The Maine Department of Marine Resources has identified the man who died on board a cabin cruiser 13 miles off York Harbor on Thursday and the boat owner who was with him and called for help.

Forest Woodruff, 59, of Jamaica, Vermont, died on board the Sea Bird, a 28-foot cabin cruiser owned by Russell Smith, 57, also of Jamaica.

The two men were on board when the boat’s engine developed a problem, said Jeff Nichols, a spokesman for the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The men dropped anchor Wednesday evening where they had been fishing near Jeffreys Ledge.

Smith fell asleep, and when he woke up Thursday morning he discovered Woodruff’s body lying near the open engine compartment.

Smith notified the Coast Guard around 5:15 a.m., and a Coast Guard vessel towed the boat into York Harbor.

The details of what caused the boat’s engine to fail and the cause of the man’s death are under investigation.

Lt. Scott McCann, a Coast Guard spokesman, told the Associated Press on Friday that there’s nothing indicating the death was suspicious.


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