Small boat practical safety gear?

MystyBlue2

MystyBlue2

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Hi folks i hope this thread is in the appropriate section but I'd like to hear your thoughts as to what PRACTICAL saftey gear i should be carrying aboard my boat?

Now i know there are probably loads of threads like this already but from what i can gather most of the stuff seems to boil down to type of boat, type of boating you intend to do and personal preference.

So a little background...

I have a small 14ft seahog cathedral hull boat with a 40hp 2 stroke motor.

With battery, 30L of fuel + 5L spare, 1 Anchor with 4m chain and 100m rope, Electronic gizmos, 2x 100kg blokes, Small tool kit and fishing gear my small teenie boat is a tad on the heavy side. With this in mind i DONT carry an Aux motor as aside from the reasons of weight above i feel like it will alter the balance of a small boat too much leading to more grief and handling problems than its worth.

My main use is coastal fishing upto 6NM offshore NO FURTHER, Flat conditions upto force 3.

My safety gear onboard....

Fixed VHF
backup handheld in drybag,
Primary garmin gps
Secondry navionics gps on android phone
First aid kit
1kg fire extinguisher
5L spare fuel,
Spare spark plugs
Spare fuses,
Small tool kit
Auto/manual life jackets x2
Water bailer
Hi viz vest in dry bag
Compass
Torch
3x smoke flares + dry container
waterproof pants + jacket

Is there anything else i should be putting in to keep me SAFE and PRACTICAL?

I've been on the RNLI website and somethings are a definite must BUT not very practical on a small, Loaded, Heavy boat.

Any suggestions and tips would ve greatly appreciated folks. Thanks ?
 
Dan208 said:
Hi folks i hope this thread is in the appropriate section but I'd like to hear your thoughts as to what PRACTICAL saftey gear i should be carrying aboard my boat?

Now i know there are probably loads of threads like this already but from what i can gather most of the stuff seems to boil down to type of boat, type of boating you intend to do and personal preference.

So a little background...

I have a small 14ft seahog cathedral hull boat with a 40hp 2 stroke motor.

With battery, 30L of fuel + 5L spare, 1 Anchor with 4m chain and 100m rope, Electronic gizmos, 2x 100kg blokes, Small tool kit and fishing gear my small teenie boat is a tad on the heavy side. With this in mind i DONT carry an Aux motor as aside from the reasons of weight above i feel like it will alter the balance of a small boat too much leading to more grief and handling problems than its worth.

My main use is coastal fishing upto 6NM offshore NO FURTHER, Flat conditions upto force 3.

My safety gear onboard....

Fixed VHF
backup handheld in drybag,
Primary garmin gps
Secondry navionics gps on android phone
First aid kit
1kg fire extinguisher
5L spare fuel,
Spare spark plugs
Spare fuses,
Small tool kit
Auto/manual life jackets x2
Water bailer
Hi viz vest in dry bag
Compass
Torch
3x smoke flares + dry container
waterproof pants + jacket

Is there anything else i should be putting in to keep me SAFE and PRACTICAL?

I've been on the RNLI website and somethings are a definite must BUT not very practical on a small, Loaded, Heavy boat.

Any suggestions and tips would ve greatly appreciated folks. Thanks ?
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It looks like you have given this some thought. I might carry one of those led flashing vehicle lights in case I was stuck offshore at night as they are very visible if there are searchers. also light flares.
More importantly what about if you fall in?, do you use a safety line? can you climb back on board? if adrift what about a PLB?
 
pcatterall said:
It looks like you have given this some thought. I might carry one of those led flashing vehicle lights in case I was stuck offshore at night as they are very visible if there are searchers. also light flares.
More importantly what about if you fall in?, do you use a safety line? can you climb back on board? if adrift what about a PLB?
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Yeah a vehicle safety light is a good idea! I'll grab one of those...as far as boarding if i go over im thinking of making a rope ladder with PVC pipe rungs to tie off to the grab handle and throw over the side with a divebelt weight on the bottom to help it sink and stay straight in the water.

As far as a PLB are they all what they seem to be? Are they a must?

They seem pretty expensive as do the EPIRB'S and need sent away to be serviced and fresh batteries and seem like "yes they can get you found" BUT the expense of something like that, that i may never use is putting me off as I'm not swimming in that sort of spare cash.
 
A pair of oars as a secondary means of propulsion.
3×handheld flares (only one smoke flare is necessary as it will not be used until the helicopter is in sight).
Rescue throw line.
MOB light+horseshoe buoy.
Boarding ladder.
Signal flags "Charlie" and "November"
Spare fleece and hat.
Signalling mirror (Daniel O'Donnell CD ?).
Personally I would not venture more than ONE mile outside of sheltered water in such a small boat.
The websites of the RYA and Coastguard will undoubtedly have recommendations for safety equipment for small inshore and coastal craft.
 
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pcatterall said:
It looks like you have given this some thought. I might carry one of those led flashing vehicle lights in case I was stuck offshore at night as they are very visible if there are searchers. also light flares.
More importantly what about if you fall in?, do you use a safety line? can you climb back on board? if adrift what about a PLB?
Click to expand...
No flashing orange light, you could be mistaken for a hovercraft, or is it a submarine..... must check the Colregs.
 
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Rather than a PLB, a handheld DSC VHF, can send a DSC Mayday that goes to any boats within range and it's an extra GPS, keep it clipped to you life jacket.

For what they weigh, a small 2-stroke aux is worth considering.

Given you already have 2 VHFs and no doubt 2 mobile phones that will mostly work 6nm offshore, i wouldn't waste money on flares.
 
PaulRainbow said:
Rather than a PLB, a handheld DSC VHF, can send a DSC Mayday that goes to any boats within range and it's an extra GPS, keep it clipped to you life jacket.

For what they weigh, a small 2-stroke aux is worth considering.
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I have got an old johnson 4.5hp but it weighs round about 15kg...theres no deck space to keep it aboard so would need to be permanently mounted to a bracket on a transom bracket.

I'm just a little concerned with the already HEAVY boat plus an aux motor plus fuel for it, Would add a further 30kg or so.

Combined with anchor at the back 15kg, primary motor 72kg, and Aux would alter the stern too much and im worried about swamping as i had to remove the buoyancy foam from under deck as it was soggy. So if i get swamped im going down. Ontop of that the handling would be different too...ideally i want/need one but i dont think its a practical move with a boat of this size and weight.
 
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pandos said:
PLB attached to your lifejacket!
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Will only serve to make the life jacket less attractive. Given the range off shore VHF is more than adequate and would likely provide better outcomes. PLBs are great for offshore sailing, but in local waters are overkill and just add bulk to a lifejacket. I have one on the LJ I use offshore, and wouldn't be without it, but inshore I wear a different LJ or no LJ at all.
 
6 miles offshore in a 14 ft boat seems a bit far to me. I would think that one should stay in sight of land. By that I mean FROM land. Even F3 can be fairly choppy when the tide turns against the wind.
I might ask if the boat has any buoyancy? I would also ask if you intend to be night fishing? That opens up the question of lights. As for flags C & N I doubt if many know what they would mean so anything one can wave about would do to attract attention. If you decide not to have normal flares then a pack of 10 mini flares are quite small & could be useful. I have a pack fitted to my lifejacket . Cost £ 40
if the boat was swamped ( & that can happen frighteningly quick) you will be in the water, so a pack of mini flares fitted to the LJ may end up being all you have. That is unless the hand held VHF is also fitted. However, sod's law will dictate that one will have taken it off & laid it on a thwart for comfort just as one needs it the most.
You have already suggested that a spare outboard will possibly reduce the boats reserve carrying capacity too much, so one wonders if one should really be venturing far in such a small craft. A RIB perhaps. A solid boat -- Hmmmm ?
 
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Dan208 said:
I have got an old johnson 4.5hp but it weighs round about 15kg...theres no deck space to keep it aboard so would need to be permanently mounted to a bracket on a transom bracket.

I'm just a little concerned with the already HEAVY boat plus an aux motor plus fuel for it, Would add a further 30kg or so.

Combined with anchor at the back 15kg, primary motor 72kg, and Aux would alter the stern too much and im worried about swamping as i had to remove the buoyancy foam from under deck as it was soggy. So if i get swamped im going down. Ontop of that the handling would be different too...ideally i want/need one but i dont think its a practical move with a boat of this size and weight.
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Interesting. I could comment, but it's better if I don't.
 
lustyd said:
Will only serve to make the life jacket less attractive. Given the range off shore VHF is more than adequate and would likely provide better outcomes. PLBs are great for offshore sailing, but in local waters are overkill and just add bulk to a lifejacket. I have one on the LJ I use offshore, and wouldn't be without it, but inshore I wear a different LJ or no LJ at all.
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its a 14 foot boat with gallons of fuel, being swamped. or a fuel fire will be almost instant into the water situations, vhf in the pocket might be useful but if floating on a your back in a lifejacket at dusk a few miles off the coast, I know what I'd rather have.

I keep mine clipped to the LJ and suspended on a piece of elastic so it sits tucked in against my body just above my elbow and kind of to the rear of the LJ once maneuvered into place it is almost unnoticeable.
 
Dan208 said:
Are these any good?

SINGLE Telescopic BOAT Dinghy Inflatable Rib Paddle Oars Emergency Folding Metal | eBay
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No.

Get solid oars. I have a pair of alloy oars with plastic blades which are lightweight, float and have been moving various boats about for 20 years. I can row a 14 ft boat at 4 knots with them.

oars1.jpg
 
Dan208 said:
I have got an old johnson 4.5hp but it weighs round about 15kg...theres no deck space to keep it aboard so would need to be permanently mounted to a bracket on a transom bracket.

I'm just a little concerned with the already HEAVY boat plus an aux motor plus fuel for it, Would add a further 30kg or so.

Combined with anchor at the back 15kg, primary motor 72kg, and Aux would alter the stern too much and im worried about swamping as i had to remove the buoyancy foam from under deck as it was soggy. So if i get swamped im going down. Ontop of that the handling would be different too...ideally i want/need one but i dont think its a practical move with a boat of this size and weight.
Click to expand...

Hey there, I'm v inexperienced in this field but having read your posts and the comments a couple of thngs occur to me -

Can you/do you plan to replace the buoyancy?
Also, it seems as though you're working with v little margin for error or the unexpected. If 30kg is enough to destabilise the boat then a few moderate waves over the side might do the same and you're left with no options?
I don't know, maybe this is normal with open fishing boats?

Good luck in finding the right balance between prudence & foolhardyness, I'm watching with interest as I too have a small boat and am trying to achieve the same balance.
Cheers, T
 
So is 6miles from harbour too far then?

I thought that was still coastal as ive seen kayaks disappear into the horizon and to return at dusk and they are on a plastic tooth pick!

I didnt realise that i had a shorter distance than a kayak or jetskier.

I haven't got room or money for a 16-17ft boat.

This boat suits my circumstances best as no perminent moorings, its kept in a dry garage and trailered everywhere. Keeps it out of harms way and lasts a bit longer.

So basically the boat i have is as much use as a paddleboard then?...
 
Caraway said:
No.

Get solid oars. I have a pair of alloy oars with plastic blades which are lightweight, float and have been moving various boats about for 20 years. I can row a 14 ft boat at 4 knots with them.

oars1.jpg
Click to expand...
I have a pair of solid aluminium oars but they are for a small sib i own.

They look like the ones in the pic so i might just take them off the sib and put them onto my 14footer. Cheers
 
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