Personal Safety Equipment

[Bald_Dad]

OK - the plan for this summer is a cruise from the Firth of Clyde, around the Mull, to Islay, Jura, and maybe further up towards Oban.

The boat is sound but this will be singlehanded. There is not currently much in the way of safety gear. I have flares, handheld VHF, lifejacket (obviously), . So - what else? Funds are limited. My thinking is personal EPIRB, rather than liferaft. Anything else? What does the panel think?

 

[KenMcCulloch]

An EPIRB would be a good investment but no more expensive (if you can do the installation work yourself) would be a 'proper' VHF set and a masthead antenna. The advantage is that you can actually talk to someone over quite a distance, 20-25 miles often, whereas your H/H VHF will do well to get more than 3-4 miles or so. Activiating an EPIRB is overkill unles you are actually sinking but there are lots of possible scenarios where you might legitimately want help, or at least want someone to know where you were and your condition. VHF is ideal for that.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Where do you stop with this?

I have a liferaft primarily in case of a boat fire but you might get away with carrying a dinghy part inflated at all times. I have a DSC fixed radio - would not consider relying on a handheld for three reasons. The first is the power, 5 watts for a handheld, 20 or more for a fixed radio. The second is the aerial at the top of the mast. The third is DSC which means automated calling for help, something much more valuable in you are single handed. I have a personal epirb which I want in case I fall in and they have to locate me, and as a backup to the VHF. Lifejacket obviously, but with hood and crotch straps and worn all the time. Jackstays, doggy lead and harness.

 

[awol]

A working tiller pilot, a good set of charts, a simple GPS, and either the CCC or Martin L's pilot book should keep you off the hard bits and help you find somewhere to hide if the weather turns nasty. Lifejacket might keep you floating as the boat sails away so a life-line and jackstays might be better.

Just don't rely on mobile phone signals either for help or reporting home to loved ones.

 

[Bald_Dad]

Forgot to mention the fixed VHF, jackstays and lifeline, charts, and Pilot - yes, got them. Must get some new binoculars. dropped the last pair, and they disintegrated in a spectacular fashion!

 

[NorthUp]

In the anything else department- the best waterproofs you can afford.

 

[planteater]

Floatation suit + PLB if you don't have room for a liferaft. Smaller, cheaper and you can climb in before the boat starts sinking!

 

[Sybarite]

Bearing compass.
A call-in schedule so that it will be known if you are overdue.
Radar reflector.
Good torch.
Lead line.
Anchor light
Kedge anchor

 

[Quandary]

The trip you are planning, except for rounding the Mull, which is rarely as fearsome as the pilot books state, is all inshore sailing in reasonably sheltered waters. So the exposure wiil not normally be any worse than the N. Channel where you are based. Good detail navigation and tidal and weather information is the real safety issue for your passage, so you need good charts and the pilot books for the area. There are some fascinating inshore passages around Islay. I recommend the Admiralty folio, Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan, good value with plenty of detail. To back that up, I second the recommendation for a vhf with mast head antenna, the choice between a liferaft and dinghy is up to you, but if you do get into trouble it will almost certainly be close to shore. Depending on where you plan to stop, you might also want to consider your anchoring arrangements.
The most effective safety feature is time, if you can't wait for the right weather you are much more likely to get in to trouble, but remember most summer gales up here last less than 24 hrs.