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What to do when stranded
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| docsoma |
Posted on 02/16/12 - 12:15 PM
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Last Friday (Feb 11, 2012) was absolutely outstanding weather so I took the boat out to San Diego Bay for the very first time.
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/b...102309.jpg
San Diego Bay is pretty huge and I have a 13ft Whaler and it occurred to me that I could be in big trouble if I have a dead battery etc. Indeed I made a big point of memorizing where the boat ramp was in case I could not locate it in the haze.
I know I can call Coast Guard for help. I am curious what other forms of help I might be able to call upon....good Samaritans, other boaters, private organizations etc. I am a very careful person...but prone to over thinking these things
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| Captain Morgan |
Posted on 02/16/12 - 12:30 PM
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Do you Vessel Assist and a GPS? Those are two things I couldn't imagine going out in the ocean without.
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| Swamp |
Posted on 02/16/12 - 12:55 PM
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Some kind of towing insurance is a must. Sea Tow, BoatUS, some local company. It can cost literally a few grand, or just about the total value of my boat, to get towed back in to the ramp without towing insurance. Most companies charge around 100 bucks for the year.
Second to the GPS. And a compass. If you're unfarmiliar with the area, a waterproof chart is good too. I always have a charged cell phone in a real good zip lock bag with a keychain float. And a floating, submersible VHF handheld. That way I have two means to call the two company if something crapps out. Coast guard or MAYDAY as a last resort if i'm in real troubble.
If you're really super safe, look into a PLB or EPIRB.
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| Bake |
Posted on 02/16/12 - 1:08 PM
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If you think you will ever be out of sight of land be it due to distance, darkness or weather You should have a compass. That will get you to some land and keep you from driving in a circle. A hand held gps is pretty cheap these days. A hand held vhf radio is pretty cheap too. Now if you have a cell phone or a vhf radio who you gonna call. as mentioned above the towing companies have good deals with membership.
Also remember an anchor. If your boat is disabled you will need to be able to hold your location rather than being blown out to sea. or into the path of another vessel.
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| stevebaz |
Posted on 02/16/12 - 2:45 PM
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In San Diego bay I would think a distress flag would get you help. If not a distress smoke stick shurely would. your cell phone works out there until you drop it in the drink. There are alot of eyes on that body of water. But you will need to be able to signal something other wise you look like all the other boaters just out having fun. I have vessel assist for non life emergency and radio and gps when you need help fast. Like you I over think all of it but better safe than sorry. If you have to pay to get towed in you will wish you had some form of assist insurance. Up here in Long Beach/Los Angeles harbor there are so many patrols of various angencies that if you had a distress flag out I doubt you would be spending an uncomfortable night in a stranded boat. Just dont get blown out to sea. or have a failure at night then you shure would whish you had installed that radio.
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| Binkie |
Posted on 02/16/12 - 7:11 PM
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The Coast Guard will not help you unless there is imminent danger of loss of life. If your boat is on fire or sinking or you are being boarded by pirates, call the CG. If you are broke down and call them they will refer you to a towing service, I have a 13 footer but don't subscribe to a towing service. I have a battery powered trolling motor mounted on the stern, which I also can use to get myself back to the ramp in case of a breakdown. This motor will move the boat along at about 5mph for about 8 hours (40 miles) on two batterys. Also get another battery for the trolling motor.
Its a good idea to tell someone when you are leaving, where you are going, and when you expect to by back. I assume you are a newby, so take a boating course from the Coast Guard Aux.
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| FlyAU98 |
Posted on 02/16/12 - 9:19 PM
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No offense, but if you are worried about getting lost and not being able to find your way back to the ramp in San Diego bay, I think you ought to look in to the USCG Auxiliary class that Binkie mentioned.
http://www.sandiegocgaux.org/educatio...cation.htm
I'll keep an eye out for you....
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| zappaddles |
Posted on 02/17/12 - 5:03 AM
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I find that keeping a fully charged jump-box on board to be very reassuring. Even if the battery in your boat never meets an early demise you just might be able to save someone elses day by having it. On a 13' boat a jumb-box sufficient to start a small engine is a very small item and an excellent piece of mind to have around. It's my understanding that at least 3 means of signaling another boater is required. I keep flares, a signal mirror, air horn, hand-held VHF, cell phone, a small compass and a 300,000 candlepower flashlight on board.
Zap
If you can't play hurt....stay home. |
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| docsoma |
Posted on 02/17/12 - 7:50 PM
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Thank you all for excellent advice. I need to buy flares, a distress flag and perhaps a VHF radio. I am also going to look into BoatUS insurance.
I take plenty of precaution regarding the battery and fuel...and boat only in Mission Bay and now maybe San Diego Bay on occasion. Still in the interest of safety and protection from the unexpected I think your guidance will be very helpful.
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| Karlow |
Posted on 02/17/12 - 10:29 PM
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Just one more consideration.
As a person who has had to call for assistance on two occasions I would advise you that an FM ban marine radio is your best tool. If you make the call, it is the harbor patrol that will come to your assistance. CH16. They will show up even if you call Vessel Asset!
That is as long as you are in or near the harbor. I have been towed three times. Twice by the harbor patrol once by the Sheriff. I would not go out in the ocean w/o Vessel Assist and a Marine band radio. That is one reason my whaler has only been on lakes, I only have coverage for my Skippy!
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| Guts |
Posted on 02/18/12 - 6:30 AM
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one thing about San Diego Bay, or mission Bay for that matter a fact is if your boat stops running for whatever reason you're going to drift ashore somewhere. Now on the open ocean, that's a different story where you would end up. A word of caution here about using cell phones out of San Diego Bay. Point Loma points due South, therefore you're going to get Mexican operators and cell sites which I guess could connect you but I wouldn't depend cell phones anywhere close or outside of San Diego Bay.
Edited by Guts on 02/18/12 - 6:32 AM
Guts/AKA/Kim |
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| modenacart |
Posted on 02/18/12 - 7:05 AM
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wait
They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety.
--Benjamin Franklin |
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| nat1976 |
Posted on 02/19/12 - 5:56 AM
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A pull cord!!!!!! Had an a electrical problem couple months ago. (didn't know it at the time, and couldn't see it, but it was just a stupid wire that had corroded off the solenoid) I was stuck on the eastern edge Biscayne Bay with my 8year old daughter. No tow insurance (does it really only cost about a hundred a year??) but I know exactly what the tow boats would want, way too much, more than value of the boat. Another problem is here the National Park service will severely fine you, rightly so, for derelict vessels. Anyhow I was getting pretty nervous till I remembered that the other day my buddy had thown in the boat this small rope. He said, you never know you might need it. It was just right size rap around the fly wheel. I thought it would be hard to pull start a 50 hp, Not at all. It started right up, and I actualy stayed back out there and made a day of it, and a snapper dinner evening . Find some small rope or strong cord and make yourself a pull cord, never worry about dead batteries again
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| docsoma |
Posted on 02/19/12 - 7:15 AM
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I think this is turning into a pretty good thread thanks to all of you.
So now the confession. In November thinking I did not want to ruin a whole tank of gas with moisture buildup (based on some other threads) I went out into Mission Bay with three gallons on the premise that my 40hp Yamaha rarely ever goes thru more than a gallon or two. Well I must have loitered around more than I realized and I ran out of gas.
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/b...011006.jpg
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/b...011008.jpg
So I called harbor patrol with whom I had chatted barely 20 minutes earlier and they were the nicest folks I could imagine. I have thankfully had maybe only 4 or 5 events where I have had contact with law enforcement agencies over 30ish years and I am always amazed at how courteous and totally professional they have been (including the Arizona State trooper who gave me a speeding ticket in 1990).
Anyhow in this case Officer Menendez hooked up my boat and towed me into to South Shores ramp....took about 45 minutes at 5 mph. She was very very nice as were the dispatchers on the phone....no charge.
BTW, I now have all the suggested equipment, a pull cord, fresh spark plugs, a better than decent first aid kit, a warm jacket, a bottle of water and a head full of lessons.
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| JohnnyCW |
Posted on 02/19/12 - 9:06 AM
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Our local public resources (FWC, Sheriff, Local PD, or CG) )will not tow. They will call whatever local tow service is next in line on their registered list at a premium cost to you.
In our area your best bet is the benevolence of another recreational boater. Just be careful when non-professionals are involved in towing. It can be very dangerous and easily cause damage to either vessel.
And for anyone that offers a tow to a disabled vessel, keep in mind you are accepting responsibility/liability for that vessel and all on board as soon as you tie up and are underway.
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| brorobin |
Posted on 02/19/12 - 11:01 AM
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Wow, Johnny! That last statement would almost scare us way from lending a helping hand or rope for that matter. If you are referring to legal ramifications would not most courts consider the "Good Samaritan clause" if someone is helping another in good faith.
Robin Chaplin
1972 13 Sport - 1994 25hp Mercury
It was my Dad's, now it's Mine, one day I'll pass it down, 'til then it's Happy Whalering. |
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| JohnnyCW |
Posted on 02/19/12 - 11:52 AM
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brorobin wrote:
Wow, Johnny! That last statement would almost scare us way from lending a helping hand or rope for that matter. If you are referring to legal ramifications would not most courts consider the "Good Samaritan clause" if someone is helping another in good faith.
A disabled vessel doesn't necessarily mean a vessel in imminent danger. You may very well create the greatest danger taking a disabled vessel in tow. While on duty, I've pulled people from the water where the vessel under tow went down taking the tow vessel with it.
Think about the responsibility and liability you take on if you tow a disabled vehicle on a public street and something goes wrong.
I've towed plenty of folks back to the marina or ramp with my own boats. Anyone that chooses to do so just needs to be aware of the potential consequences if things don't go as expected.
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| wezie |
Posted on 02/20/12 - 7:56 AM
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Johnny,
have to agree with you about being aware of the entire picture. I have towed a few, pulled a few out of the water, and called help for a few more.
Recently, the cost of raising a 22ft sailboat and the 18ft powerboat tied to it, from 125ft was several thousand dollars. Actually more than the sailboat and the powerboat engine were worth.
The outboard power boat operators, without a knife, "tied" the bow tow line of a sinking sailboat with a hole in its bow to the stern cleat. The 1200lb sinking boat did the rest.
The governing bodies said get them out of the lake.
No one got hurt so no real blame game.
Most folks out there are ok and are appreciative when helped; however, the more complicated the situation, the better to allow someone else do it.
Doc,
a Float Plan updated each trip, and a Ditch Bag to contain some of the recommended stuff would give you a head start on coming back on time. Letting those that matter know where to look will go a long way toward getting help in a timely manner. The convenience of one bag to grab as you load the boat helps.
Glad to hear you were out using your boat and enjoying it.
Even if it is just a puddle, boats are magic.
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| Binkie |
Posted on 02/20/12 - 11:29 AM
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Don't assume you can rope start a 4 stroke over 15hp. They won't start on a half a revolution of the flywheel like a 2 stroke, they need several revolutions.
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| apogee |
Posted on 03/24/12 - 8:15 AM
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I like to call Vessel Assist and fish while I am waiting. It has only happened once but it was a nice day 60 miles offshore
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