Charter Captains and Safety Talks

By Captain Lee Parsons - September 1, 2008

A safety talk is something that I do every day with my charters. Whether they have been on the boat once or 10 times you are going to get it. I just completed my CPR-First Aid class for the umpteenth time and this time was one of the best that I have been through. I like to go to my local dive shop (for me its Aquatic Safaris in Wilmington, NC, they are a 5 star dive operation and one of the best on the east coast) as I feel you get better training and it also is good for 2 years.
Each time I go through this class, it reminds me of how dangerous fishing is with runs up to 120 miles for some operations and that there is no 911 out there. Now the Coast Guard is a wonderful group of guys that I for one am very glad will risk their live to get me if I get into trouble. The truth of the matter is if I am 60 nautical miles off the Wilmington, NC coast, It will take 3 hours for them to reach me and that will be the longest 3 hours of my life. In 3 hours I can be back to my port of departure and to help. For me, that means that I need do my best to prevent any accidents from happening, sometimes by not leaving port due to iffy weather and I have seen charters that were not happy that I would not go, but it's the charters safety first no matter what.

I always like to have the charter to the boat at least 15 minuets before departure time to get their food and drink coolers stored and sit them down in the cabin for a 10 minuet safety talk. I will let them know what I think the weather conditions will be like for the day and I want to make very clear how dangerous it is out their and their safety is my first concern as I want nobody to get hurt or die on my watch. If you go out to sea not feeling well and don't let someone know, and something happens, you are likely not make it back to walk off the boat. Do not go out there and take one for the team, it's not worth it.
My safety talk starts off with DRUGS: Every charter boat is a "Drug Free Vessel" and each Captain and mate are required to be on a random drug testing program. I explain to them that we will lose the boat for 1 pot seed found, that we occasionally get boarded, that they do have dogs and they will haul you off the boat if they find drugs on them. Two things always amaze at this point, how many people need to get something that they left in the car after my talk and how many times that someone on a charter will ask the mate or me if I mind if they smoke a joint that they brought out…What- did you not hear me this morning!

Next is medical: I want them to know that everything in the back of the boat is sharp, teeth, hooks, gaffs and fishing line can cut your fingers, arms as well as your head off if you screw up. I want no one hurt. I explain where the First Aid Kits, bolt cutters and other things that I may need to use to help them are located. Last, but most import to me is "Are there any medical conditions on the boat that I need to be aware of." 9 times out of 10 all I get is dead silence and then comes the questions from me…asthmatic, and a hand goes up.

The next question is "Where is your inhaler and do you have enough to get through the day, or an extra as you may drop one over?" "Diabetic"…more questions about how severe- are you on a pump and so on. "Heart problems, how severe?" "Are you on nitroglycerin pills?" There again people don't, especially guys who don't want you to know they are not bulletproof. I repeat, there is no 911 60+ miles offshore! Please let you captain and mate know. It's for your own sake; I don't want you to die on my watch…

Next is Deck Safety: I start with where they can and can't go on the boat. With kids, I feel it is important to stress no rough housing or running. Shoes or no shoes, flip flops or Crocs (I hate seeing people come on the boat with out shoes or with flip flops and I can't believe slippery some Crocs are) and how they can slide out of the latter two. To stay off the back deck after until after the fish slime has been cleaned off, as they may slip on it.

How to use the head and what they can and can not put into it." Why not to stay inside if they get to feeling bad or go into the head. To pick a buddy and know where they are at all times, not to sit on the gunnels while running out or on the transom (the back of the boat) and most importantly to let me know if you are going to pee off the side of the boat when we are running. Many people have gone overboard doing this- some found, some not.

Last is Safety Gear: I start with where the fire extinguishers are located, what colors the extinguishers are and how they work. Where the flares and signal horn are. Where the Life Jackets are and how to put one on if they ask. Where to find the EPIRB's and to bring them to the mate or myself for deployment. I also like to let them know where the ditch bag is if needed. On my smaller boats, with no mate, I show them how to use the radio to call for help if I am hurt or disabled as well as how to find our position on the GPS and tell help where we are.

I guess the point of this is to make you, the charter or other charter captains, aware of things I feel that you should know when you walk on a charter boat for your safety or a friend's boat for that matter. If the captain or mate does not go over these things with you, shame on them, they should do this each and every day. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the points I have made here and suggest that they may want to do this with their charters.

Capt. Lee Parsons
Wrightsville Beach, NC
Gottafly Guide Service
Predator Sportfishing
910-540-2464