BFT commercial safety equipment

[trollman]

I have not heard anything about a sat phone? But are you telling me that I need to have a survial suit and life raft abourd my 24 foot boat to commercial fish BFT in NC? What else is required? Come on I know someone knows the answers here.

not as requirement but to increase ur safety - cheap insurance. i think it is not required yet tho.

[frankypettolina]

I know this thread is about smaller boats, but let me ask the question about bigger boats. For example my boat 46 feet. I DO need survival suits correct? When Barry Everhart inspected me 2 years ago I did. As I understood it, the line for the warm/cold water mark was moved prior to that season. Either way, I would rather have them. I also know that for my size boat I need tidal prediction and current prediction charts, and a Coast Pilot for the area.

And BOX is way correct about ice. I know that 250 pounds will barely do an average GBFT. I carry anywhere from 4 to 600 pounds per trip. Thank goodness I got an icemaker this year. I will be able to fill all my holds and make it as I go. TOO MUCH IS BETTER THAN NOT ENOUGH. and a little tip. have a hefty bag half to 2/3 filled with ice. When you start prepping the fish, set this bag on his upside to start the cooling process until you have his guts and stuff out to pack the inside. The cooler you get him the better.

[Capt. Jon Tennant]

as the size category of boat increases, so does the commercial requirements. but the cold/warm water is cape hatteras, south of that, I know that survival suits are not required on my boat (26'). they may be required in the larger boat categorys, not for sure though.

[reel fool]

I'm not fishing there, but I do know that when I spoke directly with the man (the guy who does the training for the guys who perform the inspections, or something like that), he told me over the phone that
YOU MUST HAVE A SURVIVAL SUIT FOR EVERYONE ON BOARD

When I asked about the north/south line,etc...he said that it IS BELOW NC somewhere. in Moorehead, Hatteras, etc...you must have a suit....according to the man, not me.

Don't get caught without it