Close call

It’s an experience they can laugh about now, but when three long-time fishermen found themselves floating in Twelve Mile Lake as they watched their boat sink two weeks ago, the situation was quite concerning.

On July 8, the three longtime fishing and hunting companions – Bob Kessler, 83, Bill Biermann, 84, and Ron Piel, 84 – began their afternoon like they had many times before over the past 60 years. This time, however, the three anglers set out on the west side of Twelve Mile Lake with the intention of fishing for crappie, but instead were met with a battle to stay afloat in the boat they had used for the past 20 years.

Biermann said everything was great until it wasn’t.

Once they got on the water, it wasn’t long before they noticed the boat was sagging to the right. However, since it did not appear the boat was taking on water, they continued on. Soon after, the left pontoon was no longer in contact with the surface of the lake and the tenured pontoon began to take on water.

“It was pretty tough there for a few minutes,” said Biermann. “We had our life jackets on, we did alright with one pontoon after we took on water and it all happened pretty quick.”

When the men realized they were in trouble, they signaled for help to another boat on the water. As the pontoon boat took on water, Kessler stayed near the pontoon that was above water – keeping safe for as long as possible. Biermann maneuvered through the railing and swam away from the sinking vessel and was picked up out of the water by other fishermen. Piel and Biermann were rescued shortly after.

“The guy was smart,” said Piel. “I mean, he shut his back motor off and used the front trolley motor to back in so he would not get caught up in ours.”

Piel said, had the other fishermen not been there, they would have been in trouble.

Saturday, the pontoon boat was extracted from Twelve Mile Lake by local diver Grant Plowman. Plowman said the boat was pulled from a depth of about 20 feet on west side of Twelve Lake, which took four hours.

As the boat sank, the fuel tank was removed, and before extraction, other materials were removed to lessen any other issues, such as getting caught on debris.

Plowman said the extraction was slow and difficult as it became hung up on sunken trees. Low visibility conditions at the lake bottom and other traffic on the lake also contributed to a difficult extraction.

“They were concerned that we would not be able to get the boat up,” said Plowman. “But I assured them, we never fail in the water and we made believers out of them.”

As the boat was removed from the lake, it was losing held water, which poured from welded locations on the pontoons. This was determined to be a potential cause for the sinking.

“I know when we brought the boat up, all of the welds were shooting water,” Plowman said. “So, I don’t know whether the boat was compromised, but it looks to have been some welds on the pontoons themselves.”

According to Ryan Lance, an after market parts and warranty manager of Godfrey Pontoon Boats in Elkhart, Indiana, a pontoon boat sinking is unlikely.

“Pontoons are constructed with sectioned interiors,” said Lance. “Each section is what we call a baffle. If one baffle takes on water the others should keep the boat floating.”

The men are relieved they all made it out of the lake safe, are appreciative of those who helped, and now they have a new fishing tale to add to their repertoire.

“I don’t want to ever come that close again,” said Piel.