Burying a friend at sea
 

Hi guys, recently I lost a very good friend to cancer. During his life he owned a Cig Cafe Racer, several TG's, a 38' Fountain, a Paramount, and several other offshore boats. His dying wish was to be cremated and buried at sea on his birthday in April, and it seems only right to do it off of an offshore boat. I volunteered mine, but I am not sure if there are any legalities to worry about, or if we can just go and dump the ashes offshore. Hopefully somebody on here has went through this and can help! Then I just have to figure out how to fit 11 people on my boat, haha! Thanks for any help you can provide.

First off I'm very sorry to hear of your friend's demise. At least it sounds like he enjoyed himself while he was here with a collection of toys like that.

As for the disposal of his ashes . Normally , the complications only come into play when there is a 'body' to be buried .
'X' number of miles from the shore/reef line/water depth etc.

You should be able to disperse the ashes wherever you want to. If you think there might be a public outcry just keep it quiet.

Some years back one of the coolest people I ever knew , a talented and eccentric machinist passed away . He was cremated and his wife split the ashes and put them in a few of his favourite places and kept a bit for herself .

Very sorry for your loss, and comforting that he entrusted you for his last wishes. God Bless.

Are you the legal owner of said ashes? Wouldn't want a relative/relation issue to compound his final journey.

The Coast Guard has a scenario where you can report the coordinates of the final resting place, and they record/plot it on a map they have to show a place of record of the descendants final resting place.

For official business that charter sea burials theres rules. I think at least 5 miles for a scattering of ashes. 20 for a whole body sea burial. I want to get splashed whole when I go!!!

Sorry for your loss, I did the same for my father, a WWII Navy LCDR Veteran and civilian boat Captain who spent more time on the water than land. It's been almost 18 yrs and every time I am on the water I am greeted with a comfortable feeling. On another note be wary on which way the wind is blowing.

I was living on the NC coast when my dad passed. We had never discussed it, but since he was an old Navy guy (many years aboard the USS Forrestal) I figured he wouldn't mind having his ashes scattered in the Atlantic Ocean.

So, we took my boat and 8 or 9 folks including my sister and some of his friends there and headed out the Cape Fear and had a small ceremony about a mile offshore.

It felt like the right thing to do, and even more so as time goes by.

Sorry about your friend, Scott.

ditto what Lee said about the wind...

we just buried my dad this way a few months back, and I have done a bro in law, and another mutual friend.... wind direction can spoil the day... if you use your own vessel, there are no laws to my knowledge,... I have 4 places picked for myself...

Sorry for the loss and its cool your doing this for him. Its sad what happen to High Life but he passed doing and being where he loved and you are doing right by your friend.
-Mike

Thanks to everybody for their kind words!
Downtown- His wife will be on board with the ashes, and she loved the idea so I am good there.
Wind direction will definately be factored, I figure a slow idle into the wind will be best!
His wife says there are 9 friends and family members that want to come, so i'll probably have to rent a second boat, will make sure they are upwind also. Thanks again for all your thoughts!

Sorry for your loss.

If your worried about legalities i would check with drypipetiger here he might be able to help you

Friends ashes at sea
 

I have done a few for different people from my airplane never had any issues at all.

Best and good luck

Paul

very sorry for your loss.

I did the same for my father 13 years ago when he died. My family and I went out on my cigarette and spread some of his ashes out in the ocean in Fl and then a few months later we spread some more of his ashes in long Island sound NY. and the rest of his ashes were buried in the national cemetery in Long Island . We didnt ask anyone for permission , we just did it.

Tom

There are designated aquatic cemeteries located around many major ports/marinas.

We just spread the ashes of a friend of mine who was a Coast Guard member in one outside of Long Beach 2 weeks ago.

The Coast Guard will tell you where they are, or you can go and just "do it".

Uncle Dave

We spread the ashes of my father and sister at sea some years back.
Picked a nice reef not too far from shore with coordinates I could easily remember.
Rented a 55ft beautiful vessel that would hold everyone and "just did it".

Make sure the boat has a working wash down water hose,
so if any ashes do get wind blown onto the boat or hull, they can easily be washed back into the ocean.

No regrets, I will probably go that route myself when the time comes.

Many localities have laws that prohibit it due to "Hazmat" blah, blah, blah. It is best to just get a couple of boats, go out to good place and just do it. Drink a few toasts and run into the wind as you release the ashes from the back. Better not to bring the "Man" into it.

Good friend of mine said when he goes he wants to be dumped down the intake of a blower motor running WOT! :D

To avoid complications in regards to burial, on board have certificate of death and certificate of cremation. This was suggested by director of funeral home.
Disposed of wife's remains in June off Miami. Sorry for the loss.

I have been a funeral director for 25 years and always tell people to just do it discreetly. It's a good idea to note your location and put it on the cremation certificate for future generations. No hazmat, cremains are only inorganic bone fragments.

Sorry for your loss.

If my boat was down in Florida, I would have gladly volunteered to bring out people. Sorry I can't help.

I thought about that too. Through the sea strainer though!

I saw a few complete body burials when I was in the Navy.

Sorry for your loss.

We disposed some (I have the rest) of my fathers ashes at red buoy 14 around Barnegat lighthouse. After ashes went flowers. We were all looking at the lighthouse when someone looked down and somehow one of the flowers ended up in the well (outboard boat). Left a sense of calm and I always feel safe when I go out the inlet. I was 12

:eek: :coolcowboy: That's pretty funny right there !!!

gofastscott.....

I would think you should be able to start a new thread and get another member in the area to volunteer his/her boat and time to accommodate the rest of the people that your boat cant handle.

may he rest in peace
here in canada there are strict rules regarding interment
of any sort
dont advertise
just do it
my survivors know where to scatter my remains

:evilb::evilb:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...newithWind.jpg

ashes at sea
 

I told my wife to put my ashes in a douche bag, and run me through one more time..

On a more serious note, I have done it a few times, for my family and for friends..It's simple and there are no problems..
A couple of tips: Do it on a calm day, you will be more than pleased with the results.. Make sure the wind is in your favor..I go out near the Gulfstream in the bluest water I can find..Stop the boat, very important, and put the remains in as close to the water as you can.. Bend way over the side..You only have to pour them in one spot, don't try to spread them in the wind or they will blow all over you...Have a camera ready, and remain in that spot for a few minutes, and you will see a white cloud that is ghostly in appearance in the water..The women will cry, and so may you, but seeing the cloud in the water will put you all at peace..Flowers are great too..
Sorry for your loss, may they rest in peace..
Good luck..

Butch

Yo! Congrats.... I have not laughed that hard in forty five years. You need to copy write that. I think it was part to a sad post that went totaly wrong but I think the deceased would also have laughed that hard. Thanks!

15 minutes have passed and still smiling . Wife was too till i asked for the same.....:party-smiley-004:.....she says all you guy's are the same . Sorry for your loss , hope this lightens things up a bit .

My Dear friend/ Brother in law died suddenly on 1/12/12 he was a Navy Deep Diver only 44 yrs old. We are taking his ashes to Key West and spread in the Gulfstream this summer, till then He is resting on our mantle. He never had the chance to ride on my Skater during his time here, but He will be that day.