San Francisco Bay boat sinking wreckage found near Alcatraz

The wreck of the 49-foot cabin cruiser Volare, which capsized near Alcatraz Island on Tuesday, has been located on the Bay floor, and authorities are searching for two missing family members while investigating the cause of the tragedy.

The wreckage of a 49-foot cabin cruiser that capsized near Alcatraz Island this week has been located on the floor of San Francisco Bay, as authorities continue searching for two family members still missing after the deadly accident.

San Francisco police said Friday that the vessel, identified as the Volare, was found underwater near the area where it overturned Tuesday afternoon. The sinking has claimed at least two lives and prompted a multi-agency search and recovery operation in one of the Bay Area's busiest waterways.

Wreckage of the Volare located near Alcatraz Island

The San Francisco Police Department said its Marine Unit used boat-mounted sonar equipment to locate the wreckage after several days of searching.

"The Marine Unit is now using a remotely operated vehicle to assess the wreckage," police said in a statement. Authorities are coordinating with partner agencies to determine whether recovering the vessel is safe and feasible.

Sonar images released by investigators showed the boat resting on the seabed, roughly 120 feet below the surface, in an area characterized by rocky terrain, strong currents, and challenging underwater conditions.

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Officials have not yet said whether the vessel will be raised. Recovery experts note that salvaging a boat from that depth could be a complex and costly operation but may be necessary to determine exactly what caused the vessel to capsize.

The discovery comes as investigators continue examining whether passengers may have become trapped inside the boat when it rolled over and sank.

Two deaths confirmed as search continues for missing passengers

Authorities on Thursday recovered and identified the second confirmed victim as Tondra Madruga, 58, of Sacramento County.

Madruga's death follows that of Clifford Joseph Boisa, 79, of Sutter County, who was pulled from the water Tuesday but could not be saved.

Two people remained missing as of Saturday. Family members have identified them as Jackie Boisa, Clifford Boisa's wife, and his sister, Carol Boisa.

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its active search Wednesday after crews covered more than 950 square nautical miles. However, local authorities have continued recovery efforts while also searching for the sunken vessel.

Coast Guard officials previously said there is a strong possibility some of the missing victims could still be inside the wreckage.

What happened when the boat capsized?

The Volare overturned around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, roughly 600 yards from Alcatraz Island.

San Francisco Fire Department officials said emergency crews received reports that the vessel was either taking on water or experiencing distress in rough conditions before it suddenly rolled over.

Seventeen people were rescued from the water. Three were transported to hospitals and later released.

The Coast Guard has said preliminary accounts indicate a large wave may have struck the vessel, leaving it unstable and causing it to list heavily before rolling to starboard.

"All indications are that things happened very quickly," Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Commander Capt. Jarod Toczko said earlier this week.

Investigators stressed that no official cause has been determined and that the vessel's recovery could be critical to understanding what happened.

The Volare was certified to carry 20 people and was current on its Coast Guard documentation, which was renewed in 2025 and valid through 2030.

Family was gathered for a memorial at sea

Family members told the San Francisco Chronicle that most of the approximately 20 passengers aboard the vessel were members of the extended Boisa family.

The group had gathered to scatter the ashes of Maria Boisa, a family member who died in 2015 and loved the San Francisco Bay.

According to relatives, several passengers were inside the enclosed cabin when the incident occurred.

Commercial fishermen who responded to the emergency described a chaotic rescue scene, with survivors in the water and some people reportedly trapped inside the vessel as it sank.

The captain of the Volare, John Boisa, has said he is cooperating with investigators but has declined to comment publicly on the incident.

What happens next?

Investigators from the Coast Guard, San Francisco Police Department and other agencies are evaluating options for recovering the wreckage and continuing the search for the two missing passengers.

Authorities have not announced a timeline for any salvage operation. Officials say weather, tides, underwater conditions, and the vessel's stability will all factor into whether recovery crews attempt to raise the Volare from the Bay floor.