Charter Captains and Safety Talks

[gottaflylee]

I wrote this as an aritical for the front page of the site but tought that I would post it here also. Hope some of you may find it useful...

A safety talk is something that I do every day with my charters, wither 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 120m 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 that they will risk their live to get me if I get into trouble but 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 your 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 its 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 at which time 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 no 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, its 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 vessel program. I explain to them that we will lose the boat for 1 pot seed found and that we occasionally get boarded and that they do have dogs and they will hall you off the boat if they find drugs on them. 2 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, next question is where is your inhaler and do you have enough to get through the day, you may drop one over? Diabetic...more questions about how severe, are you on a pump and so on. Heart problems and how severe,are you on nitroglycerin pills. There again people don't, epically guys don't want you to know they are not bullet proof. I repeat, there is NO 911 60+ miles off the shore for at least 3 hours! Please let you captain and mate know. its for your own sake, I don't want you to die on my watch...

Next is Deck Safety: I start with where they can go 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 that some Crocs are) and how they can slid out of the latter two. To stay off the back deck after till after the fish slim has been cleaned off as they may slip on it. How to use the head, what they can and can not put into the head and yes I consider it "Deck Safety." 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 over board 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 eperbs and where they located and to bring them to the mate or my self 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 friends 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.

[clt_capt]

Great Post Capt. Lee.

Many of us don't run charters, but the safety talk is every bit as important on a recreational boat as well. My regular crew has been intimately involved with all facets of the boat, but we still review it regularly. Any one new fishing with us gets the lecture and a guided tour.

Safety is NOT something to go short on.

Thank you for the reminder

[tunatamer4]

Great post Capt Lee.

Although I'm not in the habit of being part of a chartering group, I have gone on a feiw with friends in other areas. Out of maybe the two dozen or so trips I was an actual paying customer, only TWICE have I heard the safety speech, and that was on the same boat.

Even in the marina down here there are countless boats that just load the guys and go. Not even telling them where the head is or how to use it.

I was once questioned by a Capt. that I worked for(my first trip with him) what I was doing with the party in the salon for twenty minutes on the way up the waterway to the inlet. I told him "Giving the safety speech , telling them about the boat, and a bit about the type of fishing we'll be doing"

If everyone is as informed as possible BEFORE the S@&T HITS THE FAN, it makes things much easier.

Again, great topic.

[Mustang Sally]

Good stuff, Lee. I always show guests how to press the home inlet sea buoy on my gps in case I get hurt. I also give them the compass heading home regularly.

I actually had a person get injured on the boat some years back, and fortunately had the right first aid kit to stablize the wound until we made the three hour ride back to masonboro inlet. That was a long ride, let me tell you.

[Fishfinder]

Good post Lee! It also is the best way to CYA incase something does happen. You can always say that you gave them the speech, but some people are still dumber that bricks. Just like the ones like you said that still wanted to bring a joint. I have made customers toss a few joints over board in the past 20 years. It's my boat and my livelyhood they are screwing with. They just get a slap on the wrist compared to what we have to loose.

Capt. Joe

[flatbottom]

great topic Captain Lee

in smooth waters nasty things can happen

in rough waters the nastiest things happen often

the sharking charters need to listen very closely. I know some sleds allow beer. The American beverage. But ... silly in the head charter groups spell band aids....lots of them

[merry marlin]

Thanks Capt. Lee... I printed it out for my boys. Too often teenage kids think they are invincible!
MM

[Water Damage]

excellent post Lee!!! I make sure I give a safety speech every trip, and if we have friends or guests aboard for a tourney I give them a good walk thru. That being said, I know for a fact I can do a better job than I have. I will be sure to go back over this and get my speech back to where it needs to be - every time!

I have a printed version posted aboard also - I will be adjusting it to reflect a couple points you made that I do not have written in!!

Thanks!

[Robja]

Great post Lee. The only place I have ever chartered has been in Central or South America and I never heard a safety speech. The most they ever did was point out life jackets. On the ride out i checked around to find fire extinguishers and first aid kits just in case. You gave a good reminder that applies not only to charters but fishing with friends as well. I had been fishing with one friend for 5 years before I knew for sure where the life jackets were and the only reason I new then was we got boarded by the Marine Patrol and they wanted to see them.

[Honey Hole]

Capt. Lee - This should be an "archived" post for sure. Thanks... I need to give a better safety speech.