I plan to take an Advance 25 with twin Yamaha 150's between 60 and 90 miles offshore in Florida. I plan to buy an epirb. Other than the required Coast Guard items, what other safety equipment should I have on board?
Off shore safety
- Thread starter patrick16
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In the winter, have something that will keep you warm in the water. Wet suits, dry suits, survival suits, for example. Any water temperature below about 65 can be problematic for hypothermia even in a few hours. The EPIRB will get you help in a few hours, but in cold water you may not last that long. Of course standard PFD’s, type I preferably. A raft is also nice, but EPIRB is more important. Make sure to register it and keep it in good battery condition.
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Ryhlick
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FUEL! Make sure you have plenty incase you encounter bad weather. Life raft, flares, air horn, hand held radio, PLB, sun screen, food, water, in a ditch bag. Also, any other USCG required equipment. I take my 228 50-70 miles off the beach regularly, but I have all my equipment in the event it goes bad. Pick your days and you will have a great time. Enjoy! Brad
Uncle Joe
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I don't think an inflatable life raft is a USCG requirement on a personal craft of that size...... but it sure would be a good idea.
I also carry a battery powered backup VHF radio......they are not expensive
I also carry a battery powered backup VHF radio......they are not expensive
Ryhlick
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You're correct, not a requirement. I always say unless you like bobbing for white shark, it may not be a bad investment.
Capt Bill
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I fished 100 mi off Delaware/Maryland coast for many years. Plan your trip using 1/3 fuel to go out, 1/3 for return, and 1/3 as reserve. Sudden changes in weather or sea conditions and consume fuel faster than you planned.
I equipped my boat with a Revere auto-inflate 6 man lift raft, 6 Type 1 PFD's with strobes, 2 auto-inflate PFD,s, ditch bag with flashlight, HH VHF with GPS function, dive knife, fishing line and assortment of hooks and artificial bait, polypropylene rope, a water collection tarp, bottled water, emergency rations, several face towels, sunscreen, EPIRB, a waterproof notebook & pen, of course all the required USCG equipment.
I am sure I left some things out that are in the bag, but you get the idea. Safety first; then have fun.
I equipped my boat with a Revere auto-inflate 6 man lift raft, 6 Type 1 PFD's with strobes, 2 auto-inflate PFD,s, ditch bag with flashlight, HH VHF with GPS function, dive knife, fishing line and assortment of hooks and artificial bait, polypropylene rope, a water collection tarp, bottled water, emergency rations, several face towels, sunscreen, EPIRB, a waterproof notebook & pen, of course all the required USCG equipment.
I am sure I left some things out that are in the bag, but you get the idea. Safety first; then have fun.
Seafarer_Bob
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ScottyCee
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I second the Garmin In Reach. The EPIRB is an absolute must,but you can't tell people the nature of your emergency. The In Reach bridges that gap and you can have two way communication. I have a ditch bag and in it ,it has a handheld gps, PLB Resque Fix, handheld floating VHF radio, Offshore signal kit with flares and such, bottles of water, sunscreen, and some other stuff. The inreach stays out and near me. Also have a good VHF radio and don't be cheap and get a good VHF antenna,like $200 Shakespeare. Your VHF is your first line of emergency communication.its mission critical.
I do regular offshore trips up to 100 miles... My philosophy is fairly simple: boaters die by drowning, so I'm going to do my utmost not to drown! So I'm one of the 1% of serious fishermen I know who always wears his inflatable lifejacket at all times. Attached to my Mustang HIT inflatable is an ACR PLB, ACR AISLink MOB device (in the vest), and Spyderco rescue knife. I have an Inreach mini too but that usually sits on the boat. I realize for many this is overkill, but if I end up in the water, I feel that I have a high probability of being rescued as the PLB abnd AISLink pinpoint my position (plus the AISLink has a strobe). At a 100 miles I'm still well within helicopter range so it's just a matter of staying alive long enough for the coasties to pull my sorry butt out of the drink!
I also have an EPIRB, flares, handheld VHF, etc in a ditch bag, and a liferaft. But my view is that you want redundant systems and none of the boat-based stuff will be of any use to me if I suddenly end up in the water. When I read about boating fatalities, the common theme seems to be that bad things happen really quickly, so I'm not counting on being able to reach all my gear when I need it.
I also have an EPIRB, flares, handheld VHF, etc in a ditch bag, and a liferaft. But my view is that you want redundant systems and none of the boat-based stuff will be of any use to me if I suddenly end up in the water. When I read about boating fatalities, the common theme seems to be that bad things happen really quickly, so I'm not counting on being able to reach all my gear when I need it.
I need to up my game brother ...you will clearly survive to fish another day. awesome.
All of the above are excellent inputs to consider. Here are my two added points of emphasis:
I suggest you install at least one High Water Alarm in your bilge.
Think about it - if you are taking on water for any reason, how will you know?
Your automatic bilge pump will be working (hopefully) but it gives off no sound.
A high water alarm is cheap (~$100) and offers you added time in case you have an issue.
I am also a big fan of immersion suits.
If you're in the water, you'll have something to hold on to because all GW's are unsinkable.
But you will eventually freeze to death (drown) from hypothermia.
Women, children and people with low body fat (not me!) go first.
And don't think when you light up your EPIRB, the orange helicopter will instantly appear overhead.
You'll be lucky if assistance comes to you in 3-4 hours which is plenty of time to go hypothermic in any water temperature you're in. And if it's windy, you'll freeze quicker...
I suggest you install at least one High Water Alarm in your bilge.
Think about it - if you are taking on water for any reason, how will you know?
Your automatic bilge pump will be working (hopefully) but it gives off no sound.
A high water alarm is cheap (~$100) and offers you added time in case you have an issue.
I am also a big fan of immersion suits.
If you're in the water, you'll have something to hold on to because all GW's are unsinkable.
But you will eventually freeze to death (drown) from hypothermia.
Women, children and people with low body fat (not me!) go first.
And don't think when you light up your EPIRB, the orange helicopter will instantly appear overhead.
You'll be lucky if assistance comes to you in 3-4 hours which is plenty of time to go hypothermic in any water temperature you're in. And if it's windy, you'll freeze quicker...
If you boat in cold water the wet suit immersion suit seems like a sound idea. I would add your best safety equipment sits on top of your spine between your shoulders. If the weather is remotely sketchy , don't go. If it's in the winter and it's cold dress for it obviously. Make sure your through hulls, bilge pumps, batteries and motors are up to snuff. The best way to be safe is make sure everything is in working order.
The other thing is to avoid doing dumb stuff. A few years back those NFL guys from Tampa Bay anchored up in the winter in the Gulf of Mexico to catch some grouper. They went out knowing a front was coming in and took on the Gulf in a 19 footer. They cleated the anchor off the STERN. They got the anchor hung up and tried to power off the reef. They rolled their boat and the seas we're building. The temps were dropping and all but one were not wearing their PFD. They had no epirb.
So much of their disaster could have been avoided and the loss of life unnecessary. They didn't use their primary safety device and just made one boating mistake after another and 4 people died. I called the Coast Guard Station in St. Pete after that event and spoke to the the Lt there about it. he was actually shocked a civilian would call to learn about the accident so they could prevent it in their own life as I was doing. He also told me to call FWC and I got a detail on the accident. The Coast Guard Lt told me had those NFL players spent $300 on an epirb they would have all survived. I went out the next day and bought one.
Then you had those 2 boys go missing from Ft. Lauderdale a couple years back and in 2019 the 2 firemen disappeared fishing off of Port Canaveral in a 24 foot Robalo I recall. The boys boat was found in Bermuda and I don't think the Robalo was ever recovered. Neither had Epirbs . The Robalo supposedly had zero flotation but some say it did. Speculation was they were caught in a big storm possibly had engine issues and voila . These stories unfortunately won't be the last of missing boaters going out on the sea. Having an epirb , the in reach and vhf and such are critical in saving your life and your crews ( plus life jackets) if things go wrong.
The other thing is to avoid doing dumb stuff. A few years back those NFL guys from Tampa Bay anchored up in the winter in the Gulf of Mexico to catch some grouper. They went out knowing a front was coming in and took on the Gulf in a 19 footer. They cleated the anchor off the STERN. They got the anchor hung up and tried to power off the reef. They rolled their boat and the seas we're building. The temps were dropping and all but one were not wearing their PFD. They had no epirb.
So much of their disaster could have been avoided and the loss of life unnecessary. They didn't use their primary safety device and just made one boating mistake after another and 4 people died. I called the Coast Guard Station in St. Pete after that event and spoke to the the Lt there about it. he was actually shocked a civilian would call to learn about the accident so they could prevent it in their own life as I was doing. He also told me to call FWC and I got a detail on the accident. The Coast Guard Lt told me had those NFL players spent $300 on an epirb they would have all survived. I went out the next day and bought one.
Then you had those 2 boys go missing from Ft. Lauderdale a couple years back and in 2019 the 2 firemen disappeared fishing off of Port Canaveral in a 24 foot Robalo I recall. The boys boat was found in Bermuda and I don't think the Robalo was ever recovered. Neither had Epirbs . The Robalo supposedly had zero flotation but some say it did. Speculation was they were caught in a big storm possibly had engine issues and voila . These stories unfortunately won't be the last of missing boaters going out on the sea. Having an epirb , the in reach and vhf and such are critical in saving your life and your crews ( plus life jackets) if things go wrong.
Seafarer_Bob
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I don't wear a lifejacket unless I'm running in the dark or its really rough but otherwise my gear list, philosophy, and approach is similar to everwhom. I almost sunk few years ago about 60 miles out on a friend's boat and it taught me a few important lessons. I a do wear the Inreach Mini and PLB on my belt and the rest of it goes in my ditch bag which I bring no matter if I'm my boat or someone else's.
One thing I haven't heard mentioned is the XM Satelite weather antenna and service. A friend got caught in a thunder storm about 60 miles out this spring. It went from flat calm to 55mph for over an hour and seas built to 12' just like that, I saw the video and it was no joke. Thankfully he was in a 65' sportie but he and everyone on board donned life jackets and he said it was dicey at best. My GXM 54 just just arrived so I'm installing it shortly and I'm looking into that AIS MOB too.
Another thing I didn't see mentioned is a MOB engine cut off device, like FELL. Not much equipment more critical than staying with the boat.
The rapid weather change is an excellent point. What type of hardware and service are needed to have good weather radar by satelite? What I found was very expensive.
Seafarer_Bob
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It depends on your chart plotter head unit. Each (major) manufacture makes their own and there are generic modules that connect via NEMA2000. Then you need a subscription through XM and there are several options that offer different services. Not cheap but hey, it's a boat...
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forgot to mention this . Keep a line of two attached to your cleats when you go offshore. Why? if you turtle your boat having lines attached to cleats allows you to toss a line over the hull bottom and gives you and your crew something to hold fast too while you await rescue using your epirb and in reach devices. clinging to slippery boat bottom would be challenging in a calm sea and near impossible in rough seas.
I also thought about painting a big orange diamond or orange stripes on my boat bottom with bottom paint of course. why ? because a big orange diamond is easier to spot than a white bottom in white capping seas .
I also thought about painting a big orange diamond or orange stripes on my boat bottom with bottom paint of course. why ? because a big orange diamond is easier to spot than a white bottom in white capping seas .
blindmullet
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They shouldn't have gone out with the front coming through and anchoring in those conditions on the stern was foolish. I remember at the time people just bringing up stern anchoring and saying you never do this...Probably the most common way hook/line commercial guys anchor in the GOM.
Most people die from the elements and you just need to by time to be found. When my fathers boat sunk one man was pulled to the bottom and 3 others were rescued. Water temps were around 80 and they all had hypothermia on pickup by the coasties.