3 Florida fishermen rescued

[JD]

Thank heaven for spicy mustard:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/08/florida.boaters.found/index.html?hpt=T2

[Duff]

20 years ago I got stuck out there for 3 days and was rescued by the CG. Both batteries ran completely dead about 35 miles from port, and the VHF didn't have enough juice to hail out. It wasn't on my boat, but it taught me to keep other communication devices with me. Fortunately we had plenty of liverwurst and cheddar, with a loaf of bread and yes gulden's spicy brown mustard. And a bag of science diet. And a dachsund, just in case we needed to have a weenie roast :eek:

[Jack Hexter]

Why would anyone spend $100,000 + for a very nice boat, a 32-foot SeaVee, and fail spend $300 for a PLB or $700 for an EPIRB. Would have saved them a lot of time drifting on the water and they wouldn't have to eat sushi without wasabi

[Bryan/BC]

Unfortunately not all searches end successfully. :(

Make beacons mandatory: Family

Fishing tragedy: With GPS, it wouldn't have taken six days to find boat, guide's sister says

By Katie DeRosa, Times Colonist; Postmedia News August 10, 2010

The family of the Vancouver Island fishing guide who is presumed drowned after an ill-fated charter fishing trip with three other men said electronic beacons should be mandatory on all vessels.

Kevin Sturgess' sister, Trisha Sturgess, said it might not have taken six days to find the six-metre aluminum fishing boat if it had a device that sends out GPS co-ordinates to the coast guard via satellite.

"If those were mandatory, could things have been different?" she asked yesterday.

On Saturday, the Qualicum River 9 was found overturned in Brooks Bay, north of Brooks Peninsula -- the vessel's last known position. The search was called off Sunday.

Missing since Aug. 2, the grey boat was practically invisible in the water and thick grey fog hampered the search. As the days passed, the search expanded well beyond that area, as far south as the waters off Washington state.

Had the boat been outfitted with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), coast guard crews might have found the boat in a matter of hours, according to Paul Tasker, maritime co-ordinator at the Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

"The rescue could have been much more expedited," Tasker said. "EPIRBs save lives, for sure."

The search began when Sturgess and the fishermen -- Peter Idlewine of Brush Prairie, Wash., Gary Evans of Vancouver, Wash., and his brother, Tony Evans of Portland, Ore., led by Sturgess of Port Alberni -- failed to return to Qualicum Rivers Fishing Charters and Lodge in Winter Harbour amid gale-force winds.

Rob Knutson, who runs the lodge with his father and brother, said most chartered fishing boats in the area don't have EPIRBs.

The beacons are required on ships larger than six metres, carrying more than six passengers, according to Transport Canada. But the agency encourages all vessels to use the device, which costs between $1,000 and $2,500.

According to Transport Canada spokesman Jillian Glover, small vessels the size of the boat that was lost are allowed to carry as many as 12 passengers and are not required to be certified or inspected by Transport Canada.

Trisha Sturgess said that, in light of the tragedy, her family might press for expanding the requirements for all vessels to have EPIRBs.

An expedited search might have helped since the men were not wearing the life-jackets on board. Knutson said the decision to wear life-jackets is up to the guide and fishermen.

The investigation is now being handled by Port Hardy RCMP. A Transportation Safety Board official said the federal agency is still trying to determine if it will conduct a full investigation.

© Copyright (c) The Province

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Make+beacons+mandatory+Family/3379351/story.html#ixzz0wDKDcYnQ



The bodies have still not been found and may never be as all the life jackets were found in a storage locker in the overturned boat

This was a wakeup call for me. I will be buying a PLB...

[JD]

Jack made the point well, as did Bryan's and Duff's examples. We opted to put a McMurdo PLB Max-G 48hr unit on board:

http://www.mcmurdo.co.uk/products/product.html?product_type=2&product_sector=3&product=99

At $400 +/-, what is your life worth? And it can be carried anywhere sea or land. We added a few other things but this was the over-the-horizon choice. The 48hr battery was worth the extra bucks over the less-expensive options. It's in the ditch bag with a spare H/H VHF and a number of other essentials.

[Mont]

I have a good Epirb, but I am still asking Santa for a PLB to go with it. The tracking function is great piece of mind for those back on shore holding the days float plan. There's a small boat show at my marina next month, so I will be looking for a deal there. Most of the local guys will run some great prices then.

[Jesse]

I am curious.

Why would you want both an epirb and a plb?
It appears that they both do pretty much the same thing - am I missing something?

[JD]

PLBs come in 2 or more varities Jesse. The ones that are compatible with EPIRBs use SARSAT 406mhz. They are cheaper as most only are good for 24 hours and some don't float. The one I got is SARSAT with a 48 hour battery and it floats. Like and EPIRB, it transmits only when activated in an emergency.

The one Mont is talking about, I believe, is the less expensive SPOT Satellite unit. This offers a service that can track you and transmit your location and status at timely intervals to your family or someone you choose. It has an 911 and sos feature as well. The emergency signal goes to a SPOT service center. They also require a yearly subscription.

See: http://www.energyindustryphotos.com/a_guide_to_personal_locator_beac.htm

[Jesse]

Ah, Thanks for the information, sir.

[Mont]

The spot will also work at the deer lease. You never know when something up there could go wrong and I basically have most of it to myself these days.

[Jack Hexter]

Jesse. I recently had an associate who was on a boat that sunk in the gulf. A thru hull on new 26' Foubntain was made of nylon and without a seacock :confused: broke and sunk the boat. Those on board had enough time to get off a mayday but did not get to the epirb. My friend was wearing an inflatable PFD with his PLB attached. The activated PLB was what saved them

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/forum/west-central-general-info/be-safe-out-there-i-spent-last-saturday-drink-25-miles-offshore

[Jesse]

Tks, Jack.
That is quite a story.

Its hard to believe that a Fountain would have a crappy through-hull fitting like that.....

[Bryan/BC]

With the ongoing discussion on EPIRBS and PLBs on one of our BC sportsfishing discussion threads -- there are some useful comments from a retired USAF SAR pilot who cross trained with the Canadian AF.

For those thinking of running out and getting those manual operated EPIRB and attaching, or sticking them in their pockets – good luck! Doing that, will an EPIRB make the outcome any different – maybe, maybe not… but only if it is a “floating” on the surface and I don't think I will be betting my life on that one. Then, one needs to understand the response time capabilities (based on weather and position), even if it does go off response times can vary greatly. Time in any water is critical!

FYI… unless things have changed? During normal work “DAY” hours, we had a committed 30 minute to launch time. After normal duty hours and on weekends, unless a specific mission dictated otherwise – the committed “SAR” launch time was TWO HOURS. That is two hours from notification, to launch from our airfield. I believe if you check Canada Forces will have the same requirements, as I very much cross- trained with Canadian pilots – but things do change?

My primary aircraft at that time for that mission was the CH-47D Chinook, referred as the CH-147D Chinook in Canada. They are the same aircraft with very few modifications. Each aircraft was equipped with an ‘Automatically Deployable Emergency Locator Transmitter’ (ADELT) and both Pilots carried separate/individual portable Emergency Survival Radios, so each aircraft was equipped with a minimum of THREE what is now being referred to as ‘Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons’ (EPIRBs) for marine use. That should tell you – they work! But, they are only PART of SURVIVAL gear needed that will make a difference! The very last thing I always put on before any mission was my individual ‘survival vest’, which was required for our missions and worn by all crew members. On missions over water, we were required to wear individual ‘water wings’ and carry ‘Life Raft Kits’, which included survival gear for the appropriate number of personnel on board the aircraft.

EPIRB’s save lives – that is proven! If you chose to get one - get a good one, as your life is going to depend on it - it very well could. Transport Canada requires a “free floating” EPIRB for a reason – those things just don’t seem to transmit very well under water. Then, remember you still have that response time (based on weather and position). If "I" had to make a choice offshore, in the fog, with no other vessels around...I would not only be looking at a good offshore PFD, but would be buying a GOOD automatically deployable - LIFE RAFT! Life rafts don't work very well when tied down to an upside down boats, either! I personally don't care if I am picked up in 30 minutes or 30 hours if in a nice comfortable GOOD life raft, but with the additional use of an EPIRB and located in three hours rather than that 30 hours sounds a little better, doesn't it? However, last thing and what I do NOT want is bob around in that cold water for any length of time just waiting for someone to respond to a radio beacon! The most importand and first thing... I WANT OUT OF THAT WATER - AND I WANT OUT FAST!

Now, while there are times a U.S. and/or Canada military helicopter can and will be diverted from one mission to respond to a ‘life threatening’ emergency – DON”T count on it! Unless that helicopter just happens to be close, happens to have the hoist and other equipment on board and installed, and your Gods are really with you… as a helicopter already half way through another mission will probably NOT have the fuel! That is one reason there is dedicated SAR helicopters on standby! And, it is really tricky for a fixed wing aircraft to do the rescue part of that mission 20 miles offshore and I really can’t see them landing in 15 foot swells? I guess they could drop a life raft, which you should already have as part of your survival gear?

Finally, the coastal waters have been divided into two SAR areas. A DFO/CCG patrol vessel is continuously stationed in each zone to provide SAR coverage. That is the first normally utilized to respond, depending on the circumstances it won’t be any aircraft if a surface vessel is close. I assure you, neither Joint Recue Co-ordination Centre Victoria (JRCC) nor the U.S. Coast Guard District 13 (RCC), or any other JRCC or RCC is going to launch SAR aircraft upon receiving a distress radio beacon. Sorry it just doesn’t work that way, they don’t – they will try contacting to verify first. Usually by VHF or cell phone, then if no contact is made, they will call the contact information, the alternate contact information, and any phone numbers listed on the registration! After that, if an emergency if believed or confirmed, comes the Pan Pan calls– they will then contact the appropriate support units to launch the appropriate SAR units.

Again, sorry but that is the way it is – If you want to run offshore and still have a chance of survival if something happens, an EPIRB would be a good thing to have, but you really need to also - BUY A “GOOD” LIFE RAFT!
http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/e0003868

Charlie




Now the water temps in your part of the world are not as critical to survival in the water as in the North Pacific.... but still-- some worthwhile comments.

Cheers
Bryan

[Zane]

Inflatable on top (boat can't turn turtle) bag with gps, portable radio and the luck of the Irish, :D :D Seriously the North Pacific is not too forgiving, if you go over and you don't have a survival suit you are done. But who wants to stay home and be safe?? Just use common sense and come in when it gets bad. Batman and I were out about four years ago and the wind started to slowly build, I said I'm sorry BB but we are a long way out and I'm a wuss:)
we started in and by the time we were entering protefcted water it was blowing 35. The rummy just looked at me and said "good call". The biggest thing for us up here is just use common sense, the big fish isn't worth it and I'm getting to old to spend the day pounding my soft ass. :D :D

[Joe/GA]

Why would anyone spend $100,000 + for a very nice boat, a 32-foot SeaVee, and fail spend $300 for a PLB or $700 for an EPIRB. Would have saved them a lot of time drifting on the water and they wouldn't have to eat sushi without wasabi
I agree, Jack. How about that pro football player that died a while back in the gulf? He was making all those big bucks, supposedly he was a knowledgable boater and he didn't spend a few bucks on an EPIRB. I don't understand it! :confused:

[Jack Hexter]

I agree, Jack. How about that pro football player that died a while back in the gulf? He was making all those big bucks, supposedly he was a knowledgable boater and he didn't spend a few bucks on an EPIRB. I don't understand it! :confused:


I wasn't one player, it was three that died, one survived. They had no EPIRB, and really had no business being on the water that day with seas building and forecast to continue to build. Then they tied the anchor line to the transom :confused: and tried to power a stuck anchor loose instead of cutting the line (trying to save maybe $100, and it cost them their lives). When they applied power, it actually pulled the transom under and the boat rolled.