Offshore Safety

[Custom Canvas]

With the news of the missing boaters offshore it got my mind working and thinking of the saddness and sorrow the familys of the 2 missing men must be going through.
I feel safety is often overlooked by us and this should be a wakeup call to all of us. I have a soon to be bigger family (new baby in a few more weeks....!!!) And each and EVERY time I venture offshore in a small boat I take my Safety gear and my personal safety very seriously.

I had my wake up call nigh on 2 years ago when my Father-in-law SHOULD have lost his life 100 nm offshore when his boat struck somthing in the water and capsized in a quick 20 min. He is a seasoned offshore sailor with multiple Atlantic ocean crossings and was soloing to Bermuda. He had time to react, deploy the raft, call out maydays, but he did not get his epirb turned on right away... he thought he could save the vesell... His BIGGEST MISTAKE. To make a long story short a Cruise Ship spotted the overturned boat 2 days later and called it in to the coast guard. They responded with a search and found him in his raft 110 nm from land....

What if that were you?
Do you have a plan?

At that time I had no plan! shoot I didn't even know how to spell eprib....

GEAR LIST what I have on board each time I leave port...
1. EPIRB. (personal style clips right to my tackel bag)
2. Viking 4 man portable Life Raft.
3. Flares
4. Back up GPS
5. Hand Held VHF.

If I fish with some one else on there small boat I always ask if they have eprib/plb or Raft
If they dont I bring my own....Ask Ponce or Wahoo......

Sorry for the long post but FAMILY is what matters not fishing and coming home or bringing home your family is the most important part of fishing

Photo from the Coast Guard resue of my father-in-law

[marlin magnet]

Good reminder, but you being from custom canvas are missing an important device that may save your boat from a catastrophic sinking. Canvas sheet with gromets and hand lines attached. in the corners. If your to bust a hole or loose a shaft, or strut, spread the canvas in front of the bow and walk it back to the penetration. the pressure at the breach will semi-seal the breach in hopes the pumps can catch up.

[Nauti Natured]

Thanks for the reminder Zack. What kind of EPIRB do you like? I am looking at the little ACR ones that are around $400 bucks.

[merry marlin]

Hard but good Subject Zack....
With the distances we go out here you are dog on right to bring this up. We also have all the equipment you mention.
I went to Charleston this winter for the maintenance of our raft. Seeing that thing inflate gave me the shivers. Hope we never have to deploy it on water!
Regarding the Epirb is there any way to test it???? Call them in advance that we'll try it out... I'd hate to through that thing in the water thinking it's doing it's job without any signal going out!!!!
One of my biggest issues is not knowing much about engines.... Even with two I always stress that they'll break down and I wouldn't know where to start and don't have a single spare part.... Wish Yamaha had a crash course. I'd for sure take it with the two boys.
MM

[Custom Canvas]

Hard but good Subject Zack....
With the distances we go out here you are dog on right to bring this up. We also have all the equipment you mention.
I went to Charleston this winter for the maintenance of our raft. Seeing that thing inflate gave me the shivers. Hope we never have to deploy it on water!
Regarding the Epirb is there any way to test it???? Call them in advance that we'll try it out... I'd hate to through that thing in the water thinking it's doing it's job without any signal going out!!!!
One of my biggest issues is not knowing much about engines.... Even with two I always stress that they'll break down and I wouldn't know where to start and don't have a single spare part.... Wish Yamaha had a crash course. I'd for sure take it with the two boys.
MM

Epirbs do have a test feature/button as does my ARC PLB.

Chris, I'd just make sure the one that you get HAS GPS built-in.

As for engines Jaques, I don't know much what little I do know is it's all about preventive maintenance IF THEY HAD A COURSE I'D BE ALL OVER IT.....
Keep your Impellor changed out at lest every 2 seasons
keep all parts greased.
basically what the yamaha manuel says.
Oh. yea another tip is to change out your THERMOSTAT
VERY EASY I JUST DID MINE...THERE ARE 2 ON YOUR YAMAHAS AND AFTER 4 SEASONS MY WERE VERY CRUSTY.....

I rince my motor each time I use it...since day ONE.....Some say it does not matter......what does SFM.com say??

lets keep this thread going with ideas

[Hatterized]

great safety tips....

another tidbit....after the 3 football players were lost and 1 saved in Gulf of Mexico (off Clearwater Beach, FL) last year...if possible stay with the vessel.......even though it was turned-over it acted as flotation....this NC tragedy furthers this point...as the 1 rescued thus far was with the overturned/capsized vessel....no doubt you can never be too safe when going offshore

[ncjawbreaker]

I have nearly every known safety device on my boat, after a MOB experience last year. I fell overboard while doing too many things at once and thankfully my wife (God love her) picked me up after a few tries (She had never driven my 31 before). She is def. a keeper.

I have a 6 man offshore raft in a valise, a Life sling, autoinflating PFTs, etc., and most importantly, another lanyard with kill switch in case the driver falls out there is another to restart the engines.

After my experience, it awakened me. Now that my kids go fishing with me, I figure I can never have too much!

[Ponce]

Great subject with lots of good ideas. We spend thousands of dollars on boats and equipment its funny how we over look the things that are really important (myself included).

Short story when Zack went fishing with me a few weeks ago talking on the phone he asked what I needed him to bring ect. Then the first question he askeed me was if he could bring his life raft since I didn't have one on board me boat. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.

Great post Zack.

[Sea Draggin]

My contribution is the hose repair kit. Built from experience.

I mentioned it before but this is what it is:

Go to Lowes or HD and buy one of every size Double end barb connector they have. Then get one of every size hose clamp. Put them all in a baggie along with a roll of emergency tape from west marine.

Guarantee if it doesn't save you one day it will at least save a day of fishing for you.

If a hose gets a leak, just cut it right where the leak is and patch it back together. Keep on rolling.

[Bodie]

great info for all to read.

yeah one of my fishing buddies just bought a 6 man valise portable life raft for my boat so we can add that to my list of safety equipment listed above. I will add one thing to the list

1. The wooden pegs that fit into you thru hull connections. So if one blows out you just take the wooden plug insert and hammer it in. Jut add a conection to the top of it and zip tie it right to your connection so you dont have to look for it in an emergency

2. Nobody mentioned leaving a float plan when you leave.I always tell my wife around what area we will be fishing. We have a big framed chart on our wall that house a magnet on it i always move the magnet ot where i plan on fishing that day.

3. Strobes on all lifejackets. the latest accicent report read they would search at night in hopes of seeing the strobes on the guys lifejackets.