Posted: 8/8/2007 3:39:52 PM EDT
www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=50039
two things immeidately come to mind 1) cell phone in ziplock bag when boating is good. Bonus points for blowing it full of air before sealing so that it will float 2) don't jump out of the boat while it's still floating |
i grew up on the Atlantic Ocean near NYC, and have been as far out as 30 NM offshore in my 24 foot boat. i'd opine that i have a few thousand hours offshore in salt water. thus, i offer the following... having a cellphone in a bag is wholly insufficient when boating. people forget that cell phones rely on nearby cell towers to connect them to the world. no one heads out into the desert with only a cellphone, and no one heads offshore with only a cellphone. -- check the weather. then check the marine forecast. -- tell someone approximately where you are going and approximately when you'll be back. -- bring a current nautical chart of the area. -- the assumption is that you have one onboard, if not, bring a compass. -- the assumption is that you have a marine VHF radio onboard, if not you should probably not be more than 0.5 miles from shore. -- the assumption is that you have a GPS, if not you should probably not be more than 1 mile from shore. if folks would do the steps above most problems can be avoided. -- offshore, if the breeze is markedly colder than the ambient air, you are going to have a problem. this effect perfectly predicts the onset of a thunderstorm and/or wind front. -- offshore, if the waves reach a height equal to 1/4 to 1/3 the length of your boat, you are going to have a problem. on a 24 foot boat, for example, waves of 4 to 6 feet height will mean you have to keep the bow pointed into the oncoming waves -- which may not be in the direction of port. -- offshore, if you are in a position where you need to be towed or are being asked to tow someone, you should leave the towing to the pros. i worked in a boatyard and saw on two occasions what a botched tow job looks like. in one case the cleat on the tow vessel went through the pilothouse glass of the boat being towed. folks don't realize that towing a boat is wholly different than towing a car -- in even minor seas, the irregular movement of two heavy boats will lead to a situation where the tow line is suddenly required to be about 10 feet longer than is actually possible. the result is that something has to give. if you are a passenger on a pleasure boat that is in need of towing, strongly advise the captain that this is best left to people who actually know what they are doing. -- my brother and i had the unfortunate experience of being hailed by a nearby boat, after which a woman explained that the engine had stopped and then her husband had collapsed while working on the engine. we were about 6 miles from shore. the problem was that the seas were ~3 feet, and attempting to go from boat to boat in conditions like that will generally end up with some body part being crushed between the two boats. i radioed the CG and relayed a basic health assessment of the guy from his wife while alongside the craft. we stayed with her until a CG helo arrived about 40 minutes later. a beautiful Dauphin, btw. a swimmer dropped, hoisted the man into the helo, and they were gone. soon thereafter a CG skiff and a SeaTow boat arrived. i learned later that the man had a stroke and although was physically OK, thereafter his mental faculties had been grossly impaired. my best advice is the following: CALL THE COAST GUARD AND GIVE THEM YOUR POSITION BEFORE YOU ARE REALLY IN THE SHIT. the CG would much rather be advised of your position while you are healthy and upright than to have to start a large area search based on a brief, scratchy distress call after your vessel has taken on water. small problems turn into very large problems very quickly on a boat. a fuel leak, a water leak, prop damage, rudder packing, etc etc etc all go south quickly. ar-jedi |
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Read Chapman's Piloting, follow the advice in the book. That book is a wealth of information for the new and seasoned boater. If the weather sucks, just wash the boat at the dock and hang out in port. We just had a man get in trouble rescuing a dog on the great lakes. He ended up getting tossed into the cliffs by 6' waves from the onshore breeze, Fire and police boats couldn't get near the grotto he got into. The FD ended up rapelling 40' cliffs to get him out. My life vest has a strobe, mirror, and my floating bailout bag has more rescue devices. I also have a GPS and cell phone. The vessel has Marine and VHF radios, radar, GPS chart plotter. You should have spare plugs, belts, props (w/ wrench and nut, hub) set up the boat with two batteries on an isolation switch so that you only run one down and if you ask for a tow and haven't ever done it, DON'T TELL ME HOW TO DO IT OR I'LL JUST CALL A PROFESSIONAL (SEA TOW/BOAT USA) FOR YOU  !(I will always remember the Dr. that "needed" a tow because his starboard prop was fouled with one of his own life jackets and he couldn't keep it off the rocks with just one diesel motor on a relatively calm bright sunny day and his longest line on his boat was his 15' dock lines)  he wasn't bright enough to operate on just one engine and dock her or set anchor and clear his prop. Instead he called a Mayday and whined about taking directions to keep him from screwing himself. Ability to buy doesn't mean ability to operate for sure. Can you say monkey f'ing a football? |
+100..........cell phones should not be your source of comm on a boat........redundant VHFs, handhelds, single side band and EPIRBs are what save lives and always tell someone when yer leaving, where yer going and when you'll be back |
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I too am a boater and though inland now, lived on the Gulf for ten years. Agree with most that is posted here. Cellphones are great but very limited and consider a VHF marine band a must have. When you're about in the water or in the water, any boat that pulls you out first is better than waiting and most boats with marine band radios will be monitoring channel 16. I personally assist about three boats a year in trouble. Yes, GPS on anytime you suspect you may be getting into trouble and keep track of your position. If you are indeed in risk of sinking, capsizing, and it is a pro that's towing you other than the US Coast Guard be aware of International Salvage Laws. Strike a deal with the captain upfront. "Ask if there is a charge/fee." Asking this one question weighs very heavily in court should they claim salvage rights. They make some great boxes that are watertight that have lanyards for around your neck just cellphone and wallet size. Besides being rescured, they work great for swimming to shore etc. Base unit Marine bands are the best by far, however you can't take them with you. Offshore a waterproof handheld in addition to your base unit is a big plus. As for rescuring someone yourself, its all about knowing your boats capability. Do not assume the person in trouble does for odds are they don't. This may seem cruel to some. Your moral obligation ends with not allowing them to die. That does not mean rescueing their boat especially if yours will get in trouble by doing so. In all my years of helping folks, I'm still amazed at the odasity of some of these people. Appreaciation is only as far as their expectation of you. I've had stranded boaters want me to tow them miles and miles rather than to the closest port where they can get help. Some of these places, it wouldn't be safe to tow them even. This is very common. You're the captain of your vessel and sometimes you just have to say no. I can also tell you I'm still amazed by how many people are in trouble and don't know it. Recently I stopped by a stranded boat to offer assistance to be told help was on its way. I then had to tell them help was an half hour away and ten minutes you'll be in the rocks. Tj |
| +1 to AR-Jedi and TJ's posts, you need a VHF, you need to know your position, and you really shouldn't be out there if you can't swim. I have a friend with a brand new $250,000.00 33-footer who can't swim, it's not the best combination. Also, know how to pilot your vessel in rough seas, you can encounter them anywhere. Boat wakes revirberating off the rock faces of the walls of Lake George capsized a very large passenger vessel last year or the year before. No one expected it. |
the reason that this happens to so many people is that they don't understand that going to analog KILLS batteries. my phone will normally go 2-3 days between charges. when i get out of a digital coverage area, that drops to about 6 hours. if you only have 1 or 2 bars of reception, turn the phone off. on the water, your phone is a safety device, not a social facilitator. |
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Another +1 for above . I honestly do not wear my vest normally on the local lake , unless Im by myself ,at night or if the water is rough . I keep my vest do keep my vest out in the open along with the throwable . On my vest I have a little stobe and I have a gear keeper bag that my cell , some money , and my licenses . I normally dont carry my wallet when Im on the water because I have a habit of fishing some real tight places and I have to jump out and push sometimes  . I also wear my VX 6R on my side because our local repeaters cover all 3 of the lakes in the chain and a good bit of the local rivers. Here are my pet peeves / the most common things I see around here 1: wear your engine cut off strap , I had a uncle get hit by a run away boat the the operator had gotten thrown from. 2: At night run your proper lights , A local boy didnt last year and he still is in the hospital last I heard 3: Let someone know your gone and where to , no one is going to look for you if no one knows your gone. 4:Learn the "rules of the road" for the water , dont expect any one else does ( drive defensively) 5: If you boat isnt running right fix it before you put it on the water 6: an anchor will not stop you unless your really lucky. |
That's a classic example. I'm amazed at how many disabled boaters aren't smart enough to set an anchor in a timely fashion. According to my training be aware that once you take a vessel in tow, you are responsible for it (to a degree that will be argued in lawyer land). You are obligated by law to render assistance to prevent loss of life, but you are not required to die or sink your boat for the other party) Once the threat to life is over, your obligation is over. You can tow them to a protected bay or to port. Even the coast guard turns boats over to professional tow companies. They're not AAA. They used to do a lot of tows but it's now policy to not tow other than required for rescue or to remove a vessel from immediate peril. Also keep in mind there is a tremendous difference in towing a boat with a dry bilge versus one half full of water. Those extra tons of water will rip normally sound deck cleats and break lines, as well as burn up good motors. Think twice about tying on to a sinking vessel. AND HAVE TOOLS AT IMMEDIATELY AT HAND AND A CREWMEMBER STANDING BY TO CUT THE LINE IF YOU BECOME IMPERILED TOO. If as the captian of a vessel you deem you or your vessel isn't capable then you're obligation ends as well. It's one of those be available to pick up swimmers situations. "a man's got to know his limitations" <josey wales voice> Really like all things your experience will teach you. SoS |
That's probably biggest issue number two, using batteries that need to be replaced. More than once the person in need of assistance said they just charged their battery(ies) back up because they were dead last time. If you have a two battery bank with an isolator switch, do run on just one at a time so the other will start the boat should bat1 fail. (and then go in!!!) My practice is to run battery 1 on odd numbered days of the month and battery 2 on even days. If you run with the battery switch on both, if something craps out like a bad alternator you will discover you have 2 dead batteries, especially if you never scan your gages. #6 is true, an achor rarely sets well on it's own, you really get a better set when you motor in reverse and tug it into the sand or soil. A danforth will often skitter for a ways without setting if you just let the wind set your anchor. Obviously if you have a dead motor, you have less options. Tugging on the anchor line with all your body weight is a fair alternative. You will feel if it sets or not. |
Six figure boats and no one buys a back up radio. I keep mine in my truck door. Since it is submerisble, it is by definition the best and t toughest weather radio you can own on land and goes on any boat I jump on. Better than a ziplock bag. |
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My dad taught me something at the prime age of 10. When I was allowed to take the boat out. By age 15 I was going offshore. 5 miles. 10 miles.....more and more... He sums it up by saying this: "Don't fuck with mother nature" Nothing says it better. Period. Be prepared for anything at anytime. |
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Of course, this guy's cell phone definitely had a signal....but it didnt help him! link   |
Guys I know in the marine business have a simple saying, if you can't see land you can't use the cell phone. Stay in the bay, it's ok. Problem is a lot of currents run out to sea too! Like advice above said, if you don't call in right away, while you are dicking around attempting repairs, you may also be drifting out from shore. Generally speaking, having kids motivates you to buy more non-macho gear like radios, pelican cases, sealine bags and aloksaks. 
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www.phonescoop.com/phones/user_reviews.php?phone=914 www.phonescoop.com/phones/user_reviews.php?phone=1083 |
Agree 1,000% GR |