Small boat practical safety gear?

[pcatterall]

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.

Given that the OP could be 6 miles offshore what range is expected from a vhf at water level? I appreciate that contact with other craft would be possible.

 

[Rappey]

Most boats of dans type use a longshaft. A small outboard on the transom will not do a lot so now he needs to fit another outboard braket so his small engine can reach clear water?
do you also take another small engine in case the first one fails.. Its often the smaller ones that can be more troublesome..
Ive never taken a backup engine as it would just lay around, not being used then the one time it may be needed would probably not work due to lack of use.
I have 14 tons of yacht that does not have a backup engine and if its going to die it will be where sails wouldnt help !
Its a risk we take when going out on the water and there are limits to how far one can go to be safe..

 

[MystyBlue2]

Most boats of dans type use a longshaft. A small outboard on the transom will not do a lot so now he needs to fit another outboard braket so his small engine can reach clear water?
do you also take another small engine in case the first one fails.. Its often the smaller ones that can be more troublesome..
Ive never taken a backup engine as it would just lay around, not being used then the one time it may be needed would probably not work due to lack of use.
I have 14 tons of yacht that does not have a backup engine and if its going to die it will be where sails wouldnt help !
Its a risk we take when going out on the water and there are limits to how far one can go to be safe..

So as long as i take precautions and eliminate every eventuality and be smart, Use the saftey gear i already have, with the addition of...

Re-foaming under the deck,

Aluminium solid oars,

Waterproof phone in case with what 3 words App as a makeshift PLB,

Tow rope,

Emergency pull chord for main engine,

Plus the rest of my list at the beginning and a bit of common sense i should be fine...

Im not daft enough to see white horses and think "oh the 6mile wrecks will fish good today lad"

As you can probably tell i have VERY little experience and confidence so if i do get caught out its not down to stupidity it will be down to pure bad luck which could happen to anybody.

 

[lustyd]

How many engines does your car have Dan, will you even make it to the coast?

 

[pcatterall]

So as long as i take precautions and eliminate every eventuality and be smart, Use the saftey gear i already have, with the addition of...

Re-foaming under the deck,

Aluminium solid oars,

Waterproof phone in case with what 3 words App as a makeshift PLB,

Tow rope,

Emergency pull chord for main engine,

Plus the rest of my list at the beginning and a bit of common sense i should be fine...

Im not daft enough to see white horses and think "oh the 6mile wrecks will fish good today lad"

As you can probably tell i have VERY little experience and confidence so if i do get caught out its not down to stupidity it will be down to pure bad luck which could happen to anybody.

Just a query on the 'tow' rope as I read that you carried 100m of anchor line.?

 

[MystyBlue2]

How many engines does your car have Dan, will you even make it to the coast?

It will be more likely my car lets me down before my mercury.

Now youve jinxed me haha

 

[MystyBlue2]

Just a query on the 'tow' rope as I read that you carried 100m of anchor line.?

Yeah could i use the anchor line for a tow rope aswell?

 

[Rappey]

My outboard boat is on a mooring and i could hit it with a stone easily from the end of the pontoon its moored off, its that close.
I can only paddle it to the pontoon in zero wind at maybe half a knot. Any breeze or tide and i will be going the other way.. So oars seem a complete waste of time.
Most the time im commuting up and down portsmouth harbour so my boat hook/oar is carried as if i do breakdown it might give me a slim change to steer towards a mooring rather than washed up on the mud flats.
You have a lot more safety gear than many. on similar sized boats.. I personally think youre good to go !

 

[PaulRainbow]

Yeah could i use the anchor line for a tow rope aswell?

Might just want to rig it so it's easy to remove the anchor and chain, shackle ?

 

[MystyBlue2]

Might just want to rig it so it's easy to remove the anchor and chain, shackle ?

Ah right ok will do that then, at the moment i have my shackle tightened up with wire through the hole on thumb screw to stop it undoing itself at anchor...worst fears is it comes away at anchor...my anchor is left in the sea bed and my rope and chain are dragging

 

[Rappey]

Might just want to rig it so it's easy to remove the anchor and chain, shackle ?

But an anchor would catch so nicely around a boats pushpit so eliminates the risk of it comming undone?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Ah right ok will do that then, at the moment i have my shackle tightened up with wire through the hole on thumb screw to stop it undoing itself at anchor...worst fears is it comes away at anchor...my anchor is left in the sea bed and my rope and chain are dragging

No worries, if you need a tow you'll have plenty of time to undo it.

 

[Rappey]

It is quite interesting how much stuff some people think should be carried..
There is certainly no wrong or right..
And well done Dan for creating a thread where no one is arguing but all are inputting valid suggestions ?

 

[MystyBlue2]

It is quite interesting how much stuff some people think should be carried..
There is certainly no wrong or right..
And well done Dan for creating a thread where no one is arguing but all are inputting valid suggestions ?

Yes! Its very nice to have a lovely civilised conversation without arguments and animosity. Thank you ?

 

[LadyInBed]

Might just want to rig it so it's easy to remove the anchor and chain, shackle ?

Or untie the bitter end and pay that out ?

 

[PaulRainbow]

Or untie the bitter end and pay that out ?

I thought he'd need to use both ends, one rigged to each side.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Perhaps Dan would do better asking people who are out on boats rather than indoors on a forum. I don't think anyone is denying the billion to one chance that a wave could swamp the boat and it immediately sinks. There are two lifejackets on board for just such an occasion and I'm sure they're worn. Extending that risk out almost to the point of building a pier to the fishing location is unhelpful. The boat is more than capable of these trips, the type is often used for such situations, and this example seems well maintained and well equiped.

I guarantee there are worse boats with less safety gear being used every day for this purpose quite safely. He's more likely to get hit by a car on the way to the boat than any of these far fetched safety concerns.

I wouldn't call soggy bouyancy or completely removed indicates 'well maintained'.
Also I don't agree that health and safety regulations are 'nonsense'. But they only apply to work situations - not leisure. You can 'put to sea in a sieve' like the owl and the pussycat if you like but I wouldn't recommend it. My priority would be to restore seaworthiness.

 

[MystyBlue2]

I wouldn't call soggy bouyancy or completely removed indicates 'well maintained'.
Also I don't agree that health and safety regulations are 'nonsense'. But they only apply to work situations - not leisure. You can 'put to sea in a sieve' like the owl and the pussycat if you like but I wouldn't recommend it. My priority would be to restore seaworthiness.

Like stated above thats what I intend to do with either foam/ bottles/ kids play balls etc...along with a few minor adjustments...is there anything else in your opinion that would make it safe for the above use? Im all ears

 

[Iliade]

I'd add a knife tied to a stick or suchlike, because the most likely reason to need a tow would be a line (the anchor's?) around the prop.

May be useful for fending off longshore pirates and the like trying to sell you extra safety kit.

 

[prv]

I'd add a knife tied to a stick or suchlike, because the most likely reason to need a tow would be a line (the anchor's?) around the prop.

It's a 14-foot dinghy. Tilt the outboard up and cut the line off directly.

Pete