why do people only want to carry min safety

[blaze]

Often read in these threads on what is the min legal safety equipment for a given area like say morton bay. At the cost of this equipment, some of which is cheap and other not so cheap I would like the question to be asked "whats the best way, with what equipment, as skipper to maximise the safety of those I carry on my vessel"
We as a group debate things like flares, fire extinguishes, epirbs, life jackets after we have just spent maybe $2-5000 on electronics, maybe $20 000- 100 000 on the boat and debate the need to spend say $350 on a life jacket.
safety first guys/girls
cheers
blaze

[toymod]

I think this will answer your question blaze............"it will never happen to me"



Cheers



Dave

[HarryO]

Thats a good point, Blase, and too true, Dave.

Some people don't have foresight...

SAFETY FIRST, ALWAYS!

Murphy will hit you the second you become complacent..

[finga64]

Maybe I'm one of those pessimists here 'cause I normally carry more safety gear then what's needed by law. For 'Junior' (a little 3.75m tinny) I always carry a mirror, V-sheet, bilge, 27meg radio, waterproof torch, spare rope, small medical kit, spare fuel, basic set of tools, spare plugsetc, charts of the area where I'm going (mainly 'cause I get lost down the pin way and around the southern end of the bay) and a set of flares plus all the gear I need to have by law.
When you add up the total price it's next to nothing and the room required to store is very little as well (I put a special draw under the seat just for a lot of the safety gear). But if I need it, it's there. Always.
After every trip I strip the boat out to clean and dry then I check everything as I put it back for the next trip. I put the spare fuel into the main tank and refill the spare fuel container. Maybe I'm lucky because I have the time to do it. But I think I'd do it just the same if I had less time up my sleeve.

Another reason for me to carry the gear is if I'm having a good day and venture to places where you need the safety gear I have it onboard. No worries with the boys in blue. That's so easy to do in the bay on a great day.

I've seen what can happen to a little boat when the conditions go to s--t. Better safe then sorry, especially if the extra safety gear is only worth less then $100

I also carry the same gear if I'm out at Lesley Dam. That place can blow up real quick.
I'll have to admit I only have the elcheapo jackets but when in NSW we all use them over the bar. I also replace them every 2 years (for $13 why not??) I have looked into the better jackets but as usual I have to save up for them.

The cook calls me anal when we take either of the boats out as I have to put everything in myself. That way I check it on the list and nothing can be overlooked.
Maybe I am a bit :-/... But better well prepared and safe then sorry though

[seabug]

Hi Blaze,
Fully agree with your comment

Recent discussion here was having to buy lifejackets (PDF1's) for kids.

These are available for about $58

That is only the price of a slab of beer and some bait

I really think that #people should re-access their #priorities.
Regards
Seabug

[dnej]

We are funny creatures, and need to have our hand held, even for self preservation.
I mentioned on a post the other day, that it didnt make sense, to limit the compulsory carrying of a fire extinguisher, to a boat size.
Can anyone explain that reasoning?
I was out with my brother in his boat, and found he had no VMR phone numbers when we needed to get help for another boat in trouble, and no working radio.
I had to phone my better half, to get the numbers we needed.

I note some suggested safety gear to carry, seems we need to make it compulsory.
David

[backhoe]

Got to agree
If things go bad sometimes all the safety gear in the world may not help you but why not give yourself the best chance.
Doesn't hurt to think about how you would feel if a mate or family member died because you spent the money on a carton or new rod rather than some good safety gear that would have saved their life. Doesn't hurt to think about the effect of something happening to you on your family and friends either.
Think we've got to realise that the old adage "She'll be right" is probably a load of cr*p where sea safety is concerned and we all have an obligation to ourselves, our families and our community

[subzero]

Kindred spirits, Great post ;D :)

Its a very sobering thought to think that the difference between the minimum or wrong equipment and the best or correct equipment for our children is comparable to a slab of beer.

Have a good week all
Safe Boating
Cheers Lloyd

[Grand_Marlin]

Some people are like that Blaze.... the only reason they carry safety gear at all, is because they are told they have to.

We found out first hand what it is like to need the safety gear to save your life.

In 7 - 8 metre seas with 60+ knots of wind, you learn real quick just how important it is to spend an extra few dollars on good quality safety gear.

Cheers

Pete

[Bowser]

I agree, it is better to be safe then sorry. However, some safty items don't make sense, for instance I don't carry paddles. I am never going to able to use them to save myself from anything but swatting a Marsh fly. It might be OK to paddle 10 feet to the bank but any further is out of the question. My 15 footer isn't rowable and I am sure that they are more then useless in 625 Outsider or similar. A second motor will do the trick but setting them up on modern design boats with boarding ladders, pods etc is difficult. So reliance must be placed on radios, EPIRBS and anchors.

[subzero]

Sometimes orrs can be used for other things, most people rely on their steering. If the cable snaps with a little bit of good lashing, voila you have a tiller
Sometimes they make a handy signalling device..... agreed, to row with in less than ideal conditions and close to shore would be an impossibility in the majority of boats in the open waters, but in a dam, a creek.... maybe just maybee we could talk the missus and kids in to rowing for us ;D
Cheers Lloyd

[blaze]

Hi Bowser
I agree on the paddle thing, In tassie we tend to have to be more self reliant, I would think that 90% of trailer boats the fish in the salt use an aux motor and maybe as high as 75% that fish lakes (inpoundments) and rivers also carry an aux.
cheers
blaze

[Grand_Marlin]

Having a couple of (wh)oars on the boat isnt so bad ;D ;D ;D ;D

[PinHead]

lemme think:

10 life jackets plus one kids one.
firebuoy auto fire system
fire blanket and 2 other fire extinguishers
V sheet
whistles attached to life jackets
digital EPIRB
mirror
27 Meg
VHF
2 automatic bilge pumps
1 manual bilge pump

[Grand_Marlin]

Good list pinhead....

[sf17fisherman]

pinhead wheres the bucket and lanyard?
flares?
torch?
and lets not forget the anchor

i think most people carrie the right amount of safty gear it is just a few that doun't and the sad bit is that the few are more than likly the ones that will need it the most

most times it is easy to see who the dangours are and who are not
the ones with the well kept boats seem to have the gear they need but the cowboys who just don't care are just that cowboys

[dnej]

Pinhead, you forgot to put in , "deckie on sinking boat with bucket", Makes best auto bilge pump ever. Keeps on going, even after battery is flooded
LOL
David

[Mantaray]

reading a few things here lately there appears many are quite prepared to spend heaps on the toys and yet skimp on what are almost essentials which make a boat reliable and self sufficient

[Relaxed]

Just went and spent some good dollars on a, Navman 7200, radio for my boat, a lot of my friends believe it is a waste of money as a mobile phone would do the job.

It's my belief that if I can get a message to a boat that is already on the water my chances of staying safe in an emergency are increased heaps!

The radio also has the DSC feature on it, a lot of reading to be done on this feature.

Does anyone know who you contact for the number to enter into the radio?

Cheers Andy.

[PinHead]

pinhead wheres the bucket and lanyard?
flares?
torch?and lets not forget the anchor

i think most people carrie the right amount of safty gear it is just a few that doun't and the sad bit is that the few are more than likly the ones that will need it the most

most times it is easy to see who the dangours are and who are not
the ones with the well kept boats seem to have the gear they need but the cowboys who just don't care are just that cowboys

ok..I forgot the flares and torch..I do have them.

As for bucket and lanyard..I do not have them..manual bilge pump fitted.(duh..how dumb is that)..the bucket and lanyard to be used as a drogue if required..I doubt they would do much for a boat that weighs over 4 tons

[subzero]

Relaxed, go to this post here.

http://www.ausfish.com.au/cgi-ausfish/yabb2/YaBB.cgi?num=1136679468/0#0

There is a pdf file on their for printing out called MMSI form. Thats what you are after. You will need to hold a valid Marine Radio License to apply for the MMSI number. In the document it has a list of the different licences that are valid.

Cheers Lloyd

[2DKnBJ]

Finga
Don't worry mate i do the same thing before any gear goes in the boat i make sure all the necesities are there.After all if something goes wrong i need to know where everything is.
Cheers Dazza

[bignick]

People are just like that; it's as simple as that. They're the same ones who will but a $50,000 4 wheel drive and put the cheapest, nastiest tyres on it they can find or drive from Capalaba to Redcliffe becuase they saw an item they want $5 cheaper over there. It's crazy, but a lot more of that goes on than we think.

Cheers,
NICK.

[Relaxed]

Thanks Subzero.

I need to do a radio course anyway, this will encourage me to speed it up a bit.

Lots of great info on that post, thanks again.

Cheers Andy.

[sf17fisherman]

pinhead wheres the bucket and lanyard?
flares?
torch?and lets not forget the anchor

i think most people carrie the right amount of safty gear it is just a few that doun't and the sad bit is that the few are more than likly the ones that will need it the most

most times it is easy to see who the dangours are and who are not
the ones with the well kept boats seem to have the gear they need but the cowboys who just don't care are just that cowboys

ok..I forgot the flares and torch..I do have them.

As for bucket and lanyard..I do not have them..manual bilge pump fitted.(duh..how dumb is that)..the bucket and lanyard to be used as a drogue if required..I doubt they would do much for a boat that weighs over 4 tons

too ture mate and to tell the truth i'm yet to find out what good the bucket and lanyard is myself makes for a good loo in our smaller phescent trailer boat ;D

[falcon01]

I thinks it is people (a) who don't know (b) think they will never need it (c) who are to cheap to buy it

[finga64]

Yeh, your right Nick.
A lot of that goes on ;)

Had a little giggle yesterday. I went to fuel up the car and boat for the weekend. Had a Woolies thingo so thought I'd use it. Turned up to the servo and b-gger me the line of people waiting. There must have been at least 35-40 cars waiting, most with the windows up A/C on. That's not me. I hate lines. >:(

The servo up the road (300-400m away) which had petrol for 6c cheaper then the discounted price at Woolies had exactly nobody waiting at the pumps. You beauty says me.

I had no hassles with the boat, no waiting for 2 bousers (normal and premium fuels) and no waiting at the card swiper and cheaper fuel to boot. (only down side was I didn't get to use the Woolies thingo :D)
I would have donated $10 for not waiting in line but instead saved about $5.00. ;)

Another example is one of our neighbours drives 15km one way so they can get milk for 38 c less and they buy 2 at a time or they'll drive from Loganholme to the Rocklea markets to get a case of fruit then throw most of it out because it rots. :)

[Mantaray]

someone mentioned buckets, where in the blazes do you find good buckets these days? a good old solid 2gall plastic bucket with some meat thinkness and solid metal handle? well at least better then the 50 cent version with the coat hanger wire handle and give it half a day in the sun and it dissolves into a plastic rubble pile.

[harry_h01]

Mantaray

Check the local building sites. Some of the buckets they use for glues and other building materials are simply thrown out. I've grabbed a couple of buckets from the building sites (after asking the guys on site if it is ok) and them gone home and washed them out. They are a lot stronger than the Woolies specials, and don't break down as quick in the sun. Additionally, the handles are a lot stronger.

Hope this helps

Harry

[Figjamm]

Check the local building sites. # Some of the buckets they use for glues and other building materials are simply thrown out. # I've grabbed a couple of buckets from the building sites (after asking the guys on site if it is ok) and them gone home and washed them out. # They are a lot stronger than the Woolies specials, and don't break down as quick in the sun. # Additionally, the handles are a lot stronger.

They even come in assorted sizes (10lt, 20lt) and with a tight fitting lid. If you don't have any building sites near you, try asking in busy restaurants or cafes as they often buy their mayo in those pails too.

If you'd prefer to buy them new, Bunnings sell the 20lt size, complete with lid.

--
Bev