John Joseph Harrison, 41, and Danny Leonard Viney, 35, drowned in waters off Tasmania’s North-East after their dinghy was likely swamped in December 2015.

They did not have an anchor, chain and rope to deploy to ensure the craft faced into the wind and waves, and, once submerged, the boat was unable to provide an adequate support platform, Coroner Duncan Fairley found.

He released his findings into their deaths on Wednesday.

Mr Harrison and Mr Viney had planned a camping trip to Waterhouse Conservation Area with a group of friends on Christmas Day in 2015.

They left Launceston on Boxing Day in separate vehicles and took a three-metre Manta Craft boat, which belonged to Mr Viney, along with a 2.3 horse power motor.

Because of the boat’s dimensions and propulsion units, it was exempt from registration under the Marine and Safety By-Laws 2013. Neither of the men had a current boat licence at the time of their deaths.

Mr Fairley found Mr Viney and Mr Harrison consumed a moderate amount of alcohol during the early afternoon of December 27 before deciding to take the boat out fishing.

“The men loaded a small UHF radio, an oar, a shovel, a red lifejacket, a yellow lifejacket, fishing rods and a tackle box into the boat. In addition, a metal wheel rim attached to a length of rope, to be used as a makeshift anchor, was taken on board,” he said.

When it started to get dark, a search was conducted along the beach and around the area of the boat ramp, but there was no sign of the pair, or the boat.

At 12.42am on December 28, one of the group climbed to the top of a nearby sand dune and called police.

A police search ensued, with the Westpac Police Rescue Helicopter and police vessel Van Dieman deployed.

Mr Viney’s body was found about 2am and Mr Harrison’s body was found about 8am.

“It is most likely that the Manta Craft boat became swamped and thereafter was unable to provide an adequate support platform for Mr Harrison and Mr Viney,” Mr Fairley said.

“The boat was loaded at or near its maximum capacity and there was no anchor, chain and rope to deploy to ensure the craft faced into the wind and waves. Once submerged the boat was not equipped with a bailer or bilge pump nor flares and smoke signals.

“I find that both Mr Harrison and Mr Viney most likely died as a result of becoming so incapacitated by fatigue and cold that they drowned, subsequent to being immersed in the waters off Waterhouse Point in North-Eastern Tasmania.”

A Marine and Safety Tasmania representative inspected the boat in January 2016, and found it to be in “reasonable condition but suitable only for vigilant use in protected water”, Mr Fairley said.

Maximum load capacity of the boat in protected water was prescribed as 190 kilograms.

The inspector confirmed weight needed to be evenly distributed in the boat at all times to maintain even trim.

“The MAST inspector found sufficient internal buoyancy fitted to keep the boat on the surface of the water when swamped, however, once swamped, the boat would have provided an inadequate support platform for persons to hold onto in the water,” Mr Fairley said.

He urged all recreational boat users to educate themselves about boating safety and ensure their craft was equipped in accordance with MAST recommendations.

“I convey my sincere condolences to the family and friends of both Mr Harrison and Mr Viney,” he said.