Boat Safety

[zziplexboy]

Its nearly 15 years since I had a small boat now and I find I really miss taking bucketfuls of money down to the sea and throwing it in so am hatching a plan to own one again for next season. specially as I have a bit more time and I actually live by the sea now.

 

Times change and I'm never too old to learn so what do members think is the minimum equipment to kit a boat out to be safe at sea.

[Norrie]

Hiya, Well, what a question....but, I would think, an engine, an auxilliary engine, a VHF radio, an anchor and enough warp for the water you are in....and a life jacket in case all other items fail..... .....

Edited June 23, 2006 by Norrie

[Steve Coppolo]

Life jackets, (not bouyancy aids), one for each crew member.

Set of proper, (in date), flares.

Anchor, chain and enough rope for the deepest water you're likely to be in.

Spare anchor, chain and enough rope.

First aid kit.

VHF radio and licence to operate it.

Fog horn.

Tool kit and basic engine spares.

Compass.

Set of admiralty charts for your area.

Depth finder.

Spare fuel can.

Oars.

Set of dry clothing and a blanket.

Bucket.

 

I'd say that is the minimum you'll need. These are must haves. Nice to haves might include a GPS and auxillary outboard.

 

Things like bilge pumps, nav lights, radar reflector, etc, should be fitted to you boat so I haven't included them on the list of what to take out with you.

[Dan]

Depends on the boat and how far out you are going. I have a 14' dinghy rarely go more than 1/2 mile ofshore and have never taken a chart with me! I do have a GPS fish finder tho, mobile phone but no VHF, 1 anchor, 1 engine, oars, life jackets, flares, bucket, dry clothing, first aid kit and rope etc. oh and a snorkel! If I had a spare of everthing I'd never get in the boat!

 

Dan

[zziplexboy]

The last boat I had was a 21 foot Mayland with a 20hp johnstone. I'm only dreaming at the moment but am thinking traditional wooden with a slow inboard to go maybe 6-8 miles offshore. Inshore wrecking, winter uptiding and so on. I never did have any probs before and thought I was reasonably equipped with radio, cb, mob phone. Flares, anchor, Flotation suit, Life ring & jacket, Auxilary seagull, oars & compass but for some reason always felt a bit vunerable. Proberbly a good thing really and I never took risks except going out on my own a bit towards the end. I think the gist of my question was to find out what others had and would reccomend as frankly I would keep buying because of that vunerable feeling.Also money is not so available just now and I need to be realistic so I just thought what with most things being more available and cheaper in some cases I would ask what others thought so I could budget accordingly. I have seen so many ill equipped boats at times

[Fastd]

zz,

 

If you are buying a secondhand boat some of the items listed will be already on the boat. I personally dont carry quite as comprehensive list as Steve does but more than dan does. I carry a chart but cant ever remember using it for actual navigation. Is it pure coincidence that the less essential items are cheeper, like a first aid kit ( I carry a roll of toilet paper, a roll of insulating tape and a filleting knife which covers just about every eventuallity other than open heart surgery or kidney dyalisis) whilst safety orientated equipment costs the earth.

 

In my early boating days I also felt very vunerable mainly caused by a feeling of insecurity if I could not see the launch site. Buying and learning how to use a gps solved this to a large extent and I no longer worry about getting home.

 

I have had my boat now for nearly two years and still find myself buying "essentials" every time I go into the chandlers, things like rod holders and clips for safety lanyards. But I have also found that a lot of what you buy in these places can be bought on the net far cheaper or even at a diy wholesalers. I recently priced up a new ratchet strap for the trailer at £35 and said no ...went to a lifting gear specialist and got a far superior one which they cut to length and re stiched...the bill £7.50 plus vat. Found out they also do lifting chain testing and if they fail the test its skipped

 

Fuel and berthing/storage are by far the most expensive running costs once you have made the initial outlay.

 

Dave

[Norrie]

Hi Dave...I suppose it does depend on the size of boat you have and where you are going..I can just imagine me carrying a spare 600 foot warp, and anchor....and trying to read charts in a dinghy with a cuddy...dont think so. Actually, I think that EVERYTHING that has been listed is a MUST....cept for a VHF licence...I dont really think the Coastguard or the RNLI would knock someone back for rescue for not having a Licence....I have mine tho...

I'm off this morning to do my Powerboat Part 2 Course in the Clyde Estuary.......is that a MUST ??.... Suppose it is really.....wish me luck mate.....

 

BTW, How did the "van" carry on go ????

[Ken Davison South Wales]

I think trailer boats are the biggest danger because people take the boat to areas they know nothing about, launch and away to go without a care in the world.

 

Common sense is the biggest safety factor when boating and all the safety equipment in the world will not help those stupid enough to set sail without local knowledge.

 

This also applies to shore fishing and far to many anglers fail to take it onboard.

Edited June 24, 2006 by Ken Davison South Wales

[zziplexboy]

Some interesting thoughts ..thankyou

 

I realise that I suppose my biggest fear was always engine failure when weather is looming which actually never happened except for one time when I had a torrid 15mins trying to start the outboard which eventually started and I never did find out why. I'm thinking inboard slow diesel this time and being in haulage am fairly well used to emergency or mysterious breakdowns but even then I guess my lorry weighs about 1/2ton more than it should with the amount of spares I carry. It can get silly if you carry on so If the same rings true for marinised diesels that fuel faults are by far the winner in the breakdown stakes what engine spares do you carry and what tales can you tell of breakdowns?

[Norrie]

"I think trailer boats are the biggest danger because people take the boat to areas they know nothing about, launch and away to go without a care in the world."

 

 

 

 

Hi Ken, Thats exactly why I'm doing this course....so's I can navigate safely in strange areas.. ...did chart work all day today....and tomorrow put it into practice...

 

One word of warning however...stay away from the River Leven about 11am tomorrow.. .I will be doing fast boat handling there.....oooer mrs.....