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My Outrage 20 is going in the water today and I need to buy all of the stuff required by the Coast Guard for safety.
Do you guys have advise about where I should buy this stuff?
Since you're on "Longuyland" I would try "Boaters World", "West Marine", "Freeport Marine", etc
Flares (3 day & night rated), 100' of line & anchor, horn, Nav & Anchor lights, 1 vest for every person on board, 1 throwable cushion, oars (secondary propulsion), Bucket, (secondary de-watering device), vessel registration (if u get yanked by marine police), Fire Extiguisher.
Marine salvage (Sea Tow), and a hand held or "Fixed mount" V.H.F. radio are pretty much a neccessaty as well (don't depend on cell phones, they are NOT reliable over the water, you don't need dropped call's to the U.S.C.G. in case of an "Emergency").
A Free vessel safety check is available from the U.S.C.G., it is a courtisy examination available to all boaters and PWC operators, it is designed to make sure that you have all the right things for safety, NO violations are EVER given out, and no record of your boat, or any of it's information are ever given to ANY law enforcement authority, YOUR TAX DOLLARS HARD AT WORK ! They can come to you, or you can go to them, they'll even examine the boat if it's on a trailer.
West sells a waterproff cell phone case, we also vacum bag all registration documents to keep them dry. Buy a 1 galln rubermaid container and hit the drugstore for first aid stuff. You will have a better kit than a $30.00 boaters special and everything will be dry.
In our area, at least, it's the Coast Guard AUXILLIARY that does the courtesy boat checks, and I highly recommend having it done. They are a volunteer (no tax dollars) organization, and they'll provide you with a sticker if your boat passes. If the Coast Guard boards you, they have a spot on their boarding form as to whether or not you have a sticker from the CGA.
Though I'm not a member of the CGA yet, I'm considering it once I get my boat floating. They are a fine group of people doing a valuable service for us all.
16'<26' Anchor and line requirements fall under "State" law
16'<26' FEDERAL LAW: In addition to one PFD (Type 1,2,3, or 5 "must say USCG approved") for every member on board, "Federal' (U.S.C.G) law states that you must carry one type 4 (throwable) PFD (Cushion, or ring bouey) on board.
mw
Thats what I thought about the throwable. I was boarded by the Coast Guard about a month ago. Once they had determined that we had no weapons, other than a couple of bait knives, they wanted to see PFD's, registration, fire extinguisher, flares and horn. They did not ask for throwables, but maybe they could see them. They did want personal ID, and were more concerned with the guy that was operating the boat, my shrimping buddy, than me, the owner of the boat. As long as they have taken the time to stop us and board, I would have thought they would have wanted to inspect the throwable and check out the lights. John
I got a kicker, but no secondary propulsion is required. I have no idea if we got Sea Tow up here but I once helped an expensive, crewed yacht stay in the Swinomish Slough. They had called for assistance and the boat that came was five minutes away. Problem was, it took him 45 minutes from the time of the emergency call, to get there. There is lots of stuff up here to hit in 45 minutes. They got a good tow service up in Longuyland? John
I was only surprise inspected once, in the summer they wait by the bridges that go over to the Barrier beaches here, one dayI heard a quick sharp whistle, followed by the "COME HERE NOW" sign, I puttered over, they grabbed onto the boat, asked for registration (I produced it), they eyed up the boat quickly, and without boarding said "Have a nice day". I had my PFD "ON" (as ALWAYS), my boat was in good shape all around, Flares were in their easily spotted place on the back of the seat, there was a type 4 "throwable" PFD, fire ext. etc. I try to keep it so that everything is VISABLE to them, they also spotted the "USCG Aux." VESSEL SAFETY CHECK" decal, It clearly display's that the boat had gone through a recent USCG inspection AND PASSED all safety inspections, title was good, etc., "Oh I can see that this boat was recently inspected"..."Yes Sir"... then I got cut lose "Whew". Another time my friend was coming in from a night Blue fishing trip, he said they got "Yanked" by the USCG, the coasties had the "M-16's" out but not pointed at anyone, they pulled along side, looked at his boat, one of the coasties said "It's NOT THE BOAT", and they got back on the throttles and left in a hurry. A copy of STATE and FEDERAL boating laws is available from any coast guard facility, it is ALSO required to be carried on board, get the "Safety Check" it avoid's a lot of "Hassels".......
http://www.seatow.comhttp:
//www.uscgboating.org/regulations/regulations.htm
Thanks for all the replys guys.
I'll piece my own together. And check into seatow.com
This is the Coast Guard kit boatfix sells for my boat -
4 adult PFDs
1 boat cushion
1 8S anchor
2 Shackle
1 pr. dock lines (3/8" X 15'
1 anchor line (3/8" X 100'
1 1/4' X 4'
Galv. anchor chain
1 5BC fire extinguisher
1 flare kit
1 horn
1 first aid kit
distress flag (NY kit only)
Recommended for 17' - 24' boats
By the way, my boat isn't in the water yet. Went down on my Harley Monday and cracked ribs have been keeping me down.
It won't be long before I'm up and around in my Outrage.
Cracked your ribs! That must be a challenge to peaceful living!
Sounds like you are coming around to the splash date. Good for you! Summer's in high swing. Looks like you'll be enjoying your beautiful boat soon! Are you north shore or south shore?
One other bit of advice - think of safety from "outside the boat", if you will.
Think like a would-be rescuer. For about $5 at the local hardware store you can put your registration numbers on your trailer. That way, when you don't come back to the ramp when it closes, the authorities know what type of boat to be looking for. Think of ways to help them help/find you. (That bit of advice from forum moderator JEFF).
Flares may not be required, but it makes it easier to find you. handheld backup VHF may not be required, but it will help rescuers find you (make sure it is waterproof and attached to your PFD or your ditch bag via a sturdy lanyard.
Also, consider getting into the practice of filing a float plan whenever possible.
Sea tow or Vessel Assist memberships are good options in many areas in and around population centers.....but they are NOT always available...consider your area before spending your money....I towed in a Grand Banks on Sunday night.....I was in the Northern Lake Huron Area...there is no Sea Tow....no Vessel Assist. The captain was in contact with the CG station and they'd only come out to remove him and his crew from his boat if he was in danger....but would not tow the boat (it's a 20 mile run from CG station Mackinaw City). He was pretty happy to see me - and I was happy to help, but you should do your best to not have to rely on the kindness of strangers if possible!
Your local West Marine will be happy to make a list for you of required, recommended and advisable items for your boat and intended use. They will make you pay for it with somewhat steep prices....but for the first go-round and setting yourself up, it's worth it.
Safety is alway's first ! I went out yesterday, and in an area where it "bottle necks" (Woodcleft Canal, Freeport) with lots of boat traffic, I let EVERYONE pass before entering (I had Jr With me), so I entered carefully, of course the knucklhead in front of me wife's screams out "This is'nt the creek" at which point he bangs the throttle and hangs a "J-TURN" in front of me back at me, to leave the area with boats (LARGE ONES) manuvering into the fuel dock. Nothing like having a bow pointed up in the air at you, no operator visible, and the hull going back and forth at you, giving NO indication of what route this moron is going to take "PORT, ? STARBOARD ? Do I maintain course ? do I take emergency evasive action ? which way if I do ? I really thought that after July 4th most of the "IDIOT PATROL" was back at the dock, I'm sadley mistaken. There was also the usual jet ski jerks going way too close to other boats with over splash, wake diving, etc. A larger vessel (whom I was giving way to) stopped to let me go (My God, somebody knows that vessels approaching from "Starboard" have the right of way), I waved and proceeded, after I passed "JUMBO", a 20' (I don't know what I have) boat nails the throttles (he was already up on plain) to scoot in front of the larger vessel by about 3' to beat him to the gas dock, all I heard was "AIR HORN'S" I was only out about 90 minutes too. I splashed late this year, I see that nothing has changed. Another safety Idea that I use is I took a small yellow 12 volt strobe light (auto. store), I connected it to a small piece of plywood, screwed that into a 3/4" dowel, the strobe light pop's into the fishing rod holder, and the "power outlet". If you must be towed, or you are disabled at night, it sends a powerful flash locating you. Strobes do not use much power, are small, and easily stowable. Use yellow because, anything white that flashes at least 60 times a minute is a distress signal. I have used it when returning at night, and manuvering through the tight channels that often are frequented by the large "Booze Cruise" boats. I have my NAV. Lights on but, a quick few flashes for about 15 seconds sends the clear message of "Hey, look out, little guy over here", I then give them as much room as I can, I have even jumped on "16" and asked "You see me in front of you, right Cap". If I get no response I'm REALLY CAREFUL, I try to give them the channel, if it's "High Tide" I don't need the channel, But HE DOES ! remember very few people actually know the rules out there, they don't even know to pass "Port to Port" when on coming.
MW
P.S. You're a GOOD Mariner "Buckda", "OLD SCHOOL STYLE" I see, I was taught "NEVER pull away from ANY vessel in distress", always stop and offer help, they may need WATER, or a phone, even if you can't get them off the bar, once I stopped to help someone, and the woman asked if I could go to her house, and get her husband's medication as he had a heart condition (they were hard aground), When I returned with it "Marine police" were winching them off the bar, they were very greatful. AND NEVER ACCEPT ANY $, just ask that they give back the favor to someone if ever in distress.
I wish more of the boating public had this information. These are also the ways I was taught...you never know when you may be the one requesting assistance.
Chris Doerner
1980 Outrage 22, 1999 Mercury Optimax 200
