TWO inexperienced sailors on a fishing trip died when their unseaworthy boat capsized, an inquest heard.

Best friends Bernard Powell, 56, from Stokesley, and Peter Blount, 47, from Redcar, died after the cabin cruiser The Buzz overturned close to the coast at Redcar.

A third man, Philip Ridout, from London, who appeared at the hearing while in custody, survived the ordeal half a mile off the South Gare breakwater.

A search was launched involving lifeboats from Redcar, Hartlepool and Teesmouth, a rescue helicopter, and Redcar coastguard rescue team, after the alarm was raised at 3.30pm on May 2.

Teesside Coroner's Court heard Mr Blount had owned the boat for several months but had never taken it to sea on his own.

"It was his dream," said his fiancee Jane Trainor. "He knew he was a novice."

Video footage taken by an eye-witness clearly showed Mr Ridout sitting astride the stricken vessel frantically waving his arms, nearly four hours after the boat capsized.

All three men were thrown into the water and desperately tried to cling on to the end of the boat that was sticking out of the sea. Only Mr Powell was wearing a buoyancy aid in the water.

"We kept getting knocked off by the waves," said Mr Ridout. "Bernard drifted away about an hour after the boat turned over. We were just getting cold and tired. Peter slipped off about an hour later."

It is believed the boat sank at about noon when the motor cruiser took on water after developing engine trouble

Mr Ridout was picked up by a Redcar lifeboat crew and taken to hospital suffering from severe hypothermia and a broken ankle.

Maritime engineer Trevor Coburn examined the boat and discovered a larger than normal engine had been fitted, it had no functioning bilge pump, ineffective safety equipment and two large holes at the rear where water could easily gain access.

He said: "It may have been dangerously unsafe. It was unfit to go to sea."

Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded verdicts of accidental death due to drowning.