A Katikati father, who drowned after his boat capsized in Tauranga Harbour, could have survived had he been wearing a lifejacket, a Coroner has found.

Coroner Peter Ryan released findings into the death of 52-year-old Tim Mair whose body was found at Whiritoa 10 days after his 20ft boat was swamped and tipped by a wave near Bowentown Heads on January 28 this year.

Tim Mair died after his 20ft boat capsized in Tauranga Harbour earlier this year.

Tim, who Peter describes as an experienced boat skipper and familiar with the Tauranga Harbour, took his daughter, son, grandson and family friend out on the water on January 28.

The family were reported to have been wakeboarding before they began trolling the bar.

Near the entrance to the harbour at Bowentown the sea conditions were rough with a considerable swell.

While those in the boat were trolling, the boat was swamped by a wave before being capsized by a second wave, the Coroner says in the report.

'The other occupants of the boat were wearing wetsuits and were able to put lifejackets on following the capsize.”

Tim was not wearing a lifejacket or a wetsuit when he went into the harbour waters.

After helping his 7-year-old grandson back to the overturned boat, Tim started to struggle in the waters and was seen sinking beneath the waves.

His then 15-year-old son went to help him, but was unable to stop Tim from slipping away, says the Coroner.

While Tim was swept away his 23-year-old daughter, son, grandson and a 14-year-old friend were able to swim to Matakana Island where they were picked up by a passing boatie.

A search involving Coastguard, Search and Rescue, the TECT TrustPower rescue helicopter, surf life saving vessels and Waihi mining teams commenced.

Tim's body was later recovered on February 7, about 300metres off Whiritoa Beach.

Peter says a post-mortem shows Tim's cause of death was drowning.

'I am satisfied from the evidence provided to me that an extensive search was carried out for Tim, but he couldn't be found because it's likely he was submerged at the time.

'There is no evidence to suggest the search was deficient in any way and by this time Tim's death couldn't have been avoided.”

Peter believes had Tim's death could have been prevented had he been wearing a lifejacket when the boat capsized.

'It's extremely fortunate the other occupants of the boat, who were not wearing lifejackets, survived this ordeal.

'This incident could easily have resulted in multiple fatalities, but for the fact the lifejackets on the boat floated to the surface near the boat following the capsize and the occupants were able to grab them.”

The Coroner recommends that any boatie fimilarise themselves with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's guide to safe use of Tauranga Harbour and carry enough lifejackets for all people onboard.

He also recommends the regional council's advice that all people onboard wear lifejackets at times of heightened risk, which includes crossing bars, strong tides or in water that is rough for the size of the boat. The Coroner suspects the boat was in a position of heightened risk at the time it was swamped and capsized.

"Mr Mair has paid the greatest penalty for failing to observe best practice, if not legal requirements, for the safe operation of a pleasure boat."