time by a passing cargo ship nbc's kerry sanders has his story. >> reporter: this 62-year-old is lucky to be alive, lucky to have been spot. he was 86 mile off the florida coast clinging to the tiniest portion of his 32-foot boat. >> miraculous isn't a strong enough word for what they found. that's a made-for-tv most. >> it was the top of the bow of the boat poking out of the water at that point. >> that's exactly lift. >> reporter: he left friday afternoon after a friend reported him missing saturday, the coast guard put out an alert, that's how the cargo ship angeles knew to scan the sea marine officials are not sure why the boat sank, only that he hung onto the bow for at least four hours >> i cannot imagine the december station he was going through at that moment or the elation of finding a vessel out at sea. that was a needle in a haystack.