Falling overboard - A great read

Bought it on-line from BOE or one of the other big US marine on line sites. It's approx $ 250. I've tested it and am a firm believer in the product. It does work.
 
GPS City has the autotether for $179. Have to factor in the exchange and shipping - but no doubt worth the cost. I've sent them a note asking whether they have any retail distributors in BC. Will post reply.
 
He is the type of person that is allways running the "what if" situation through his mind all the time he is out there and this probably gave him some support and ideas of things to do. These type of people tend to survive better as they have run through in their minds various scenarios and are usually better prepared to handle the situation.
As an instructor I tend to work on the same type of training. People that have been through mock events tend to perform better as they have actually done some of the necessary steps and in such events the human mind can repeat the necessary steps without thinking about them.
 
I read it a little earlier in the day and also thought it was a great read. The guy did use his head extremely well while he was in the water. However, if he used his head that well prior to going into the water, we probably wouldn't have this story to read. A self inflating PFD with at least a strobe light and a small flare or two attached would have helped a lot as would waking up another member of the crew before working the deck alone. It's always amazing to me how cavalier some commercial guys are about safety. With PLB's being so cheap these days (about $300), I can't imagine being a commercial fisherman without one.

I like the auto-tether device. I was thinking about wiring a kill switch into the cockpit that would allow me to kill the engines from there if some went in the water. This wireless device would make life much easier.
 
pescador said:
I never go out alone without my PLB and this strapped on http://www.autotether.com/ Just too many stories like this one. Good read and a lucky guy.
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Yes that was well worth reading and very sobering so thanks for that Rockfish. Gord thanks for your post as well; that auto-tether product looks like a great idea and I want one of those because I often am out solo or with my 8/9 year old daughter. BigBruce, do please post if you locate local supplier........

The story brought back a memory for me from about 35 plus years ago ( lol, gees I must be getting old! ) ......not anywhere as horrific as the lobster fisherman's story but scary and foolish of me none the less. I was a young buck then but had been running small pwr boats for a few years. I was out solo and dropping prawn traps from a 14' Novourania inflatable up off the family cabin on Anvil Island, Howe Sound when I went overboard. I had been standing up at the tiller and at slow speed navigating to my honey hole. In the water, after coming to the surface, watching the boat sail away at 5-6 knots was not something I ever want to see again. The boat then going full circle and heading right toward me was also rather unpleasant ! VERY lucky for me I managed to avoid getting run over and swam like hell toward our beach which also luckily was only a few hundred yards away. The water was near its max 70F summer surface temperature which also was some more luck thrown my way. I Swam to the beach, grabbed our dinghy that just happened to be right there ( more luck!) and rowed after the inflatable. It's 'circling' pattern had tightened and speed slowed thankfully due to the existance of cavitation ! (yet more luck!!) I rowed up to the inflatable timed the 'circling' pattern and it jumped in from the dinghy !! I was very fortunate so much was in my favour. .....Oh and BTW, with no life jacket on and I fell due to stepping on a half empty beer can !!
 
I found the Autotethers on West Marine's site for $199.99 but they're out right now. Should be able to bring them in to Richmond or Van. Probably a little more in Canadian funds but I definitely want one. I fish alone a lot. To watch my boat drive away and think I could have had one of these... well that just can't happen.
 
Years ago I was visiting St. Johns Lodge up north. Enjoying the last bit of light on a calm bay. A guide from the adjacent lodge was just a silhouette standing in a 16 foot tinny with a twenty-five horse tiller outboard. The sea was flat as he stood operating the tiller at full throttle. The next thing we see is the fellow going overboard with the boat doing circles. Fortunately other boats came to his rescue. Don't know how many times I see guides standing and operating a tilled outboard, On lakes, Rivers and the ocean.
 
As a related safety item--how many boat owners take the time to show their guests/wives/kids how to do very simple things like put the boat in and out of gear, start it or show them how to use the nav equipment, vhf, or auto pilot on board. If you as the boat owner go overboard or have a heart attack or whatever--the other people on board should have at least a rudimentary understanding of what to do. That includes keeping passengers informed about where you are going, how to get back to the marina etc. Many years ago a commercial gill netter was running towards Vancouver at night, went outside to take a leak and a freighter wake tipped him overboard. He drowned because his deckhand didn't know how to shut the auto pilot off, which kept fighting the deckhand's efforts to get the boat turned around.
T2
 
Tsquared said:
As a related safety item--how many boat owners take the time to show their guests/wives/kids how to do very simple things like put the boat in and out of gear, start it or show them how to use the nav equipment, vhf, or auto pilot on board. If you as the boat owner go overboard or have a heart attack or whatever--the other people on board should have at least a rudimentary understanding of what to do. That includes keeping passengers informed about where you are going, how to get back to the marina etc. Many years ago a commercial gill netter was running towards Vancouver at night, went outside to take a leak and a freighter wake tipped him overboard. He drowned because his deckhand didn't know how to shut the auto pilot off, which kept fighting the deckhand's efforts to get the boat turned around.
T2
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I think this is a very good point. One that I take for granted all the time. Most of the folks that come on my boat are quite capable individuals but there are times when there are others that are not. My boat isn't rocket science to operate but there are some little quirks that one needs to know. Thanks T2.
 
pescador said:
I never go out alone without my PLB and this strapped on http://www.autotether.com/ Just too many stories like this one. Good read and a lucky guy.
Click to expand...

Gord, my Grady 228 and the 232 are both set up for trolling using a kicker with the main pwr off. As I recall you have similar set up on your 228 with kicker for trolling but if you have no starter/kill switch at the helm for the kicker (all controls at kicker) where do you park the main auto tether unit for the auto tether when attached to kill switch when trolling with the kicker ? Do you keep it always portable somewhere near the kicker such that you just can just move it to the helm when you need it on your main ? Can it handle the elements if permanently mounted beside kicker? I can see that cases where a kicker set up like this for trolling, two units might be best scenario....
 
Greg, I replaced the binnacle in my 228 with a new dual model. My 8 HP Yam is a remote start/tilt so I operate both motors from the main helm station. I simple leave the autotether in one place and switch it onto the engine I'm using when required. It is a bit of a hassle, but, its a simple process. Autotether can deal with the elements no problem at all. Completely water proof. In your case you'd simple have to pull the base unit off velco straps at the main helm and stick is close to the kicker then back to the main helm when your heading back to the dock. To be honest, 2 autotethers would be ideal.
 
Excellent thx Gord for that info.
Elec start/tilt is at kicker only so of course no kicker remote/dual binnacle at helm. I will just move the auto-tether as necessary for each motor when in use. I really find I don't miss having start/tilt for kicker at helm.... at least not for the cost to have it now! Eventually I may buy a second auto-tether just so I can leave them both mounted in position ( Be nice if one belt unit worked for both ).
 
Tsquared said:
As a related safety item--how many boat owners take the time to show their guests/wives/kids how to do very simple things like put the boat in and out of gear, start it or show them how to use the nav equipment, vhf, or auto pilot on board. If you as the boat owner go overboard or have a heart attack or whatever--the other people on board should have at least a rudimentary understanding of what to do. That includes keeping passengers informed about where you are going, how to get back to the marina etc. Many years ago a commercial gill netter was running towards Vancouver at night, went outside to take a leak and a freighter wake tipped him overboard. He drowned because his deckhand didn't know how to shut the auto pilot off, which kept fighting the deckhand's efforts to get the boat turned around.
T2
Click to expand...

Good point. I make a point of spending some time at the dock with any new guests on the boat. I show them:
1) The PFD they will be wearing (always an autoinflating device) and how to operate it manually if need be.
2) Where the kill switch is and how to pull it to shut off the engines.
3) How to operate the helm.
4) How to find the position of the boat off of either the GPS or the radio (I have an AIS radio so coordinates are display on it) and how to activate the MOB function on the GPS.
5) How to operate the VHF and contact the coast guard. I have sticker posted above the radio that gives the proper procedure. In particular I instruct them to give the position first, nature of problem 2nd and then other details. I make sure the know how to properly describe the boat. I also make sure they know how to activate the emergency distress button on the radio.
6) I show them where the fire extinguishers are and briefly how to operate them.
7) I show them where the flares are and how to operate them (and when NOT to use them). I also show them that I have a single flare in each vest (and/or a strobe light).
8) I show them where the backup GPS's are and where the backup VHF radio is at (adjacent to the help seat).
9) I show them where the first aid kit is at.
10) I show them where the throwable is at and where the heaving line is at. I explain how to approach a MOB and how to get the heaving line to that person.
11) I show them the location of the boarding ladder and how to deploy it.

This whole process doesn't take more than about 10 minutes and I think just going over it helps to increase their own mindset about safety. E.g. I I've go to the trouble to not only obtain all this gear but to explain it's use, they know that there is potential danger on the water and they are more likely to be careful. In addition, if I go over or have a heart attack, they are no longer completely useless but can (hopefully) get the boat back to my position and help get may butt back in the water. Finally, I think it makes my guests far more comfortable with me, the boat and conditions on the water since they get some confidence from knowing that I've thought most emergency situations through and they also know how to respond if needed.
 
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