Searchers are still hoping to find missing boater Richard Crocker, 45, after they found debris from his boat near Sally's Cove, north of Bonne Bay, on Newfoundland's west coast.

The bits of debris were small, but according to Const. Stephen McCarthy of the Rocky Harbour detachment of the RCMP, one of the pieces confirmed the identity of the wreck.

"They had found the name placard with the name MV Fairwinds," said McCarthy. "And that vessel has been part of our investigation the last couple of days."

Crocker left Summerside, in the Bay of Islands, on Wednesday afternoon for a trip that would normally take about three hours.

The search for Crocker began Thursday morning when he failed to arrive at Trout River, in Gros Morne National Park.

The search then had to be temporarily suspended because of high winds and waves in the area.

Lt. Jennifer Fidler, with the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax, said the search for Crocker will now focus on the Sally's Cove area.

She said Hercules and Cormorant aircraft were combing the surface of the water.

McCarthy said Crocker may have been wearing a personal flotation device, which is lending some hope.

"We found PFDs as part of the debris," said McCarthy. "And being that it was a pleasure vessel, he may have had access to one for himself as well."

An RCMP ground search and rescue team is also scouring the shoreline, hoping to find Crocker or clues to his whereabouts.