Hi. I refurbished a 21 Sea cat a couple years back. 4 bilge pumps total. 2 in bow,2 in stern. All separate switches and computerized autos. No floats. I Installed 15 feet of deck track in bottom of each sponson for the drainage. I then poured 6 kits of 16lb foam into each sponson, paying particular attention to the forward sponson by lowering the the bow area in a hoist so that as I poured, the foam will settle at an angle. I prepped the sponsons by getting rid of all the wood boxes for the tanks, which block drainage when it rots and falls apart. I took a pile of waves over the bow in that rig, and I would see the forward bilge turn on, but only briefly. The point is, if you steal volume for water by pouring foam, less chance for it to get heavy and turtle.
Not sure if the CG question has been answered yet or not, (did’nt see it) but the last I heard on the Johns Island USCG station was that Sen. Lindsey Graham had secured funding to keep them here a little longer. Based on the fact that I see them patrolling the coast every day, I’d say yes, they are still here. Glad to have them too!
Very glad y’all made it back alive.
Sorry for reviving such an old post, but as a survivor, I wanted to share our story again as the offshore season approaches. Those looking to hook up on the offshore pelagic fish this season, please make sure you have the proper safety gear. When you are bobbing around over 60 miles offshore without a boat, you will pay any amount of money to have what our captain (Bryson Cook) had to bring us home safely. I urge everyone to have a ditch bag with a handheld Vhf and a PLB. Without those items we would have certainly perished. We also had some fresh water, some protein bars, and flares. Make sure you’re ditch bag and life vests are easily accessible. If our ditch bag weren’t on top of the console, we would not have had time to retrieve it, and without it, we would have never been found. You would be amazed at how quickly things can turn for the worst. Have fun this season and please be safe!
Thanks for bringing this up, John. There’s really no excuse for not having a good ditch bag – you can put together a great bag for less than the cost of one offshore trip.
I have no affiliation with the above company, nor have I even purchased from them – I just found them online and used them to give an example of price.
A handheld VHF is a great addition, and cheap to boot. Keeping that line of communication even halfway open also does wonders for everyone mentally, which is something I never considered before last year. Everyone keeping a cool head reduced our overall risk considerably. I got this one: http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--vhf160-floating-6w-handheld-vhf-radio--14078562 on a sale for $100, but any comparable one should be fine (waterproof, floating, etc.). I keep it in my ditch bag and check the battery level before our trip. The thing lasts a really long time between charges.
Wow…good job Captain Bryson, a boaters worst nightmare. I always think of this…a lot of people say I worry too much. I went to Advanced auto and purchased an alarm that when it gets wet…it sounds off with a high pitched alarm. I installed it slightly above my 2 bilges and when this thing goes off…I know my bilges should be doing something by now. I also have a 1500gph wired to a spare battery as a back up that can be mobilized once you recognize a problem…I went through this stuck on a sand bar in 2015 at HH…Water over the bow filled boxes and the sand clogged my bilges…the alarm saved my butt as I was able to call for help before it got worst. When the tide came in the boat was filled with water and my engines went under water. Your situation was WAAAAYYY worst than mine…but, from that day, I do a lot of things different. I appreciate the ■■■■■■■■ from all and am glad you and the crew were able to see another day. God Bless. Jim
Wow…good job Captain Bryson, a boaters worst nightmare. I always think of this…a lot of people say I worry too much. I went to Advanced auto and purchased an alarm that when it gets wet…it sounds off with a high pitched alarm. I installed it slightly above my 2 bilges and when this thing goes off…I know my bilges should be doing something by now.
Hey Birddawg…I own the SPOT…the spot is a PLB meaning, it stays with you instead of an EPIRB that stays with the vessel…If I am separated from my vessel…I want CG to find me…lol…I chose the SPOT. Spot is a brand of a PLB and there are many PLB brands. Hope this was helpful…Jim
Scoobie…It is just an alarm that has 2 wires (hot and ground) and when it gets wet…it sounds off…I am sure it is at west marine or any boat store…I am positive I bought it at the parts store for a few bucks. It is the best thing I did because When you are fishing, your not thinking should my bilges be pumping or not??? So…this alarm will def. keep things in check. If you want…I will take a pic and post it for you? Ok, hope this helped…Jim.
Birddawg - take a look at this site… www.acratex.com Their ResQLink is a true PLB operating on the same frequency as an EPIRB. The only reason the ResQLink PLB can’t be classified as an EPIRB is the difference in battery life. Understand that when activated a SPOT signal goes to a call center much like your home alarm. The call center then begins to call provided emergency numbers checking on your status. With a true PLB like the ResQLink when activated the signal bounces off a satellite directly to Search and Rescue. Response time is quicker and far more reliable. My ResQlink is registered to me through the US Coast Guard. As it is smaller than my smart phone I wear it on my belt no matter who’s boat I’m on and doesn’t matter if we’re inshore or offshore.
“Temptation may lean on the doorbell… opportunity may only knock once”
Bryson mentioned above about having a handheld VHF.
Make sure you keep it fully charged and test it often. I went by my boat last week and while I was in the cabin, I turned on the handheld VHF. No power, it was absolutely dead. Brought it to the house and recharged it and then left it on the WX station all day to test the battery. Recharged it again and have been checking it each day. Battery is holding but it would haved been useless if I hadn’t checked it.
CHECK YOUR SAFETY GEAR OFTEN!!!
Thanks for the clarification. When I bought my boat, the previous owner included with the purchase a SPOT. I am still learning about all the safety stuff associated with offshore fishing, as I have always been on other people’s boats and didn’t have to educate myself on the various equipment. I see that SPOT has monthly/yearly membership fee. Do the other PLB’s require that?
Here is what I am leaning towards. Please advise if I am on the right track. I am thinking about buying a new PLB
The thing I love about the SPOT is the “OK” message feature. It at least makes my wife a fan of the SPOT.
I do think the ACR type PLBs are gonna be more reliable when the crap hits the fan…or water in this case.
The ACR PLB does not require a subscription UNLESS you want to be able to send “OK” messages. The most current read on this subject is in the April - May 2016 issue of Marlin magazine. See the article titled EPIRBS and PLBS, Knowing what you need and when beginning on Page 82. An ACR Resqlink+ PLB is sub $300 dollars, transmits on 406 MHz for activating global rescue and also transmits on 121.5 MHz for short range homing signal. This unit weighs approximately 5 ounces, is GPS enabled and transmits your position to COSPAS-SARSAT and GEOs systems. If you are going to buy just one, buy this unit.
“Temptation may lean on the doorbell… opportunity may only knock once”