grab bag contents
Submitted by D_d_001 on Fri, 2014-02-14 16:44
after seeing so many people rescued after boats going down I decided to
look again at safety and paticularly "grab bag contents"
hoping to share some ideas on what ppl have in their contents
I have
manditory
EPIRB (I know some prefer to mount but I'm still not sure about this...easy reach....or ...another thing to grab ?)
Flares
also
sunscreen
Cpl bottles water
cpl hats
few straps with attached carabinas (easy to clip ppl together)
small waterproof torches
relectors
maybe should have
red "V" sheet
handheld VHF
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Epirb
the epirb is in its holder on the console and the flares are in a container with all the lifejackets under the seat.
Anything more is going to get in the road if the boat goes over. The reason for the epirb not being with all the other safety gear is that it gives you two chances not one if you lose the flare container plus if something happens, I don't plan to be in the water all that long as I practice what I preach and log on to sea rescue and update my position regularly if I move and notify them when I am leaving to head for port.
I know it won't sink because when I had it built, I had a bulkhead run straight across under the console making the front half of the hull watertight and with floatation under the aft section and all around the inside of the gunwhales.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
agree with you
biggest drama is my epieb bracket is hard enough to get it into let alone trying to get it in a panic situation going to put it in a grab bag
Refty
Posts: 9
Date Joined: 06/01/14
Safety gear
I have a 25L screw lid bucket with a float on a looped rope tied to the handle.
Inside I have epirb, hats, sunscreen, flares, water, torch, rope and v sheet from memory.
Life jackets under seats.
My theory is you may not have time to grab this from here and that from there, so I've tried to limit what I have to look for.
Not sure there is a wrong answer here, because if you have given it thought, you are more than likely reasonably prepared.
collin g wood
Posts: 313
Date Joined: 18/04/11
Yup,
I have much the same, + 2 inflateable life jackets, a mirror and one of those high power green lasers just in case
Tradewind
Posts: 756
Date Joined: 18/09/12
Hi-Power green laser is a
Hi-Power green laser is a brilliant idea
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
Old mobile phones even
Old mobile phones even without the sim card can call 000, keep them off and charged in a cliplock bag.
Just another cheap way of having another communication device at least around the metro area as coverage is not bad nowadays.( even better ones that have gps)
Small air horn is also good.
DM306
bushbeaver
Posts: 159
Date Joined: 08/07/13
Epirb mounted next to the
Epirb mounted next to the steering console.
Grab bag (clipped to polystyrene float): Flares, Orange V sheet, rope with carabiner clips, 2 floating torches, floating knife, 2 emergency blankets (hypothernia), small medical kit (gauze, bandages, analgesics and sea sickness tablets). Inflatable PFD's which hopefully should be on in adverse conditions.
Need to add some water, and the hats and sunscreen are great ideas, thanks D_d!
dodgy
Posts: 4578
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Does a 12 man life raft on
Does a 12 man life raft on the roof count?
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Size of boat
All depends on the size of the boat and crew numbers, heck we only had an 8 man one on a 24 metre pro boat.
With some of the gear others are carrying one would think they are on a boat the same size and venturing 500 miles out to sea and expecting not to be rescued for 3 weeks
TAPOUT
Posts: 885
Date Joined: 27/01/06
Always wondered why they
Always wondered why they didn't make a smaller version of a automatically inflating life raft for smaller vessels. Also with all the technology these days why don't they have life jackets with built in epirbs.
dodgy
Posts: 4578
Date Joined: 01/02/10
The inflatable pfd's on our
The inflatable pfd's on our VMR boat have plb's in their own pocket. They are certainly available.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
they do
when I was in the rio marine dept I regularly had to fly to the islands to service the beacons on them my crew saver had a mini epirb ,emergency rations , mini rocket flares, torch, flashing light and a whistle
Redchoppa
Posts: 102
Date Joined: 15/07/12
ACR rapid ditch bag
Epirb, Heaps of flares (be like aus day fireworks if they all went at once), waterproof handheld VHF, 1 inflatable jacket (and a couple of recharge kits for the ones on the boat), small first aid kit, zinc cream, pool goggles, 1.5litres of water in 3 bottles, sunnies, small Swiss army knife, small torch, signal mirror and all strung together plus extra cord with carabiners.
I weighed the bag and it was 6 kilo, put in 6 kilos of spanners and lobbed it in the pool...it floated but I want some help not hinderance if I have to use it offshore so I added an empty 1.5L water bottle for piece of mind. The epirb and water will float also.
You'd feel like a right pelican if your ditch bag sank when you needed it most.
catchalittle
Posts: 1875
Date Joined: 04/09/08
In the grab bag have
In the grab bag have flares,yachtmans knife,strobe torch,5 of the large glow stick a length of rope cut three ways that have stainless d rings to attach to people large bottle of water. green die stick activates by water ,The jackets are right next to the grab bag and these are the stormrider pfd's
Nathan
joycey
Posts: 251
Date Joined: 28/05/11
Do you guys go for manual or
Do you guys go for manual or automatic life jackets
I guess the benefit of automatic is if you knock yourself out it will go off but I've read elsewhere some people prefer manual as concerns of getting stuck under the boat if wearing automatic and it goes off whilst your under a capsized boat. Also is there a risk of automatics going off inappropriately it get bit wet ?
I'm about to buy some new jackets so would value your opinions.
iana
Posts: 652
Date Joined: 21/09/09
Stormy Yokes
If I were to buy more inflatable life jackets, I would buy Stormy. While other brands are cheaper and money talks, the stormy "Bladder" remains enclosed in a light canvas cover when inflated, while with others the bladder is exposed to the elements, for example if you have the jacket inflated and you were washed against the hull, the exposed bladder may puncture where as the stormy its got additional protection.
I read a story on with "The Hull Truth", about a guy trapped in the cabin of his cruiser after it over-turned. he had on the auto jacket which inflated, and it pinned him to the floor (upside down), the only way he could get out was to stab the jacket and let the air out.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
i have one ( iimersion infating PFDs)
your question is a good one , the thing is you have to have it on when you go in the water and most people don't wear them full time on the water
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Most of the above, Epirb is
Most of the above, Epirb is in the holder but reasonably easy to grab if upturned without having to dive inside hull. Also keep a couple of the foil emergency blankets and face mask, snorkel and flippers. I figure I can swim a hell of a lot further with them than without (though I'm not sure I want to see what's under me!!)
Wear a (manual inflating) life jacket and safety cut off switch cord when out by myself.
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
D_d_001
Posts: 1522
Date Joined: 09/03/13
some really good items
some really good items discussed here:
My grab bag has pockets and a few cheap and small things may make a difference....so why not. !
I like a few of the suggestions
high power lazer
inflatable PFD's
air horn
yachtmans knife,strobe torch
fantastic idea with the old mobile without sim card for "000"
if I was to take one bit on info on here it would be from cararvonite: "I don't plan to be in the water all that long as I practice what I preach and log on to sea rescue and update my position regularly if I move and notify them when I am leaving to head for port."
thanks guys.
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
good post
if I capsized my center console I have my epirb in a bracket on the console , after seeing this post , I started thinking as I have a hand disability I realized its hard enough to put the epirb in its bracket and even harder to get it out of the bracket let alone having to do it when the boats upside down , I am going to put together a grab bag
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
High power lazer
One of the best items you can have in your grab bag imo, can be seen at night a lot further than flares can
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
yep agree
but are they are not legal got nabbed at the airport (customs) last year for having 1
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Much like everyone
But dont have inflatable jackets, Just very high end offshore life jackets, like the ones open ocean jachtsman use.
Another thing I do have, and a few off them is condice crystals in little vials. Mixed with water it creates an intense purple cloud and is offensive to fish at high concentrations, even though it is used to treat fish to remove parasites. I have six vials in a bad that contains other items, some mentioned above.
Lessons learned from this very very good post - Old mobile - might see if I can lay my hands on a waterproof one
Laser beam - what an excellent idea
Personal epirb like a Aqualink. With the lifejacket I have ( 2 high end and 4 others) they have pockets, and one placed in each off the top end ones makes sense even better than just the boat epirb.
Log on frequently - probably the best suggestion.
So after reading this a must have list would be -
Epirb
Old Waterproof Mobile
Life jacket
Flares
Water signalling method, either dyes, V sheet etc
Signalling mirror and if you can get one a laser (But they are illegal due to some nutters shining them at aircraft)
Strobbing or other torch
Strapping or robe with caribiner
Water
Pocket knife
Zinc cream
Not sure about goggles and fins etc. If something is going to try and have me for lunch I would rather not see it!!!! And as most boats will at least float even upturned I dont intend swimming for it, as the GOLDEN RULE IS STAY WITH YOUR BOAT.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Redchoppa
Posts: 102
Date Joined: 15/07/12
Goggles
Goggles are to help get anything from under the boat if it's ass up.
I was passenger in a tinny that was swamped (knob skipper) and a very very long way from mainland but near an island. Two of four had masks and fins as we were diving using a hooker (2 were actually diving when we got swamped). The masks were very handy in getting the safety gear and radio from it's hole and calling another tinny that was about 1.5km away. We had to abandon the tinny and swim as it was sinking and getting washed onto a reef, the two with masks and fins helped the other two to swim around to the lee of the reef where we got picked up by the other tinny which barely made it to shore as there were 8 people in it then. Not a good day, very quiet beers that arvo. No life jackets, no epirb, 3 inshore flares and 400km off shore. Use of Tinny's for play unanimously decided as a no no from that point on.
I have two lots of safety gear, one easy to get to and another in the cab of my boat. I might be compensating?
Guardy
Posts: 381
Date Joined: 09/08/12
Goggles & snorkel may also prevent you
taking a mouthful of water while trying to breathe in rough water. One of the reasons why the latest PFD's come with a plastic hood to pull over your head and attach to the front of the PFD. We learnt this the hard way when 90+ crew died in the water when the Seacrest a drillship turned over in the Gulf of Thailand back in the early 1990's during a tropical storm. A couple of survivors said that they nearly drowned from inhaling the water while trying to breathe.
slugger
Posts: 164
Date Joined: 17/02/11
grab bag / container
good stuff on the content guys, but what type / style container you guys using ?
Jason P
Posts: 521
Date Joined: 16/02/13
Boat Beacon
A handy little app for smart phones is called "Boat Beacon" for that uses a internet based AIS system for locating you and other boats around you that maybe handy. Does only work within 3G mobile coverage. Or another one but free is Marine traffic not as good though.
DM306
Reefmonkey
Posts: 711
Date Joined: 22/09/08
Red signal flare.
Dont understand why it isn't not a safety requirement for rec boaters or included in the offshore pack. Invaluable after dark to pinpoint your position. Orange smoke is useless at night and an orange para flare only signals someone in trouble and gives a general search area. Seconds after its fired its 1000ft in the air and in the wind hundereds of meters from your position.
Dave J.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Red Flare
Your inshore flare kit should contain 2 orange smoke flares and 2 red flares with the 2 parachute flare added to make it an offshore kit if I remember correctly
Reefmonkey
Posts: 711
Date Joined: 22/09/08
inshore/offshore
its a strange case of inshore kit to 5 NM is the orange and reds, However beyond 5NM all that is required is the offshore kit with the para flares to be carried in leiu of the red hand held flares.
Thats what I mean that its a strange rule, go beyond 5 miles and legally red flares are no longer required to be carried. Most people that go to sea offshore and only looking to tick the boxes of the requirement would only ever bother to buy the offshore pack(2xpara 2x smoke)
Although i'm sure you guys in sea rescue carry every thing well beyond the requirement, but new rec boater probably wouldnt see the need.
same goes in survey you need to carry all three and rightfully so.
Just a weird rule i reckon.
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/27962.asp
Dave J.
Reefmonkey
Posts: 711
Date Joined: 22/09/08
BAH!
double post
Dave J.
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
Said it before , but if
Said it before , but if heading out alone , I wear a backpack with everything in , from the time you put in to retrieving. I have enough in it to actually feel pretty confidant in an emergency. (bar a shark shield)
If you slip out of the boat and it's in gear , you will watch your boat and grab bag idling away into the distance.
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8672
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Trip lanyard
Most of the new motors have a trip lanyard that you attach to you belt etc that when pulled cuts off the engine immediately, its designed to stop the boat sailing off without you.
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Agree staying with the boat
Agree staying with the boat would be the best bit in most circs but if the boat were going to be pushed onto rocks by current or waves then may be best to abandon.
Hypothermia would be the biggest danger in SA waters, so if not far away (and was able to get out of water) making it to a nearby island and getting on land with a emergency blanket and flares/epirb etc. may also be an option hence the flippers.
Some of the places I fish have plenty of breaking reefs and are in remote areas so maybe sometime before help arrives so just want to cover as many options as I can.
Spent most of yesterday morning searching for a missing boat off Cape Jervis SA. Launched at sunset Sunday night and holed up for an overnighter in Rapid Bay when we had a call from Water police at 10pm. boat was due back before dark and car/trailer was still at the ramp alongside ours. Placed radio calls throughout the night with no reply started searching around the Pages (couple of small islands and reef) at sunrise nothing found. proceeded further south towards the tuna grounds as police said they had gone fishing for tuna. Chopper and planes up searching by lunchtime. Other boats located an esky and fuel tank further north later that arvo but currents could have moved it north. rescue crews still searching today (Tuesday) so not looking good given the time elapsed - two on board feel for their families....
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
robert1979
Posts: 224
Date Joined: 13/05/12
Some great ideas here.
Some great ideas here. Definitely time to review and update my kit. Think I will look into one of those personal locator beacons as well. Anyone recommend a particular model?