| Pop quiz. What's the difference between a day cruise | | | | magnetic needle suspended in liquid. Super handy and |
| in the bay and a week long passage to a distant | | | | as long as you have your watch on, you know which |
| harbor? Nothing!! There is no difference!! Ok, before | | | | way north is. (Of course there are other more |
| you post all kinds of hate comments about how wrong | | | | technical ways of direction finding, but this way is the |
| I am, I'll concede that provisions and route planning will | | | | cheapest and easiest I have found.) |
| be different. I would carry more water, flour, and the | | | | I'm not going to recommend which kind of lifeboat is |
| appropriate charts on the week long trip. Other than | | | | best. Each has their own opinion and circumstances. |
| that, my supplies would remain the same. We all know | | | | For some an inflatable is best, whereas other will want |
| that most car accidents occur within 5 miles of the | | | | need a rigid hull variety. Whatever your flavor is, make |
| home. If we wear our seat belt every time we're in the | | | | sure it is inspected, floats, and is capable of carrying all |
| car, even on short trips, aren't we in fact preparing for | | | | the souls on board!! I would keep a bag very handy, |
| the worst? Even though we hope it doesn't happen, | | | | either attached to the boat itself or nearby with some |
| we are taking steps to mitigate injury in the event of a | | | | basic lifesaving items inside. The bag should be easily |
| collision. Do we take the same steps when heading | | | | recognizable and waterproof. I really like the north face |
| out onto the water, even if just for the day or | | | | vinyl brand. They are very durable and high visibility. I |
| afternoon? I hope so. | | | | have one that is bright yellow and is very easy to pick |
| What kind of preparations should we do? What | | | | out of the hundreds of bags at the airport baggage |
| equipment should we take? Hopefully the equipment is | | | | claim area! The outside should have some SOLAS |
| already in place, and we don't have to remember a | | | | reflective tape sewn on for night time retreival. |
| whole bunch of stuff. Let's go over some equipment | | | | To further protect the contents of the bag I put |
| and planning exercises that can drastically improve our | | | | everything inside 2 waterproof bags. The bags are |
| chance of survival if the worst case scenario happens. | | | | sealed, and besides providing water protection, the |
| First and foremost, leave a floatplan with a reliable | | | | trapped air adds buoyancy. The bag will float if |
| person. (Uh, make sure that person is not going with | | | | separated from the boat. It's no use going to all the |
| you on the trip!! I know, I had to make that clear though | | | | trouble of putting together an "oh crap!" Bag, only to |
| for my own peace of mind!) if you go to the website | | | | have it sink with your beloved vessel. You can use tied |
| floatplancentral.org, there is a great form to use. This | | | | off garbage bags, which are good for distilling water |
| sheet has all the pertinent information that SAR needs | | | | as well. Everything inside should have multiple purposes. |
| to begin looking for you. Additionally, the second page | | | | We can put so much stuff inside that it becomes |
| helps out your reliable person to know when/if to | | | | unmanageable, so keep it to the necessities. |
| contact SAR in the first place. Even if it's just an | | | | Remember, we are talking survival here, not luxury! |
| afternoon cruise, fill it out and stick to it!! You all know | | | | So what goes inside? Stuff to sustain life and aid |
| the old saying, "plan the dive then dive the plan." Same | | | | rescue. Flares and smoke signals are very appropriate. |
| applies here. The document is only as valuable as your | | | | It does no good to see a ship/aircraft if they can't see |
| diligence in sticking to it. Don't make it harder on the | | | | you. A signal mirror and strobe light in case the |
| people trying to find you. Now is not a good time for | | | | pyrotechnics fail. Water can either go inside the bag or |
| "Marco Polo." | | | | tied to the outside. Filling a 5 gallon jug 3/4 of the way |
| We all probably know what an EPIRB is, and it goes | | | | will still float. Floats even better in salt water. 5 gallons |
| without saying that every vessel should have one. | | | | will go a long way if rationed properly. (Unless you're |
| New rules have gone into place, and now only the 406 | | | | taking 10+ people out at a time. Then I'd make other |
| mhz units are recognized. Be sure you're not buying | | | | plans!) put some kind of food inside. Here's a great |
| the older 243mhz models. There are a couple different | | | | place for military style MRE's. They have a long shelf |
| versions of EPIRB. The best is category i. These are | | | | life and provide good nutrition as well. Seven years in |
| automatically deploying and require no action on the | | | | ideal conditions I think is their useful life. Plan on |
| crews part. Your boat sinks, the EPIRB floats to the | | | | changing them out every 3-4 years and you'll have no |
| surface and emits the signal. Easy as that. The | | | | problems. |
| category ii type are very similary, except you must | | | | You need some kind of first aid kit, which is another |
| manually activate it. One more thing to remember to | | | | article all in itself. You want to treat wounds the best |
| do as your climbing into your life raft. Class A, C, S, or | | | | you can, especially stopping bleeding. Exposure is a |
| Immarsat E are obsolete and no longer supported. | | | | major concern, so I would put in several space |
| A new version of epirb is the gpirb. This highly | | | | blankets. Small, cheap, and worth their weight in gold. |
| accurate locating device is capable of accuracy +/- | | | | A vhf radio would be very handy. Can you imagine |
| 100 meters from 70 degrees north and 70 degrees | | | | how frustrating it would be to see a passing ship and |
| south of the equator. If I were thousands of miles from | | | | not be able to communicate with them? A ship's crew |
| land, I would spend the extra $$ necessary for this | | | | may not be out observing the boring water going by, |
| feature. | | | | but they will almost always have somebody monitoring |
| So what do you do when you have an emergency of | | | | the radio. As you replace equipment that is still good |
| some type, but don't necessarily need a full on coast | | | | but maybe a bit dated, I would put the replaced item in |
| guard helo or rescue ship? Is there something in | | | | the survival kit. The radio is a good example of this. |
| between the EPIRB and a cell phone? (You probably | | | | Fishing line and hooks, in the event that your "3 hour |
| don't have cell service anyways.) there is!! It's called the | | | | cruise" turns into a new way of life. Some kind of sun |
| spot, and I love mine! Not only for the water, I take | | | | protection would be beneficial...Sunscreen will go bad, |
| mine hiking, camping, dirt biking, anywhere I may need | | | | but if replaced it would be good to have inside. Some |
| help of somekind. From a flat tire, an outboard that | | | | additional clothing/hats can make the difference |
| won't start, or a full on medical emergency, spot is the | | | | between life and death. Hypothermia, heat stroke and |
| answer. | | | | other exposure related afflictions can be prevented |
| Small, compact, waterproof, and great features. Go to | | | | very easily. Plan according to the climate you are |
| and look for their maritime assist program. $159 for full | | | | operating in. |
| salt and freshwater service is more great cheap | | | | A knife and inflatable raft repair kit is a must. (Delete |
| insurance. I'm not here to sell their product, but I own | | | | the repair kit if your lifeboat isn't inflatable!!) you also |
| one and it provides great peace of mind to both you | | | | some way to bail water from the bottom of the boat, |
| on the adventure and those on land tracking your | | | | as trench foot is a real problem if sitting in water for |
| progress. You'll be glad you have one on your next | | | | long periods of time. Besides, we want to stay warm |
| outing. | | | | and dry. |
| There's all kinds of great electronic gadgets available, | | | | There is a whole bunch of other neat survival stuff at |
| and generally if it's worth having one it's worth having | | | | your local marine supply store. Some of it you might |
| two. Vhf radios, fixed mount and portable are another | | | | need, some of it you might absolutely need, other is |
| must have item. Remember though, electronics are | | | | just an attempt to get money out of your pocket. Only |
| prone to failure. Always have a back up plan. | | | | you can decide what is right for you, based on your |
| One great idea I learned from someone who has | | | | own training and experience. Don't rely on technology |
| "been there, done that" is to put a small compass on | | | | to much, and know what you have on board. |
| your watch. The fancy electronic compass watches | | | | Preparing for the worst is half the battle, the other half |
| are cool, but remember that your batteries will fail as | | | | is executing your well thought out plan. Be active, not |
| soon as you need them the most. The kind I'm | | | | reactive, and you'll live to sail another day. |
| speaking of clip onto your watch band and have a | | | | |