When the replica 180-foot HMS BOUNTY was docked at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in 2008, the Ear was one of many who went to admire it. Unfortunately, the ship came to an untimely end when it sank during Hurricane Sandy while it was motor sailing to Florida. Pictured, a U.S. Coast Guard photo of the Bounty taken during the storm.

Why was the notoriously leaky wooden boat out at sea in the hurricane? To find out, check out another nautical gem from JOANNE RIDEOUT. She posted a link on Facebook to a detailed (and fascinating) article by Kathryn Miles about the Bountys demise in OUTSIDE MAGAZINE, SUNK: The Incredible Truth About a Ship That Never Should Have Sailed (http://tinyurl.com/sunkbounty).

A lot of things have to go wrong for a ship to sink in these circumstances, Martin Davies, director of Tulane Universitys Maritime Law Center, was quoted as saying. There may very well be plenty of blame to go around.

Elleda Wilson