William John Smith, 37, of Fredonia, New York, was last seen on the evening of June 23, 1983. At about 5:30 p.m. he was observed piloting a white 1977 Bertram 31 Flybridge Cruiser out of Port Rowan, Ontario, heading into the north channel toward Lake Erie. The boat’s hull VIN is reported as 3121641B and it had twin Mercruiser 330 hp engines.

Smith is described as a white male with brown, balding hair and blue eyes, about 6 feet to 6 feet 1 inch tall and roughly 220 pounds. He was reportedly wearing white shorts with red stripes, a dark-colored shirt, glasses or prescription sunglasses, and possibly a watch. Neither he nor the boat were ever found, and the New York State Police in Fredonia continue to list his case as open. The circumstances of his departure and intended destination are unclear.

Did anyone in the boating community or local marinas in 1983 see that Bertram after it left Port Rowan?