Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Two bystanders watch over a small boat at the Kenai City Dock that capsized Tuesday, July 19, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. Its four occupants were rescued quickly by other boaters, and others towed the vessel to shore.

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Two bystanders watch over a small boat at the Kenai City Dock that capsized Tuesday, July 19, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska. Its four occupants were rescued quickly by other boaters, and others towed the vessel to shore.

4 rescued after boat capsizes

Four people were brought safely to shore after their boat capsized Tuesday near the Kenai City Dock.

The 18-foot low boat took on water after being hit with a wake, said Kenai Fire Battalion Chief Tony Prior. All four people in the boat were wearing life vests, and none of them had to be taken to the hospital or checked on scene, he said.

The accident in the active dipnet area of the Kenai River happened between noon and 1 p.m. during low tide, Prior said.

“The river channels down a lot in that area … and people are still continuing to motor quickly up and down the river,” he said, explaining that it doesn’t take much to capsize a small boat.

The boat’s occupants were quickly rescued by other boaters in the area, Prior said, and others towed the capsized vessel to shore.

Prior said this was a good reminder to dipnetters about the importance of wearing life vests while on the water, even though sometimes “people think they’re cumbersome.”

Soldotna resident Michele Vasquez, who was at the dock around the time the boat capsized, agreed that smaller vessels are more susceptible to wakes and waves, saying it can sometimes be a problem for smaller boats like her own.

“It’s about courtesy I think, because a lot of the smaller boats can’t take the waves from the boats … that are ocean-worthy,” Vasquez said.

Kenai Police also responded to the accident.

 

Reach Megan Pacer at megan.pacer@peninsulaclarion.com.

Boaters rescue passengers from a capsized boat in the Kenai River Tuesday during the personal-use dipnet fishery. (Photo courtesy Frank Alioto)

Boaters rescue passengers from a capsized boat in the Kenai River Tuesday during the personal-use dipnet fishery. (Photo courtesy Frank Alioto)

More in News

tease
Voznesenka School graduates 4

A commencement ceremony was held at Land’s End on Monday.

Graduates celebrate at the end of the Kenai Central High School commencement ceremony in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Fight as the generation who will stand tall’

Kenai Central High School graduates 113.

Guest speaker Donica Nash gave out candy matching each student, including this package of JOYRIDE to Gideon Pankratz, at the River City Academy graduation ceremony Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Skyview Middle School just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
River City Academy graduates 9

The school serves students in seventh through 12th grade and has an enrollment of about 80

Nikiski graduates view their slideshow during a commencement ceremony at Nikiski/Middle High School in Nikiski, Alaska, on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘We need to change the world’

Nikiski Middle/High School graduates 31 on Monday.

State Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) exits the Senate Chambers after the Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, adjourns until next January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Legislature adjourns a day early in ‘smoothest ending in 20 years’ following months of budget battles

Lawmakers speed through final votes on veto override on education funding bill, budget with $1,000 PFD.

The Homer Chamber of Commerce’s float in the Fourth of July parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024, celebrates their 75th anniversary in Homer, Alaska, in the spirit of the parade’s theme, “Historical Homer.” A measure that would have increased special event fees for those looking to host gatherings in city-maintained spaces was voted down during a May 12, 2025, meeting of the Homer City Council. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Rep. Andi Story (D-Juneau), Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), and Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) watch the vote tally during a veto override joint session on an education bill Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Education funding boost stands as lawmakers successfully override Dunleavy veto

Three of the peninsula’s legislators voted to override the veto.

Jeff Dolifka and his children perform the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula’s Royce and Melba Roberts Campus in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘So proud of what we accomplished’

New Boys and Girls Clubs campus dedicated Saturday with a ribbon-cutting and donor recognition.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dunleavy vetoes 2nd bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday

Bill passed by 48-11 vote — eight more than needed — but same count for override not certain.

Most Read