Squidder Net Effect Reaches Dry Land

Superstitions about unlucky Friday the the 13th were borne out for the crew of the 65-foot squid boat Net Effect this December.

After having offloaded her cargo of squid that morning, she cleared the breakwater to pump the water and ink out of her tanks. But things didn't go quite as planned. 

At ten that morning, she commenced a hard turn to port about a hundred yards outside the breakwater. Between the water pumping over her side and the steep angle of the turn, she began to ship water over the gunwale and quickly turned turtle.

The four-member crew got over the side, although two were injured, one seriously. The crew of a nearby boat witnessed the incident and rushed in to fish the fishermen from the sea.

A number of different agencies stepped in to assist, and the wreck's environmental impact was quickly minimized.

A barge was used to right the stricken boat - significant damage had been done to her mast and wheelhouse, although whether caused by the capsizing or by the righting is not clear.

She was towed into Ventura Harbor by US Towboat, and was hoisted out of the water altogether on December 30.

Her disposition and fate as of January 1, 2025, are equally unclear. She remains in the Ventura Harbor Boatyard.