Very sad news. Phil Harris seemed like the kind of skipper you'd want to have as a crewman if you wanted the best chance of coming back alive... the guy "knew his stuff" to say the least. He certainly was one of the best "characters" on the show. However, given the way that he took care of himself at sea, I can't say that I'm surprised that he went at such an relatively young age. He wasn't alone in that regard by a long shot... I get the sense that yes, you make a lot of money fast in that job, but it tends to really "chew" people's health up. Working 36 hours straight, chain smoking, and living largely on a diet that would make any dietitian and cardiologist cringe takes its toll over the years, even if it's only a few months out of the year.