A bit of advice please (in the event of disaster)

[Jon H]

All

I am pretty new to this game but I started to think last night of what I would specifically do if the boat turned over in a rough sea.

As I see it I woudl grab my grab bag (complete with flare pack, fog horn, mobile phone (in plastic wallet)....

Inflate my jacket

Climb onto the upturned boat?

But then what ?..... are flares ok during daylight hours

I am not even sure which type or colour to use

[PeterM]

I guess phone / call someone on a handheld - I woudl hope a mayday on 16 with a rough position would be a good start - then wait, I was told/ trained never to leave the boat unless forced .

[Tim M]

You could try righting it. A 4m shouldn't be too hard. Plus (according to your profile) you have an ex RNLI engine which will have been adapted at some point to run having been inverted.

That said, in the event this really happened who ever is there is probably going to be panicking, so radioing the coastguard and waiting on the upturned hull is probably the best thing to do if it's safe to do so.

Jono Garton posted a good thread on this some time ago after he inverted a rib. Worth a read.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by Tim M

You could try righting it. A 4m shouldn't be too hard. Plus (according to your profile) you have an ex RNLI engine which will have been adapted at some point to run having been inverted.

I disagree - righting a 4m RIB is going to prove difficult. For one thing - the weight of the motor, in addition to everything else that's in the boat (fuel tanks, anchor) will add considerable ballast to the upturned hull. Bare in mind - anything that's on the floor of the RIB (which isn't strapped down) will now be on the seabed, including the fuel-tank (assuming it's portable) if it was full.

Even flares are likely to be in forward hatches or consoles and going under the upturned boat is dangerous. In order to do this - you would need to take off your lifejacket, which isn't advisable.

Assuming this happened just now in coastal waters in the UK - the sea temperature is going to be a chilly 15 degrees dipping to around 7 degrees in the winter. A boat flipping over will happen quickly - so it's not going to be as simple as it sounds - to simply grab an emergency pack.

My main concern would be to get everyone up on top of the hull and to stay there. Even experienced swimmers are going to find it difficult in anything but a calm sea to make any headway - given currents, sea temperature and sea state. There was an accident on the Forth estuary a matter off weeks ago - see link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/7551350.stm

If you have a waterproof handheld VHF - put out an emergency call on CH16 giving details and approximate position. Friends/family that are aware you are away for the day will know the general area you are in and your plans (A to B) etc.

I make a point of phoning my wife when I'm out fishing to give an approximate position, 2-3 times a day and expected time back at the slipway.

Basics should be good communication - handheld VHF, lifejackets (auto-inflate), knife, waterproof light and whistles.

Hopefully it will never happen - but if it does, at least you're prepared.

[Tim M]

I disagree with some of those comments. Firstly your fuel tank will float even if its full.
If you've got a painter tied to the winch eye on the bow you should' need to deflate your life jacket to get the rope under the rib and through a handle/lifeline on the other side in order to use it to right the boat. If there were a couple of you, and the weather was quite calm I think you'd have a reasonable chance of righting it, and maybe sorting the engine. At the end of the day if your out there upside down, surly its got to be worth a go.

[timw]

NO!!!

Swim as far away from the vessel as you can, because if she goes down, you could well be sucked down with her.

You also need to try and avoid swallowing any oil that is likely to have leaked and will be floating on the surface.

Make sure you have your lifejacket on and that it's inflated.

[C2 RIBS]

I am no expert but these people are, why not talk to them?
http://www.rnli.org.uk/what_we_do/se...ea_safety_home

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by timw

NO!!!

Swim as far away from the vessel as you can, because if she goes down, you could well be sucked down with her.

You also need to try and avoid swallowing any oil that is likely to have leaked and will be floating on the surface.

Make sure you have your lifejacket on and that it's inflated.

I suppose either this is another nonsense 'funny' post from you. Either that or you haven't worked out that most ribs won't sink without the tubes completely ripped off.

[Ian Sharlot]

Originally Posted by timw

NO!!!

Swim as far away from the vessel as you can, because if she goes down, you could well be sucked down with her.

You also need to try and avoid swallowing any oil that is likely to have leaked and will be floating on the surface.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by timw

NO!!!

Swim as far away from the vessel as you can, because if she goes down, you could well be sucked down with her.

You also need to try and avoid swallowing any oil that is likely to have leaked and will be floating on the surface.

Make sure you have your lifejacket on and that it's inflated.

OMG I think I just laughed so hard I crapped myself.

[RichardB]

Originally Posted by Jon H

All

I am pretty new to this game but I started to think last night of what I would specifically do if the boat turned over in a rough sea.

As I see it I woudl grab my grab bag (complete with flare pack, fog horn, mobile phone (in plastic wallet)....

Inflate my jacket

Climb onto the upturned boat?

But then what ?..... are flares ok during daylight hours

I am not even sure which type or colour to use

On the flares question, it's best to also carry smoke for daylight use in addition to the candle type which is most effective at night - but can be used in daylight too. Most bought ready made up packs (coastal/inshore) are likely to include at least two of both types and maybe parachute flares too.

Colour for distress is red or orange (the smoke ones are orange). If you are talking to the Coastguard while sitting on the upturned hull, they may very likely ask you to pop one off as the helicopter/lifeboat approaches your position to help them more easily locate you.

White flares are to draw others attention - e.g. in potential collision situations at night. These tend only to turn up in the RORC flare packs where they are part of the requirement for offshore yacht racing.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by timw

NO!!!

Swim as far away from the vessel as you can, because if she goes down, you could well be sucked down with her.

You also need to try and avoid swallowing any oil that is likely to have leaked and will be floating on the surface.

Make sure you have your lifejacket on and that it's inflated.

I think you're confusing a 4m rib with a 30,000 tonne freighter! You may also need to beware of boxes of bananas bobbing to the surface and smacking you in the nuts!!

[Downhilldai]

Don't overlook the opportunity to give the underside a quick scrub down while you're sitting up there, waiting for the good people from RNLI, HMCG, Venturers, etc. to turn up.....................oh and while you're there, check the torque on the propeller nut

[Siochair]

How about using something like this instead of a grab bag?

http://www.getyourselffitter.com/Pro...umbag_blue.htm

I've always wondered if there would be time to grab anything if the worst were to happen.


D

[Jon H]

Originally Posted by Chris

OMG I think I just laughed so hard I crapped myself.

loved the laughing icons

[Top banana]

Originally Posted by Chris

OMG I think I just laughed so hard I crapped myself.

Just had a whiff of steak and kidney. "Ginsters I presume"

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Top banana

Just had a whiff of steak and kidney. "Ginsters I presume"

No, a whiff of crap would be Ginsters.

[Poly]

Jon, might be worth getting yourself on a PB2 course. I don't think righting is actually part of the syllabus (although it was included in mine as a discussion - including looking at how to restart the soggy engine) - but the "what happens when the shit hits the fan" topic should be - including which flares etc. and the general philosophy of staying with the boat (keeps you out the water so warmer, and a million times easier to see from a helichopter/lifeboat).

[Top banana]

Originally Posted by Mollers

No, a whiff of crap would be Ginsters.

No, a whiff of crap would be a Ribeye.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Top banana

No, a whiff of crap would be a Ribeye.

In all fairness to that particular brand of inflatable watercraft, I think it is being damned by association, it's not the Ribeye that's full of sh1t.

Possibly we should be more sympathetic though, deliberately attracting that much public ire on a forum is a bit like self harming/cutting - 90% attention seeking, 10% serious illness.

It certainly appears to be addictive!