Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question.....

a question for the Group; how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. fiver ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

well geez, now you're making me nervous... We go out the gate as far as the Farallons, Pillar Point or Drake's for day trips without any of these things. But we do the following: - Day trips only, in good weather - Have a very well maintained boat - Good nav equipment, GPS, radar, radar reflector - Use jacklines and tethers at all times, even in the cockpit - Keep a watch at all times - Have an installed VHF and 2 handhelds, monitor VTS offshore - Stay out of shipping lanes and away from lee shores - File a float plan with family I'm comfortable with the above for good-weather daytrips. For our delivery from Marina del Rey we borrowed a liferaft and epirb. I'd consider these indispensible for overnight passages when you have less selection about the weather. Immersion suits...how much do these cost? I've considered getting some. bw ----- Original Message ----- From: fi… [at] aol.com To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 8:16 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... a question for the Group; how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. fiver ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ See what's free at AOL.com.

Certainly, registered EPIRB and in certification QUALITY life raft, and well stocked abandon boat bags. What goes in them is an entire discussion in itself. Immersion suit depends on where. While it is true that an immersion suit will extend you life expenctancy in 60 or 70 degeee F water, people won't wear immersion suits where the water is that warm. Now in the case of abandoning ship in warm climes, putting on an immersion suit as the crisis progresses is something you can argue for. But a far greater value of an immersion suit is in a MOB situation - which means that anyone not below must be wearing the suit. Hence the warm water problem. I would _never_ argue against carrying them in any climate. Myself, I never worried about having an immersion suit in the carribean, either when delivering boats or airplanes. But in northern climes, that's another story. My plan is to cruise Newfoundland and Labrador in '08, and an immersion suit is on the equipment list. td From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of fi… [at] aol.com Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 11:16 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... a question for the Group; how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. fiver _____ See what's free at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503> . DISCLAIMER: Important Notice ************************************************* This e-mail may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, do not duplicate or redistribute it by any means. Please delete it and any attachments and notify the sender that you have received it in error. Unintended recipients are prohibited from taking action on the basis of information in this e-mail.E-mail messages may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient. If you are not comfortable with the risks associated with e-mail messages, you may decide not to use e-mail to communicate with IPC. IPC reserves the right, to the extent and under circumstances permitted by applicable law, to retain, monitor and intercept e-mail messages to and from its systems.

Fiver, We cross the Gulfstream from FL to the Bahamas with an EPIRB (rental from Boat U.S.), in a convoy fashion... we do not carry a life-raft nor immersions suits. It's "real dark" out there at night. The shipping lanes are busy, so we keep a radar reflector hoisted to the spreaders and two on watch. Naviagation lights on the freighters are almost impossible to see. All boats monitor VHF traffic and check in with each other on a schedule. Michael Duvall s/v Magic, Cal 2-27 Pompano Beach, FL --------------------------------- Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

FIRST RULE: NEVER SAIL ANYWHERE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO NEED AN IMMERSION SUIT ! ----- Original Message ----- From: fi… [at] aol.com To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 8:16 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... a question for the Group; how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. fiver ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ See what's free at AOL.com.

So you would rule out Labrador, Greeland, Iceland, etc? If is it just because MGD and Dark-n-Stormy are better in warmer locales? ;-) td From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Fin Beven Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 12:25 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... FIRST RULE: NEVER SAIL ANYWHERE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO NEED AN IMMERSION SUIT ! From: fiverhrairoo@ <mailto:fi… [at] aol.com> aol.com To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> ps.com Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 8:16 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... a question for the Group; how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. fiver _____ See what's free at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503> . DISCLAIMER: Important Notice ************************************************* This e-mail may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, do not duplicate or redistribute it by any means. Please delete it and any attachments and notify the sender that you have received it in error. Unintended recipients are prohibited from taking action on the basis of information in this e-mail.E-mail messages may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient. If you are not comfortable with the risks associated with e-mail messages, you may decide not to use e-mail to communicate with IPC. IPC reserves the right, to the extent and under circumstances permitted by applicable law, to retain, monitor and intercept e-mail messages to and from its systems.

Hummmmm.......... i have a Scripps Institution Bouy @ 32.75 N by 117.37 W that is showing a surface temp of 60.8 dg. F. @ 8:58 am PDT 4-27-2007. and with wave height of 4.9' every 14 sec........ and there is a fellow here who is saying that he doesn't go sailing anywhere that one might need an "immersion suit". well, if not at this buoy just a few miles north-west of ballast point. then where; how about the Gulf of the Farallones "SAR" buoy where it is just 50 dg. F. right now. or maybe we could go up off the Swift Sure where it's just under 50 dg. F. at the "SAR" buoy up there. the sad truth is that's a mighty slim 10 degrees difference between the top and bottom of the country. and if you find yourself out there alone sometime with your mark-1 eye-ball's 2 inch's above the water and waiting for someone to find you. you are sure as hell going to wish you had a damn immersion suit, a big ugly international orange life raft, a EPIRB no matter how fracking much the bloody thing cost, and even a pocket full of old Elvis tapes to keep you company while you piss-yourself hoping you will be found before your dead....... fiver, Master of The "Billy Bob-54" one of the famous Cal-28 flush-decks out of Sierra-5, Papa Hotel (in days gone by) now resting outside my shop Federal Way, Wa. (built like a Battleship; sails like a Sub......) *************************** --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "Fin Beven" <finbeven@...> wrote: > > FIRST RULE: NEVER SAIL ANYWHERE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO NEED AN IMMERSION SUIT ! > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: fiverhrairoo@... > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 8:16 AM > Subject: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... > > > a question for the Group; > > how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? > > please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. > > fiver > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- > See what's free at AOL.com. >

i hope-to-hell i am making someone out there nervous...! at lest out in the Farallons; you don't need to worry much about Sub's messing with you. :)(: fiver ************************* --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "Bob Walden" <bob@...> wrote: > > well geez, now you're making me nervous... > > We go out the gate as far as the Farallons, Pillar Point or Drake's for day trips without any of these things. But we do the following: > - Day trips only, in good weather > - Have a very well maintained boat > - Good nav equipment, GPS, radar, radar reflector > - Use jacklines and tethers at all times, even in the cockpit > - Keep a watch at all times > - Have an installed VHF and 2 handhelds, monitor VTS offshore > - Stay out of shipping lanes and away from lee shores > - File a float plan with family > > I'm comfortable with the above for good-weather daytrips. For our delivery from Marina del Rey we borrowed a liferaft and epirb. I'd consider these indispensible for overnight passages when you have less selection about the weather. > > Immersion suits...how much do these cost? I've considered getting some. > > bw > ----- Original Message ----- > From: fiverhrairoo@... > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 8:16 AM > Subject: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... > > > a question for the Group; > > how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? > > please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. > > fiver > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- > See what's free at AOL.com. >

Also, even if you aren't floating at eyeball level, I would rather be warm and dry after transfering to a life raft, than wet and cold in the life raft. I am not one to worry about such things - ferrying single engine aircaft across the water I don't think about ditching or suffer the automatic roughs - but I've got a lot of things I still want to do, and dieing in any silly or foolish unneccessary way ain't one of them! Any way fiver, I just revised my abandon ship inventory, I'm getting a bigger bag so I can take a honda generator and a blender along. Then all I will have to do is wait for an iceberg to drift by...might as well do it in style. Course, I'm not racing either, saving ounces isn't real important. td From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of slickbutfoxbuger Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 1:47 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... Hummmmm.......... i have a Scripps Institution Bouy @ 32.75 N by 117.37 W that is showing a surface temp of 60.8 dg. F. @ 8:58 am PDT 4-27-2007. and with wave height of 4.9' every 14 sec........ and there is a fellow here who is saying that he doesn't go sailing anywhere that one might need an "immersion suit". well, if not at this buoy just a few miles north-west of ballast point. then where; how about the Gulf of the Farallones "SAR" buoy where it is just 50 dg. F. right now. or maybe we could go up off the Swift Sure where it's just under 50 dg. F. at the "SAR" buoy up there. the sad truth is that's a mighty slim 10 degrees difference between the top and bottom of the country. and if you find yourself out there alone sometime with your mark-1 eye-ball's 2 inch's above the water and waiting for someone to find you. you are sure as hell going to wish you had a damn immersion suit, a big ugly international orange life raft, a EPIRB no matter how fracking much the bloody thing cost, and even a pocket full of old Elvis tapes to keep you company while you piss-yourself hoping you will be found before your dead....... fiver, Master of The "Billy Bob-54" one of the famous Cal-28 flush-decks out of Sierra-5, Papa Hotel (in days gone by) now resting outside my shop Federal Way, Wa. (built like a Battleship; sails like a Sub......) *************************** --- In Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com, "Fin Beven" <finbeven@...> wrote: > > FIRST RULE: NEVER SAIL ANYWHERE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO NEED AN IMMERSION SUIT ! > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: fiverhrairoo@... > To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 8:16 AM > Subject: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... > > > a question for the Group; > > how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? > > please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. > > fiver > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------- > See what's free at AOL.com. > DISCLAIMER: Important Notice ************************************************* This e-mail may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, do not duplicate or redistribute it by any means. Please delete it and any attachments and notify the sender that you have received it in error. Unintended recipients are prohibited from taking action on the basis of information in this e-mail.E-mail messages may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient. If you are not comfortable with the risks associated with e-mail messages, you may decide not to use e-mail to communicate with IPC. IPC reserves the right, to the extent and under circumstances permitted by applicable law, to retain, monitor and intercept e-mail messages to and from its systems.

you bloody forgot the StarBucks expresso machine! what are you going to do for your/my morning fix? i'll die !!!! ******************* --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "Downing, Thomas" <Thomas.Downing@...> wrote: > > Also, even if you aren't floating at eyeball level, I would rather be warm > and dry after transfering to a life raft, than wet and cold in the life raft. > > I am not one to worry about such things - ferrying single engine aircaft > across the water I don't think about ditching or suffer the automatic > roughs - but I've got a lot of things I still want to do, and dieing in any > silly or foolish unneccessary way ain't one of them! > > Any way fiver, I just revised my abandon ship inventory, I'm getting > a bigger bag so I can take a honda generator and a blender along. > Then all I will have to do is wait for an iceberg to drift by...might > as well do it in style. > > Course, I'm not racing either, saving ounces isn't real important. > > td > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of slickbutfoxbuger > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 1:47 PM > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... > > > > Hummmmm.......... > > i have a Scripps Institution Bouy @ 32.75 N by 117.37 W that > is showing a surface temp of 60.8 dg. F. @ 8:58 am PDT 4-27-2007. and > with wave height of 4.9' every 14 sec........ > > and there is a fellow here who is saying that he doesn't go > sailing anywhere that one might need an "immersion suit". well, if > not at this buoy just a few miles north-west of ballast point. then > where; how about the Gulf of the Farallones "SAR" buoy where it is > just 50 dg. F. right now. or maybe we could go up off the Swift Sure > where it's just under 50 dg. F. at the "SAR" buoy up there. > > the sad truth is that's a mighty slim 10 degrees difference > between the top and bottom of the country. and if you find yourself > out there alone sometime with your mark-1 eye-ball's 2 inch's above > the water and waiting for someone to find you. you are sure as hell > going to wish you had a damn immersion suit, a big ugly international > orange life raft, a EPIRB no matter how fracking much the bloody > thing cost, and even a pocket full of old Elvis tapes to keep you > company while you piss-yourself hoping you will be found before your > dead....... > > fiver, > Master of The "Billy Bob-54" > one of the famous Cal-28 flush-decks > out of Sierra-5, Papa Hotel (in days gone by) > now resting outside my shop > Federal Way, Wa. > > (built like a Battleship; sails like a Sub......) > > *************************** > --- In Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com, "Fin Beven" <finbeven@> wrote: > > > > FIRST RULE: NEVER SAIL ANYWHERE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO NEED AN > IMMERSION SUIT ! > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: fiverhrairoo@ > > To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com > > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 8:16 AM > > Subject: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... > > > > > > a question for the Group; > > > > how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without > an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered > EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? > > > > please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment > list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. > > > > fiver > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > ---------- > > See what's free at AOL.com. > > > > > > > > > > DISCLAIMER: > Important Notice ************************************************* > This e-mail may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, do not duplicate or redistribute it by any means. Please delete it and any attachments and notify the sender that you have received it in error. Unintended recipients are prohibited from taking action on the basis of information in this e- mail.E-mail messages may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient. If you are not comfortable with the risks associated with e-mail messages, you may decide not to use e- mail to communicate with IPC. IPC reserves the right, to the extent and under circumstances permitted by applicable law, to retain, monitor and intercept e-mail messages to and from its systems. >

I already have the Krups and the French Presse in the boat, you don't think I'd leave'em behind do you !?!?? td From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of slickbutfoxbuger Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 2:46 PM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... you bloody forgot the StarBucks expresso machine! what are you going to do for your/my morning fix? i'll die !!!! ******************* --- In Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com, "Downing, Thomas" <Thomas.Downing@...> wrote: > > Also, even if you aren't floating at eyeball level, I would rather be warm > and dry after transfering to a life raft, than wet and cold in the life raft. > > I am not one to worry about such things - ferrying single engine aircaft > across the water I don't think about ditching or suffer the automatic > roughs - but I've got a lot of things I still want to do, and dieing in any > silly or foolish unneccessary way ain't one of them! > > Any way fiver, I just revised my abandon ship inventory, I'm getting > a bigger bag so I can take a honda generator and a blender along. > Then all I will have to do is wait for an iceberg to drift by...might > as well do it in style. > > Course, I'm not racing either, saving ounces isn't real important. > > td > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com [mailto: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com] On Behalf Of slickbutfoxbuger > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 1:47 PM > To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com > Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... > > > > Hummmmm.......... > > i have a Scripps Institution Bouy @ 32.75 N by 117.37 W that > is showing a surface temp of 60.8 dg. F. @ 8:58 am PDT 4-27-2007. and > with wave height of 4.9' every 14 sec........ > > and there is a fellow here who is saying that he doesn't go > sailing anywhere that one might need an "immersion suit". well, if > not at this buoy just a few miles north-west of ballast point. then > where; how about the Gulf of the Farallones "SAR" buoy where it is > just 50 dg. F. right now. or maybe we could go up off the Swift Sure > where it's just under 50 dg. F. at the "SAR" buoy up there. > > the sad truth is that's a mighty slim 10 degrees difference > between the top and bottom of the country. and if you find yourself > out there alone sometime with your mark-1 eye-ball's 2 inch's above > the water and waiting for someone to find you. you are sure as hell > going to wish you had a damn immersion suit, a big ugly international > orange life raft, a EPIRB no matter how fracking much the bloody > thing cost, and even a pocket full of old Elvis tapes to keep you > company while you piss-yourself hoping you will be found before your > dead....... > > fiver, > Master of The "Billy Bob-54" > one of the famous Cal-28 flush-decks > out of Sierra-5, Papa Hotel (in days gone by) > now resting outside my shop > Federal Way, Wa. > > (built like a Battleship; sails like a Sub......) > > *************************** > --- In Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com, "Fin Beven" <finbeven@> wrote: > > > > FIRST RULE: NEVER SAIL ANYWHERE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO NEED AN > IMMERSION SUIT ! > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: fiverhrairoo@ > > To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou <mailto:Cal_Boats%40yahoogroups.com> ps.com > > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 8:16 AM > > Subject: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... > > > > > > a question for the Group; > > > > how many Green Water Sailors here go off-shore without > an immersion suit for each person on board, a properly registered > EPIRB, or in-cirt life raft? > > > > please feel free to answer-up with both your equipment > list and your opinion for or against carrying said equipment. > > > > fiver > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > ---------- > > See what's free at AOL.com. > > > > > > > > > > DISCLAIMER: > Important Notice ************************************************* > This e-mail may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, do not duplicate or redistribute it by any means. Please delete it and any attachments and notify the sender that you have received it in error. Unintended recipients are prohibited from taking action on the basis of information in this e- mail.E-mail messages may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient. If you are not comfortable with the risks associated with e-mail messages, you may decide not to use e- mail to communicate with IPC. IPC reserves the right, to the extent and under circumstances permitted by applicable law, to retain, monitor and intercept e-mail messages to and from its systems. > DISCLAIMER: Important Notice ************************************************* This e-mail may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, do not duplicate or redistribute it by any means. Please delete it and any attachments and notify the sender that you have received it in error. Unintended recipients are prohibited from taking action on the basis of information in this e-mail.E-mail messages may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient. If you are not comfortable with the risks associated with e-mail messages, you may decide not to use e-mail to communicate with IPC. IPC reserves the right, to the extent and under circumstances permitted by applicable law, to retain, monitor and intercept e-mail messages to and from its systems.

Bob Walden wrote: > > well geez, now you're making me nervous... > > We go out the gate as far as the Farallons, Pillar Point or Drake's > for day trips without any of these things. But we do the following: > - Day trips only, in good weather > - Have a very well maintained boat > - Good nav equipment, GPS, radar, radar reflector > - Use jacklines and tethers at all times, even in the cockpit > - Keep a watch at all times > - Have an installed VHF and 2 handhelds, monitor VTS offshore > - Stay out of shipping lanes and away from lee shores > - File a float plan with family It is worth remembering that Joshua Slocum sailed around the world with far fewer protections, but with a vast amount of experience and good sense. I've also read a book called "Me, the Boy, and the Cat" (+/-) about a trip in the same time frame down the east coast--father, son, cat in an unpowered vessel but with a temperamental gas engine in the towed dinghy. The guy at the Coast Guard air station emphasized knowing your position (GPS), being able to communicate it (VHF or maybe in the ocean SSB), and being able to make yourself seen (flares, mirror, other lighting devices). Of course, keeping your body intact and functional was also emphasized (minimizing heat loss). We are lucky that we have these things available. They should not, however, lead us to deemphasize knowledge, prudent conduct, and proper maintenance of the vessel. It's like the high-speed powerboat guys who set a GPS waypoint at night and roar off at full throttle, neglecting to observe that there's an island or breakwater on the chosen course. The last time I crossed Lake Michigan on the carferry, there was a midsized powerboat sitting high and dry on the breakwater. Equipment is not our salvation if we don't think. If we do think, we may not need to rely upon the equipment. Chris Campbell >

No matter what we do, sailing is more dangerous than sitting at home--although I guess that depends on where you're sailing and where your home is. But you get my point. There are so many stories about experienced, prepared and equipped sailors coming to grief. And so many stories about apparent idiots who have never been on a boat before, happily sailing around the world with no troubles. God's got a sense of humor. All you can do is take prudent precautions and always keep thinking. bw ----- Original Message ----- From: Chris Campbell To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 1:23 PM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Off-Shore Safety Equipment Question..... Bob Walden wrote: well geez, now you're making me nervous... We go out the gate as far as the Farallons, Pillar Point or Drake's for day trips without any of these things. But we do the following: - Day trips only, in good weather - Have a very well maintained boat - Good nav equipment, GPS, radar, radar reflector - Use jacklines and tethers at all times, even in the cockpit - Keep a watch at all times - Have an installed VHF and 2 handhelds, monitor VTS offshore - Stay out of shipping lanes and away from lee shores - File a float plan with family It is worth remembering that Joshua Slocum sailed around the world with far fewer protections, but with a vast amount of experience and good sense. I've also read a book called "Me, the Boy, and the Cat" (+/-) about a trip in the same time frame down the east coast--father, son, cat in an unpowered vessel but with a temperamental gas engine in the towed dinghy. The guy at the Coast Guard air station emphasized knowing your position (GPS), being able to communicate it (VHF or maybe in the ocean SSB), and being able to make yourself seen (flares, mirror, other lighting devices). Of course, keeping your body intact and functional was also emphasized (minimizing heat loss). We are lucky that we have these things available. They should not, however, lead us to deemphasize knowledge, prudent conduct, and proper maintenance of the vessel. It's like the high-speed powerboat guys who set a GPS waypoint at night and roar off at full throttle, neglecting to observe that there's an island or breakwater on the chosen course. The last time I crossed Lake Michigan on the carferry, there was a midsized powerboat sitting high and dry on the breakwater. Equipment is not our salvation if we don't think. If we do think, we may not need to rely upon the equipment. Chris Campbell

I've been reading that again lately and Slocum almost drowned how many times. Partly cause he couldn't swim, but still... Chris Campbell wrote: > It is worth remembering that Joshua Slocum sailed around the world > with far fewer protections, but with a vast amount of experience and > good sense. I've also read a book called "Me, the Boy, and the Cat" > (+/-) about a trip in the same time frame down the east coast--father, > son, cat in an unpowered vessel but with a temperamental gas engine in > the towed dinghy. > > The guy at the Coast Guard air station emphasized knowing your > position (GPS), being able to communicate it (VHF or maybe in the > ocean SSB), and being able to make yourself seen (flares, mirror, > other lighting devices). Of course, keeping your body intact and > functional was also emphasized (minimizing heat loss). > > We are lucky that we have these things available. They should not, > however, lead us to deemphasize knowledge, prudent conduct, and proper > maintenance of the vessel. It's like the high-speed powerboat guys > who set a GPS waypoint at night and roar off at full throttle, > neglecting to observe that there's an island or breakwater on the > chosen course. The last time I crossed Lake Michigan on the carferry, > there was a midsized powerboat sitting high and dry on the > breakwater. Equipment is not our salvation if we don't think. If we > do think, we may not need to rely upon the equipment. > > Chris Campbell