Some of those that are die hard have hit the offshore waters all year long, others have just hit it over the last several weeks for the first time this year, regardless; the Yellowfin are starting to show up offshore and over the next several weeks many of us will find ourselves 40 plus miles east of the lowcountry trying to get in the bite. There is no better time than the present to a take an hour or so and go thought your safety gear and make sure everything is up to par. A solid safety inspection may save you from having to turn around and come home in the case of a minor incident, it may save you from having to pay a big ticket, or it may even save your life!
First Aid Kit – Did you use anything out of it that needs to be restocked? Is everything in it in date? Is it stocked with the essentials you will need to take care of reasonable injuries? Do you have a small set of bolt cutters for cutting hooks should someone get impaled? Do you have some Aspirin for those bad hangovers, or more importantly to assist a heart attack victim?
Flares – Are they within date? Are they sufficient enough for true offshore use, i.e. meteor type, or did you just buy a few hand helds to meet the Coast Guard requirements?
Life vests and throwables – Are they in good condition? Any dry rot? Again did you buy offshore vests or did you just buy $6 dollar life preservers to meet the requirement? Do you have signaling devises attached to your vests? A $3 whistle, $5 mirror, and a $10 light or small strobe may make the difference between being lost or found.
Strobes, Life Vest Lights, Glow Sticks – Are they in good working order? Still Waterproof? Fresh batteries?
Mirrors, whistles, smoke flares, air horn – Are your day time signaling devices in good working order?
Fire extinguisher, fire suppression system – Have they been inspected? Are they charged? Are they within quick reach? Fire, fuel, and fiberglass do not mix.
EPIRB – Is it registered? Are the batteries fresh? Does the entire crew know where it