this.

I know accidents most commonly happen to inexperienced captains but just remember everyone accidents happen to the best of us! I'll still stand by my previous comments saying Al Stork is an amazing captain and an amazing man... After all my husband's life has been in his hands for the past 7 years on southern comfort practically all summer long and I've never had a second thought about it! Just remember despite all the negative comments here and everyone claiming he's a bad captain because he hit the jetty, he's human and to err is human but to forgive is divine... I for one think all accidents deserve forgiveness... They're called accidents for a reason... Doesn't change the amazing friend, father, husband and captain that he is!

Oh yes Billy everyone is entitled to their own opinion but 1. When you make yourself look ignorant I'm going to tell you that and 2. When you insult my husband I'm not going to let that go without having my own opinion as well... And my opinion, sir, is that you are an ignorant a**hole who needs to examine yourself and your need to pass negative judgement on a man you've never so much as spoke a word to while at the same time ,you my friend, are certainly not perfect nor do you make yourself appear to be even half the man both my husband and Al are.

Just read the previous comments, John I had heard the steering acted up too. Doesn't help much that the men on the charter are acting like they saved the day on video interviews and are taking their 15 minutes of fame to tell how one of them pulled the chord on the life raft. What they didn't seem to tell in the interview is that Al made an immediate call to the coast guard and then everyone started to get their life jackets on. By the time it was up to their knees the coast guard was already there. The only reason they even had to use the life raft was because the coast guard couldn't get close enough to southern comfort due to the rocks. It was Al's immediate reaction to make the mayday call and get the coast guard there within moments that saved lives... Now everyone is doubting him both as a good person and a good captain... To be honest its sickening!

No one said he wasn't a good guy. I just question his ability to steer a boat. Thats all, and I hope the clean up comes from his pocket. Not us tax payers. I am glad everyone is ok. But I hope the poor fish who feed off the bottom of the sea are as well.

I just hope my taxes aren't paying for this cleanup..I just dont get how an experienced captain could make such a blunder..With a boat called southern comfort I wouldn't be shocked if he was drunk out of his mind..I hope the coast guard gave this man a breathalyzer

Hundreds of boats run the rocks every month..it is a risk that usually is fine UNTIL its not!! Stork did the right thing he knows what hes doing, just wrong place wrong time, it can happen to any of the cowboys who run the North Jetty Daily, If he is insured properly he will be fine. I remember him from days gone by.. Bad Luck tends to trail him But ,He Always bounces back. Good Luck w New Boat!!!

Stork=Dork

Stop the bickering, The "captain" is the responsible party. This was his inlet and he has to live with it, he knows what he did, thank god all survived. The USCG families need donations and should not be forgotten. Could have been much worse.

Why don't you mind your own business rich

a valid point has been raised . you cant go down to the inlet and toss in 40 ten gallon cans of diesel without paying a fine why does this captain get off free? what about any other toxic chemicals on board? if tracey thinks its so easy to salvage this fuel why did a 38 ft boat sink in this area to begin with? doesnt sound like an easy salvage to me and once again our waters take a toxic dose because of peoplw who have thousands of dollars to go fish with. if it was an rv that crashed into a swimming lake the same people here defending this captain would all be in a huff instead.

Project is right. I cant believe this scrub is not fined,big time.

You go frank. You tell him he has no clue. He only wishes he could own a boat like that.

Also Billy please stop using the word scrub, this is not the 1990's and you're not a member of Destiny's Child. Thanks :)

This is the equivalent of a schoolbus driver ramming a train at a railroad crossing.

No where have I read that Al is not being fined, but I can't for the life of me understand why he would be! I think it's safe to assume anyone with a boat like Southern Comfort would carry boat insurance. Boat insurance covers salvage. Therefore if it's decided she has to be salvaged for environmental, or any other reason, it will come from the insurance. Not the tax payers. I see no reason for any further fines. All this anger and hatred towards an amazing man like Al Stork is uncalled for! He had an accident, which as I said before to err is human. His accident put 5 other men at risk and lost him his boat! Al would never intentionally put anyone's life at risk! And as far as Southern Comfort is concerned Al took great pride in that boat and despite the comments about him not being a good captain, he is. Come on now people this was an accident, which I know I've said numerous times, but Jesus Christ his immediate may day call saved lives! He's not standing on the jetty pouring hundreds of gallons of diesel into the jetty! He doesn't deserve the negativity here, what he deserves is a pat on the back and a "good job captain" for saving lives. Okay this comment is far too long winded so I'll just say one more time. To err is human, but to forgive is divine. I, for one, know I err and am human, but also try to be divine and forgive. Perhaps you all wouldn't be so constantly angry if you did too :) Oh and billy and project, you both make my head hurt. Please just stop typing.

I am glad everyone is safe There many factors involved rough seas mechanical failure of the boat or other...He did not set out to ruin his boat & cause injury .or environmental issue..like Tracey said the insurance co will deal with it ,By the way Tracey...... Billie has made plenty dunb comments ,counting to to twenty requires removing of her shoes...

P.s. billy and project if I could just reach through my phone and shake you I would. Just to get you to take the moment to realize no person walking god's green earth has gone without having one accident in their lives! Yes this is a big one, but stop acting holier then thou on the damn internet and take a second to reflect on your own existence.

Lol Johnny! Thanks for the laugh! Although after reading some of their comments I've spent a good portion of the past few days laughing!

Frank don't forget there is ketchup and horseradish sause in the fridge and pretzels in the cabinet .

frank you make as much sense as anyone voting this captain with the new submarine best captain in nj. what does the bp oil spill have to do with this besides incomptence ? i guess its is up to you to connect the dots and actually no jay i dont wish i had a boat like that. right now its just a very expensive buoy soon to be a future home for crabs unless they get it out of there and since we pay for the coastguard its us landlubbers who pay for your expensive hobbies now dont we?

Well the Captain could always claim I made him do it.

frank i think southern comfort wasnt just the name of this badly handled boat but there may have been some southern comfort next to that mayo in the fridge too

i love tracey's " i heard the steering wheel acted up too' . sort of like the guy who says ' that tree came right at me" maybe someone should post a clip on here of the beginning of every gilligin's island episode to see how the " minnow was lost' it was a 2 hour tour too. lol

Project please don't act like you know about being a boat captain. Don't act like you know Al or Southern Comfort either. She wasn't a party boat or a luxury boat. She was a way for a man to make an honest living and support his family. You think you know so much about boats like southern comfort and captains like Al. You don't know a damn thing. He isn't some "arm chair" captain who spent half their million dollar paycheck on a new toy. That truly is not the story here.. but then again no one should have to justify a man like him to an idiot like you who can't even spell gilligAn's island properly let alone the fact that it was a 3 hour tour...lol! You don't know boating or tv... What is there in your sad existence that you do know?

well tracey it appears you get most of your boating knowledge from the skipper and his ' little buddy" . but if bluebeam had never even been on a boat before he couldnt have done much worse than what's in that photograph above.

Oh please tell me how you came to that assumption? And I'd love for you to specify what was so wrong with my last comment? And project I missed your previous statement about the tax payers paying for the uscg... Are you really so ignorant as to think the only people out on the water are there for fun? This is ocean county ffs right on the Atlantic ocean! God forbid someone use the water to earn their living right? I see nothing wrong with the uscg being paid by taxes that's like me saying your need to drive a car causing the need for traffic safety police is me paying for your need to drive since I do not! Give me a break! Your statements are getting more and more desperate after each one that someone proves to be incorrect! It's quite sad!

Project, between you and billy I feel like my iq has dropped drastically these past few days :/ please refrain from another ignorant comment... Please try to atleast think before you type... Lol still laughing at the tax payers paying for the uscg so that means they're paying for someone else's habit... Tax payer money is going to far worse places then the uscg!!!

I don't think there is anything worse than my tax dollars going to uscg, when they have to deal with this mess. Some dumb cowboy with a big boat. It makes me sick.

The cg won't be salvaging the boat. Sea tow or some other private salvage company will. And for the people who don't like their tax $ going to the cg...I guess you don't liketax $ going to firemen or cops either?

I have no problem with tax $ going to coast guard. But when some hillbilly with a 350 gallon fuel tank thinks that he is horse back in the wild wild west with not a care in the world does something like this. Then yes I have a big problem with it.

Blah Blah Blah. Boat sank, nobody dead. Who really cares. He can get another boat and try again. No harm no foul.

Capt Al Stork sounds like another captain I had put all my faith in to as a child. His name was Cap'n Crunch.

Agree J. Alecci. It was an accident. And that's why there is insurance

Billy again to assume you know Al and assume you know the way he drives his boat is wrong. Where does it say anywhere that he was driving recklessly? All I've read have been reports of him doing the proper safety briefing, "not going that fast" as one of the guys on board reported and putting out the may day call getting the uscg there by the time the water was up to their knees. To call that some "hillbilly" who's "back in the wild wild west" is highly incorrect. I'm not sure where you get your information there buddy but you may need a more reliable source.

Has anyone mentioned about the life raft being tethered to the boat? How about Al puncturing the raft when he cut it free with his knife? How about the mate having to put his hand on the hole to keep the life raft from sinking? Great Captain...RIGHT!
Should name his next boat the USS Minnow.

Can you please share the link for that information... Because I can't seem to find that anywhere!

Good luck trying to get any type cleanup on this one.

Ya its just a matter of time fuel leaks out. Accidents happen, but this one is hard to swallow. Especially for the fish. Bennies with big boats go home.

I just wish everyone would stop already about the diesel. Yes it would be a problem if it were just dumped in the bay, but as bayboat said its safely contained. Not to mention the article that we're all commenting on states " The vessel is reported to have approximately 350 gallons of diesel fuel aboard and Coast Guard pollution investigators from Sector Delaware Bay are investigating the incident." It's being investigated... How many boats have gone down in the bay and inlet? And last time I checked the major pollution issue in the bay is not diesel fuel, but excess nitrogen. So if you're so concerned about our bay why not do something all year round about the pollution instead of just when there's an accident.

Donald the captain is not a Benny, nor is he "land lover" or newbie for that matter... Perhaps you shouldn't throw around insulting terms without knowing the facts.

I really dont care what he is. I'm just saying that the Bennies with big boats and dont know the inlet should not be in it. It's one if not the most dangerous in New Jersey. And if he knew how to navigate better this would never have happend.

Tracey, I understand your incessant need to defend this man. I'd be embarrassed if I knew him too!

Al knows how to navigate the inlet... What you just said is equivalent to saying anyone who gets into a car accident should never drive on the same road where the accident occured. As my husband, Jay, already stated he's been a mate on that boat for 7 years. I've put my faith in Al hundreds of times going out that inlet with my other half on board and never once has he given me any reason not to! Even after this happened I'd still give him my faith because although the boat is gone the men are not. So it has nothing to do with being embarrassed about knowing him or him not knowing the inlet. It has to do with it being an accident. I'll defend Al's ability to captain a boat and just the fact that he's a good human being all day every day. :)

I wouldn't trust that captain navigating the third lake

I doubt that it was 7am.

I'm sure they did. But if not that will never be known. I will say though a lot of these so called boaters, love drinking and driving at sea.

Drugs booze and boating go hand in hand..It wouldn't surprise me at all

Lol are you guys really that ignorant? First of all I never said Jay was on the boat that day, just that he was a mate on southern comfort. Second of all do you really believe that a boat captain is going to allow drugs and booze on his boat a. After he was responsible enough to go through a safety briefing, b. This is a business for him, not a hobby. The men on the boat with him were paying customers, not friends. I don't know about you but I sure as hell wouldn't risk my boat, my job and my freedom, not to mention the lives of everyone on the water, just to have a beer or illegal drug while on a boat. I can tell all of you who assume drugs, booze and boating go hand in hand have watched a few too many movies... I have never once been on a boat with drugs or alcohol on board and I've been on the water my whole life. :)

I'm sure that 80% of the boaters have beer on board. Drugs I'm not sure. Even if these guys were drunk we will never know. But the fact still remains, there is 350 gallons of fuel still in the water.

Tracey you need to get a job, or a life... Whichever comes first. Let's just stay on top of the cleanup. And how much damage it caused. Plus who is paying for it.

I'm above no one. Nor have I ever said I was. But I certainly do not think highly of those who put down a man they don't even know on the internet over a mistake. Nor do I think highly of those who assume they know everything about a person or what happened on a boat that only few of us here have ever been on. Funny there are over 100 comments here and only what... 1 negative comment from someone who actually knows Al? And Donald I have a 24/7 job and a life. But there's this nifty new invention called a smart phone. World wide web at the tip of my thumb and only takes 2 seconds to check a news article! Magic!

Not one person here was on that boat and not one of us knows exactly what happened. I feel safe putting my faith in the uscg and believe if they even questioned the sobriety of the captain, or any man on the boat for that matter, they would further investigate. I highly doubt

"The captain and crew of the Southern Comfort did an outstanding job managing their crisis situation," saidChief Warrant Officer Jay Greiner, the commanding officer of Station Barnegat Light. "Prior to them leaving the dock, the captain gave them a thorough brief of where all the safety gear was located and how to use it. This short brief saved valuable time as they were exiting during an emergency situation."

"You never plan on this happening, but preparing for it allows you to react when necessary," he added.

This statement would be published if there were drugs or alcohol involved! The point I've been trying to get across since she went down is that... IT WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT NONE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED TO CLEAN UP! If she's salvaged it will by paid for by insurance, not tax dollars! And as far as a fine is concerned, if the uscg pollution investigators decide the boat/fuel tank have to be salvaged and he doesn't do so.

Well said Frank!!! Very well said!! Thank you!!!

I really feel sorry for Jay... He probably wished he could've went down with the Southern Comfort to get out of a lifetime of your nagging and whining!

Lol David that was actually a good one! Made both Jay and me laugh... Doesn't change the fact that you're just an all around ignorant d. bag... But still funny! I'm sorry but give it a rest already Al did save lives regardless of the reason they were in danger to begin with... You wouldn't carry on this long about a car accident... Why? Because you drive and have most likely been in an accident yourself. But because this accident was different and happened on water the negative people on this page think it should go on and on and on! But as Frank said everyone is alive, the boat is gone, the fuel is contained and Al's career seems to have come to a screeching halt. You've all gotten what you wanted... So stop kicking Al, and everyone who knows and cares about him, while they're down.

Was the Captain alone when he was on the bridge? Or did he have Captain Morgan with him?

Lol Mr ? You're right... Sorry just noticed your comment... I've said my piece... Over and over and over again... So I'm going to just erase this url from my history and hopefully never talk to the negative people on here again... And to all those who will feel the need to comment after me to say something else ignorant and negative... You may have the last word... But when the day comes that Al's back on a boat... With his reputation cleared of all these ridiculous accusations of drugs, alcohol and plain old incompetence... And a nice big mako or blue fin on the line... With Jay, Frank and Dennis... He'll be the one having the last laugh :)

Is it really true that Al put a hole in the life raft? I'll bet the CG knows and so does the little Dutch Boy ;-0

But true Frankie boy

Dennis = little Dutch Boy. Ask him about it Frankie Boy.

Being a Captain in Raritan Bay for over 30 years, I remembered the Misty Morn one very foggy morning coming in on the wrong side of the jetty. I thought I was on the wrong side following him. My point is in dense fog we can all make mistakes. We all do. However to correct them as this Captain did is what counts. Good Job Capt.

Stan zaBREWSki?

Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC??? I'm not following your comment. Are you saying that these men were illegally supplying little boys to their customers at sea? Please do the story that you talk about above, the truth needs to come out..... and don't forget about all the diesel fuel they've left down there.

This is really getting out of hand. The only thing I demand is that this chump never ever gets behind the wheel of a boat again. And that the cleanup is done properly. That's all.

Do worry already looking for a bigger boat. Will be back out there soon

Ya maybe you can get one that holds more fuel.

For all of you that are following this story, In the end, don't be surprised if you find out that this was all an insurance scam just to collect the money! Why else would you have an accident piloting a boat "STRAIGHT" out of an inlet. Even Gilligan could've done that right.

It would take one sick individual to stoop that low. I highly doubt it. But then again you never known.

frankie shrimp if the coast guard said there was " zero visiblity" why was this capt taking a group of boozed up bennies out of one of the most dangerous inlets on the jersey coastlinein the first place? and frank, johhny is done and tracey spare us the " he's a hardworking man feeding his family routine" . men who dump chemicals and trash in the woods are trying to save a few bucks to feed their families too but it doesnt make it right. and tracey since your literally a first mate on this boat why dont you go down to the bar and ask this captain how much diesel was in his tank so we all know how bad the spill will be.

and bayboat says its safely contained? lol ask bp they said their " minor spill" was contained too

Listen I'll just say this one last time. The damage this hotshot caused makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. And I don't see how he can ever set foot in a boat again. I think he's done enough damage.... Don't you.

You know I'm not sure about this guy, but I do think he needs to be tested on navigation skills by the coast guard before he does anymore damage. To himself or others.

What's a Benny? Is it a person beneficial to the regular people or what?

Were any bennies on board the boat that sunk?

No, the only people on board, if you could even call them that we're a bunch of South Jersey rednecks posing as water junkies on a lawless sea! All together, these people on board would have a hard time coming up with a full set of teeth between them. Life sucks and then you marry one! Right Jay???

Let me rephrase my comment towards Chris Hansen... By having a good laugh and not freaking out either way I meant about the "é-argument" on this board... Not the ACCIDENT :)

I didnt hear, did the Howels and the professor and maryann get off safely?

The next time the ole Southern Comfort crew goes out please take the Board of Ed and Township Committee with you. (and leave the life raft behind)

Jimmy, I haven't found anything on that yet... If I do I'll most certainly post it!

With all the problems in the Barnegat Bay area will summer rentals be reduced this season? I guess I could be considered a Benny.

The diesel fuel is contained?? Sure it's in the tank, but I bet that tank has a vent. I bet fuel is leaking out of the vent, if not from other places. I'm sure they have the soak up ropes out to form a perimeter, but we all have to agree some is leaking out.
Salvaging a 38ft boat, is a huge task. I remember when a pleasure boat (23ft cuddy cabin) beached in pt pleasant, blew the tires off the trailer when they set it down, due to the weight. This boat is almost twice as long & with heavy diesel engines + the "350 gallons of contained fuel". Diesel weights roughly 7.15 lbs per gallon, so about 2500 lbs of fuel total.

Frank... I know as of last night she wasn't on land... Wish I could speak with you privately about this matter lol don't need to trollers getting anymore info.

Frank call Joey z and get my number from him

There is no merit, to our knowledge, to the rumor that Barnegat Inlet will be closed. The USCG always notifies the media when such an event occurs, and no notice has been provided.

For example, when Manasquan Inlet was closed for short time last year, we were kept in the loop at every step. The USCG does a great job at this sort of thing.

By the way, anyone interesting in looking at a very cool salvage vid/pics, check out this one from last year at Manasquan: http://patch.com/A-jd56

Frank, Jay can give you more info if you haven't gotten it yet.. its quite interesting so definitely try to get his number and give him a shout! :)

I heard no one will be allowed to enter or leave Ocean County until Labor Day.

Lol that would be amazing!!!

@Sheriff Wiliam Polecat. Is it true that Captain Al was working for the SD on an undercover sea operation to find Atlantis? Please tell us Sheriff; or did you forget?

Sheriff, is it true the nicknamed you Polecat in high school because you smelled like a skunk :-) joeHohe

Be kind to the Sheriff, he'll be in the asylum with you or six feet under when they find out it really is Weekend at Billy's.

Most of these people must really not know the barnaget inlet is one of the worst inlets for fog and u did a great job and I been there many times and we all no if u lose your heading for a second your gps does not catch rite up it can happen to the best as you found out hold your head high

Can a nice Korean guy from Fort Lee be considered a benny?

Comments that contain personal attacks and obscenities will be flagged and deleted, so don't make them. Thanks.

Lucky he have, PEOPLE ON BOARD THAT NEW WHAT TO DO, CAPTAIN GOOD job with that, Maybe watch gps and radar a little closer , Sorry about your boat, Good Luck with it, Hope your in one again soon,