Safety Without Radio

[tome]

Re: EPIRB - time for GPS to lock on

If your McM PLB or EPIRB is pre June '04 you should ask for replacements, not just software upgrades. In independent testing they consistently failed to acquire GPS at all and were subsequently withdrawn from sale by some outlets, notably West Marine in the USA.

I understand the problem was that if they got wet(!) the water would sit around the antenna and block the gps signal path. McM claim to have solved the problem by re-designing the antenna base, but as far as I know they have not agreed to independent testing yet, although they have done their own.

I should note that in the tests they did make contact with the stellite via 406MHz so the alert was received, but not with any position info.

So don't crack the champagne when the 45 seconds are up!

 

[Seafort]

Re: hmmmm

O.K. I'll join in this one (I may be part of a record attempt).

Given this inceasingly litigious world we live in, you owe a duty of care to your crew or any friends you take out for a "Short sail". Remember you are a SKIPPER, you must accept responsibility for ANYONE that travells on your boat (even if it is only to the fuel pontoon).

To expidite this duty of care you will need to take measures to ensure the safety of those onboard, <font color="red">as far as is reasonably practicable.</font> O.K. so its from the health and safety at work act etc 1974. But remember you are the master of your ship, responsibility can not be avoided.

If you have looked into the availability of courses in your area I can only conclude that you must acknowledge the key role VHF could play in an emergency situation. To dismiss the obviouse benifits of VHF because you would have to travel more than 20 miles for a course wouldn't stand up very well if some-one decided to sue you.

I have a VHF radio onboard, my usual cruising mates have been shown how to use it, there is also the usual mandatory instuctions stuck above the VHF.

In other words <font color="red">Cover your a**. </font> /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Dave.

 

[Anonymous]

H&SE

Following on from your point, if one were to use the H&S at Work legislation as an analogy, it would be the skipper's responsibility to ensure that he and his crew were properly qualified to do whatever they are doing, as well as ensuring that everything is in proper order and has been inspected by a properly qualified professional in that field. Has the engine been serviced and certified by a licenced diesel engineer? When were the hull and rigging last surveyed by a qualified surveyor? Should anyone who takes a rope have a 'Competent Crew certificate? And should a 'Day Skipper' sail after sunset? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif What a lot of jobs we could make.

 

[anglo_saxon]

Re: there are always exceptions

whats wrong with two tin cans tied together with a piece of string with a couple of homing pigeons as a back up.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Aeolus_IV]

Re: OK, I surrender. Will come quietly.

On your "False sense of security" comment I'd only say that any tool will only give a false sense of anything if its operator doesn't understand its operation and limits.

VHF radio is a tool like many others, the whole point of the training and licensing operators of this tool is to ensure that it can be used most efficiently within it operational limits.

As for your mobile phone, here on the south coast there are places where your phone will not work even within a mile of the coast, and setting off an EPIRB would be inappropiate.

Regards, Jeff.

 

[duncan]

Re: hmmmm

Whilst an Epirb should of course be reliable I would be happier to know that my distress call (DSC VHF) had been received and plan around it rather than assume (prudently) that my Epirb hadn't and plan around that.
Bullimore was left hoping that the Epirb (or in practice his missing vessel) was working and had no alterative but if you are 2 up in a liferaft, 1 can or iron-bru and a mars bar (no deep fat fryer), knowing help is on it's way beats the **** out of hoping the Epirb's doing it's job and planning the next 20 meals........

 

[JonBrooks]

Re: Been there, done that thing

[ QUOTE ]
I have just figured it out, DAS BOOT works for Ofcom or perhaps it is a second identity for our ICOM advisor. So far all the posts are doing a good job of promoting VHF sets. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

If only this was true, god wish i had thought of it now!

Regards

 

[starboard]

Re: there are always exceptions

Fraid have lost the plot with Das Boot's attitude to all of this. As I have said earlier from my past RNLI perspective the VHF radio is the best piece of safety equipment you will carry. It will save endless hours of wasted time in the search for a casuality. As for your insitance in using an EPIRB once the sattelite has picked up your signal...this is depending on position of sattelite may take 20 mins, it will also possibly give one false position on the other side of the planet, the RCC/CG will try and asetain the user and possible threat. Once this is all done all possible service's will be flung at it from diverting commercial shipping to launching a Nimrod aircraft from Kinloss in N Scotland. The search is now on to find that EPIRB not any easy task in itself...this by the way to an EPIRB that whose nature of emergency is still unknown!!!

I hate to admit but it is the likes of Das Boot that I liked to have on the end of my lifeboat tow....if only to embarass into a little learning....as they say we all learn by experiance....its a shame some people dont...good luck with your mobile

Paul.

 

[Guest]

GSM coverage ...

My ex wife succumbed to advertising and changed to Orange .... when she was Vodafone she had 100% coverage at our house .... Orange failed to light more than 2 segments on the screen and is disgustingly useless in that area.

I subsequently found out that Orange had cancelled its development in the area - even though it was a good catchment area and close to main London Business road ..... the info given to me was Orange streamlined its plans to target only business intensive areas for coverage.

Me ? I'm alright as I have a Latvian contract and I can choose from ALL providers in UK - so my GSM stays in good coverage far more than UK partners etc. But I still believe in VHF !!!!

 

[KREW2]

Re: Galloping paranoia

A VHF puts you in a network of all shipping within range this will enable you to give help as well as receive help ( should you need it ) from others