Sounds like a wild day! Did they catch any fish?? How deep? Bait? DETAILS PEOPLE!!! 
Set the trap boys, we going to pass through them again!!
Haven’t heard this mentioned, but is there some sort of saftey device than can be purchased or something that may hook to your Poly Ball with a strobe light that sticks upwards like a Swordfish float? I’m sure you can make one yourself but didn’t know if there is something you can purchase. The PFD’s with strobes are a good thing to have but would think something sitting much higher above sea level with a strobe would be much more effective in higher seas.
quote:
Originally posted by Plan Cmy boat won’t even run without fried chicken and cold beer
Vessel has been recovered from the bottom of the ocean. Yes, these folks are blessed to be alive and they do realize that. The initial reports are inaccurate. They did have a working VHF. They were “stepped on” twice before the electronics were fried (batteries low in the engine room 
bad idea.) Flares were in a float box but one wave sent them off the dash and into the ocean not to be recovered. Water was reportedly coming in like a “fire hose”. The high water alarm went off, by the time engine hatch could be raised the port eng shut down and the port quickly thereafter due to being under water. Still under investigation. EPIRB and/or SPOT could have changed things. BTW there are float strobe lights that automatically light when uprighted and float to the surface. We carry 4 of them on our 45’ along w/ epirb and life rafts. All are safe and lessons can be learned when things go bad AND when things go well. Equipment doesn’t always mean prepared and capable.
Captain Steve Little
TowBoat US Charleston
Psalm 107:23-32
www.towboatcharleston.com
Steve…thanks for getting the word out and for the good advice. I too am so glad that they were all found and are now home safe and sound. I’m sure that every circumstance like this is different, and its easy for people to say…“well I would have”…you just never know how things are going to play out. We too have a “ditch” bag." and I keep it well in reach “just in case”. One doesnt do you much good stored below where you cant get right to it in a emergency situation. Great job U.S.C.G!..and a prayer of thanks to God for watching over them.
miss’n fish’n
212 SEAHUNT CC
Sea Squirt 16
good thing it was Sept,and not Jan.
I like my Boston Whaler
So this was not a boat with outboard motors?? I didn’t know Fountain was making anything else.
Another safety item not often seen on small vessels is a SART. Similar in size to the floating strobe usually attached to a lifering. When activated it will appear on a nearby ship’s 3cm radar screen. It is a series of dashed lines displayed only but immediately eyecatching to those on the bridge. CHS’s volume of shipping traffic works in favor of one being noticed. Not sure about pleasure boat radars displaying it. Maybe someone in the area can hail a US flag ship and have them activate their SART for a several second test. Try 13 or 16.
oh, pls. ask only if vessel is well offshore - maneuvering / pilot aboard is busy and you’ll only be ignored.
small boat radars are 3cm
Understand that in no way do I feel invincinble on the ocean with the extra added safety equipment we keep on board the bote. Actually I feel quite the opposite, thus the reason we carry everything we can onboard, so if we were to be caught in a situation like that, we would hopefully have everything in our favor we could, for survival. Guess my comments in my first post were a little harsh on this subject. I am so glad everyone came out of it okay especially the kids. Just seems that there should have been a bit more safety equipment on the bote.
My hat is off to the brave men and women of the U.S.C.G. for the fantastic job that they do to keep us as safe as they do and to the good folks at Sea Tow and Tow Boats for the good work that they do. We certainly all have to stick together and look out for one another while playing with Mother Ocean. She can be a tuff old broad to deal with some days!!
Rog
“Double Trouble”
2001 Sea Fox 230
2001 Merc 200
might be a good time to start a thread on where we all actually keep our most important saftey gear while running.Lots of threads already on what we have or should have.
Might be a chance to re-evaluate where we store it.
I personally keep my ditch bag under my cpts chair at the helm, its cliped to a pole with one of those long bungee ropes, short unless pulled then gets about 10ft long…its water proof and made for the job. i figure if boat goes down and i don’t get it then it will stay with the boat and i can possibly reach it after the fact.Most boats don’t actually sink completey. fingers crossed on that one. In it is Epirb,handheld vhf, flares signal mirror, water, food double ziplocks, strobe light. Put two pieces of styrofoam in it and tested it and she floats high when full. I tell everybody who gets on board if you go in the water take that with you. The Epirb is manual activate my choice there was cause i have a couple boats and i move the ditch bag with me if i had mounted the epirp to one boat i couldn’t do that. Yes its registered to one boat but i don’t care if the CG shows up to recue me and i’m on the wrong boat. The life jackets are under the seats and i’m stymmied on a better location as they are the large offshore types w/ flares and a whistle attached.They are easy to get to unless the boat was to role over then it would be a different story. The life raft is a problem as well, i have a six man but its big and heavey and i keep it under a hatch forward. Unless i have a little time this really could be a problem to get to quickly. If i’m awash this hatch is going to be under water hmmm. Might move this to the deck someplace. Better to have this stuff than not but like Phin said if you can’t get to it in an emergency or unforseen circumstance then its useless.
This whole incident has got me thinking again like they always do. How can we be safer and better prepared for the unexpected.
“Destiny” 35ft
Contender and “Scintilla” 20ft Keywest, Manning SC
This says it all as Steve mentioned. “Equipment doesn’t always mean prepared and capable.”
Number one peice of safety equiptment is your brain.
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
quote:
Originally posted by Pflueger ReelmanHaven’t heard this mentioned, but is there some sort of saftey device than can be purchased or something that may hook to your Poly Ball with a strobe light that sticks upwards like a Swordfish float? I’m sure you can make one yourself but didn’t know if there is something you can purchase. The PFD’s with strobes are a good thing to have but would think something sitting much higher above sea level with a strobe would be much more effective in higher seas.
quote:
Originally posted by Plan Cmy boat won’t even run without fried chicken and cold beer
www.JoinRFA.org
Luke 8:22-25
Sorry Phin I just do not get the above picture post. Is this some sort of a name the pictures get your answer post??
Rog
“Double Trouble”
2001 Sea Fox 230
2001 Merc 200
Real simple Rog…
radar reflector on top of pole,
strobe under reflector
bullet float next
a lead donut on the bottom.
.
http://www.stellamarisseafood.com/
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
quote:
Originally posted by RedstripeSo this was not a boat with outboard motors?? I didn’t know Fountain was making anything else.
Fountain Powerboats started out building I/O-powered offshore racing boats to 42’ or 45’. The O/B-powered fishing boats came around MUCH later. They built MANY MORE I/O go-fast boats since starting business, and have built a 38’ express/fishing boat with twin gas or diesel I/O’s or Arneson surface drives and a 48’ express cruiser with triples.
Yeah… I knew about the go fast boats. Was this an express boat?? I was thinking it was a cc.
Express = Fancy Cuddy Cabin
“The Wet Dream”
20’ Pioneer 197
150hp Suzuki 4-Stroke
Known in the sailing community as a MOB pole. Most offshore cruisers carry one at least 15 ft long strapped to backstay.
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
quote:
Originally posted by sellsfishReal simple Rog…
radar reflector on top of pole,
strobe under reflector
bullet float next
a lead donut on the bottom.
And fry up some fish in the pot while you are waiting!!!
Set the trap boys, we going to pass through them again!!
Twin I/O Merc 496’s
Captain Steve Little
TowBoat US Charleston
Psalm 107:23-32
www.towboatcharleston.com