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Rough Weather Linked to Boating Death of Man Near Rangeley

August 26, 2008 - DAVIS TOWNSHIP -- High, gusty winds and rough water contributed to a boating accident that killed a Massachusetts man this week near the southern shore of Kennebago Lake north of Rangeley.

John Seiler, 81, of Wayland, Mass., drowned Wednesday after a wave knocked him out of the 17-foot Rangeley boat he and his partner, Sally Linder, were in the process of bringing to shore, said Maj. Greg Sanborn of the Maine Warden Service.

Linder and Seiler were vacationing at Grant's Camp at the northern end of the 5-mile-long lake.

They were on board a Rangeley boat, considered a stable rowing craft that is a cross between a motor boat and a canoe, Sanborn said.

"They had started out at Grant's Camps and what probably happened was that as he was preparing to get to his destination, a wave struck the boat and knocked him overboard," Sanborn said. The high waves overwhelmed him and Linder was unable to pull him back into the boat.

Sanborn said she managed to pull him ashore but when Rangeley Police and Rangeley Fire & Rescue arrived, Seiler could not be revived.

Seiler was not wearing a life preserver but there was one in the boat, which complied with state water safety regulations, the officer said.

The investigating officer was Sgt. Patrick Egan who was assisted by Warden Blaine Holding and Sgt. John Blagdon.

BY BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff Writer, Kennebec Journal, 08/22/2008


Lakes: Kennebago Lake
Regions: Rangeley


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