Search Efforts End for Three Missing After San Francisco Bay Boat Capsize
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search operations at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday for three missing passengers following the capsizing of the *Volare*, a 49-foot cabin cruiser that sank in the San Francisco Bay on Tuesday. The intensive search, which spanned nearly 30 hours and covered approximately 950 square nautical miles, utilized 11 vessels and four aircraft but yielded no additional survivors.
The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon near Alcatraz Island as the vessel, home-ported in Stockton, was carrying 20 people. According to officials, the group—composed of relatives and close friends—had gathered for a memorial service to scatter the ashes of a deceased family member.
A Rapid Maritime Disaster
Survivors reported that the vessel suddenly took on water after a wave went over its side. The boat listed heavily and rapidly rolled over, sinking in approximately 130 feet of water. Capt. Jarod Toczko of the U.S. Coast Guard stated there is a “high possibility” that the three missing individuals were trapped inside the three-level cabin as it submerged.
Witnesses and nearby boaters described a chaotic scene as the vessel went down. Commercial fishermen Mike Montoya and Justin Marceline, who were in the area, arrived first and rescued eight or nine people from the water. They reported seeing passengers inside the cabin banging on windows in an attempt to escape as the boat sank.
“It was a scene from the Titanic in real life,” said Marceline. “Like people banging on the window trying to get out.”
Casualties and Survivor Accounts
One man, identified by the San Francisco medical examiner as 79-year-old Clifford Boisa of Sutter County, was recovered from the water in severe distress. Despite attempts by first responders to perform CPR, he was pronounced dead at Gashouse Cove Marina. The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Boisa was a retired reserve deputy who served from 1987 to 2001. A dog that was aboard the boat also died.
Sixteen other passengers were rescued. San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen reported that three of the survivors were treated at a hospital and subsequently released, while 13 others returned home safely.
Ralph Boisa, a relative of the boat’s owner, identified the three missing individuals as his sister, Carol Boisa; the wife of the deceased, Jackie Boisa; and a friend of his late daughter, whose memorial the group had been attending.
Ongoing Investigation and Recovery Challenges
While the Coast Guard has suspended the active search, the cause of the capsize remains under investigation. Investigators have not yet determined why the vessel lost stability. Officials noted that an initial report of a fire on the boat remains unsubstantiated.
Authorities are currently assessing the feasibility of recovering the *Volare* from the bay floor. Capt. Toczko noted that the vessel’s location in a busy shipping channel at a depth of roughly 130 feet presents significant challenges for any potential salvage operation. Because the wreck lies at a depth exceeding the capacity of standard divers, any recovery effort would require the use of a specialized submersible vessel.
The owner and pilot of the boat, John Boisa, declined to provide details regarding the incident when contacted by reporters at his Stockton home on Wednesday, stating only that the family is grieving.
Summary of Known Facts
| Category | Details |
| :— | :— |
| Vessel | *Volare*, 49-foot cabin cruiser |
| Total Passengers | 20 adults |
| Confirmed Deceased | 1 (Clifford Boisa, 79) |
| Missing | 3 |
| Rescued | 16 |
| Location | San Francisco Bay, near Alcatraz Island |
| Search Scope | 950 square nautical miles |
The Coast Guard expressed its condolences to the families involved, with Capt. Toczko noting that suspending a search is “one of the hardest parts of our job.”
Find more reporting in our News section.
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