Small boat found running by itself; no sign yet of operator

The Coast Guard resumed their search Tuesday for a Juneau boater who was reported missing near Auke Bay.

Other vessels on Monday afternoon spotted the 32-foot pleasure craft Spellbound running in circles at slow speed about a mile west of Point Louisa.

No one was on board the boat and there were no obvious signs of what happened to the operator.

Lt.(jg) Eric Ferree of Coast Guard Sector Juneau said they dispatched a 25-foot small rescue boat from Station Juneau, the 110-foot cutter Liberty from Auke Bay, and an H-60 helicopter from Sitka to search the area.

They were scheduled to return to the scene at first light on Tuesday.

The owner and operator of the Spellbound has been identified as 52-year-old Paul Keithahn of Juneau.

His cell phone was still on board the boat when it was found.

Ferree said his relatives have been notified, and Juneau police officers took the boat and Keithahn’s truck parked near Statter Harbor into custody.

Ferree said searchers reported good weather and good visibility on Monday.

Sign up for The Signal

Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week

Site notifications
Update notification options
Subscribe to notifications