Sea Safety, for the more numpty boater

Channel Ribs · 06 May 2008, 14:32

We are looking at a campaign based on a Safety Triangle (like the fire triangle only wetter), the idea being that lots of people got towed in or rescued over the bank holiday because they jumped in their boat and sped off without so much as a quick glance at the essentials.

Does this hit the mark?

Doug Stormforce · 06 May 2008, 14:50

Nice catchy idea but

The theory behind the fire trainagle is that as a fire fighter if you remove one of the three sides of the triangle the fire goes out.

Your survival triangle is not comparable.

Also not sure about the name. Is Survival the best word for what you are trying to describe?

EdGriffiths · 06 May 2008, 15:10

grat idea, but I`d replace the radio with "a means of contacting help", be that flares, a radio or a mobile phone. Before you all jump down my throat, I`m a crew on an alb and ilb in wales, not everyone has the training/skill to use a vhf, a phone is a lot better than nothing at all. this is fo the numpties remember!

PeteSmith · 06 May 2008, 15:26

If you include flares and they use them wrongly you could have the Fire Triangle

Channel Ribs · 06 May 2008, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

Your survival triangle is not comparable.

I thought that the idea here was to say that if you do not have all three then do not go out. Kind of like a fire, only opposite I guess.

Thanks for all the feedback so far.

Poly · 06 May 2008, 16:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

the idea being that lots of people got towed in or rescued over the bank holiday because they jumped in their boat and sped off without so much as a quick glance at the essentials.

whilst your 3 things might stop a problem turning into a disaster they don't stop you needing help in the first place.

would it be better to simply say "get trained. get equipped"

Channel Ribs · 06 May 2008, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

whilst your 3 things might stop a problem turning into a disaster they don't stop you needing help in the first place.

would it be better to simply say "get trained. get equipped"

People have been trying to press that one home for generations, there will always be a core of people who want to put off getting the right gear and enough experience and who want to jump aboard and open the throttle.

The three items are all things that (in my humble experience) you get a proper bollocking for if you end up being "rescued" because you did not have all three. They are also tangible items that people can relate to.

You might say - don't set to sea if you don't have all three. But that would be cheesey.

codprawn · 06 May 2008, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdGriffiths

grat idea, but I`d replace the radio with "a means of contacting help", be that flares, a radio or a mobile phone. Before you all jump down my throat, I`m a crew on an alb and ilb in wales, not everyone has the training/skill to use a vhf, a phone is a lot better than nothing at all. this is fo the numpties remember!

Couldn't agree more - I have lost count of the number of times I have been attacked for suggesting a mobile phone(in a plastic bag of course) but it is a LOT better than nothing!!!

Channel Ribs · 06 May 2008, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Couldn't agree more - I have lost count of the number of times I have been attacked for suggesting a mobile phone(in a plastic bag of course) but it is a LOT better than nothing!!!

A good vhf is one of the things I will not leave harbour without, am I alone in that?

PeterR · 06 May 2008, 21:18

I think you have a good idea.Last season on a weekend i towed 4 boats in on Mersea island It sploilt my days.I now pretend not to see them(unless or course they are in any danger)

Locozodiac · 06 May 2008, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Couldn't agree more - I have lost count of the number of times I have been attacked for suggesting a mobile phone(in a plastic bag of course) but it is a LOT better than nothing!!!

You could add a high frequency marine whistle, police whistle, small waterproff lantern and small bottles of scotch (to keep you warm) Usually go out with a completely charged VHF marine radio, plainly in agreement with Malthouse, marine whistle, rope & anchor , life jackets and some beers...just in case "thumbs up"

Happy Boating

codprawn · 06 May 2008, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

A good vhf is one of the things I will not leave harbour without, am I alone in that?

May I ask where you keep it?

The reason being there have been quite a few tragic accidents where flares and vhf etc were carried but were in the wheelhouse/locker when the boat capsized - the ONE thing you can guarantee most people have in their pocket at all times is a mobile phone - it's no use when wet but a 5p freezer bag will keep the phone in working order.

obviously a VHF is better - or a Sat phone or loads of flares etc etc but not many people can carry that lot in their pockets..............

willk · 07 May 2008, 00:28

hmmm... I think I can see where this thread is going, but WTH!

In the five pockets of my floatation suit there are/will be

1. A free whistle - thanks Fladen
2. A boat knife
3. A small LED dive torch (on lanyard)
4. A waterproof VHF (on lanyard)
5. A PLB - GPS enabled - (on the shopping list)

If there were six pockets? Any suggestions?

willk · 07 May 2008, 00:30

Gollum would like this game - What has he in his pocketes?

codprawn · 07 May 2008, 04:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Gollum would like this game - What has he in his pocketes?

Has the knife got an attachement for getting stones out of horses hooves???

Limey Linda · 07 May 2008, 05:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

hmmm... I think I can see where this thread is going, but WTH!

In the five pockets of my floatation suit there are/will be

1. A free whistle - thanks Fladen
2. A boat knife
3. A small LED dive torch (on lanyard)
4. A waterproof VHF (on lanyard)
5. A PLB - GPS enabled - (on the shopping list)

If there were six pockets? Any suggestions?

Maybe: Condoms?

As previously said " just in case" you get lucky.

Poly · 07 May 2008, 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

People have been trying to press that one home for generations, there will always be a core of people who want to put off getting the right gear and enough experience and who want to jump aboard and open the throttle.

The three items are all things that (in my humble experience) you get a proper bollocking for if you end up being "rescued" because you did not have all three. They are also tangible items that people can relate to.

You might say - don't set to sea if you don't have all three. But that would be cheesey.

Yeah - but those people don't give a shit so telling them to take three bits of kit with them is a bit pointless... they don't read advice and certainly don't follow it.

m chappelow · 07 May 2008, 19:16

our local club found out that a lot of people that lacked safety equipment were the first time boaters , those that had bought a boat from the friday free ads or e bay then on the saturday or sunday decide to have a launch with the idea of only having a runabout near the bottom of the slipway all the family and friends going along to watch or have a run out for a few minuites.only to find out that a few minuites run with an old 50 hp engine puts them a mile out to sea and the realisation that the little rusty fuel tank is now empty ,things got that bad that we now only open the slipway to club members and have banned the day launchers. also the otherside is where they spend 5 grand on a boat then go to a hard wear shop and buy a washing line to moor it up with.

simmons0 · 07 May 2008, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

hmmm... I think I can see where this thread is going, but WTH!

In the five pockets of my floatation suit there are/will be

1. A free whistle - thanks Fladen
2. A boat knife
3. A small LED dive torch (on lanyard)
4. A waterproof VHF (on lanyard)
5. A PLB - GPS enabled - (on the shopping list)

If there were six pockets? Any suggestions?

Pack o mini flares

H

m chappelow · 09 May 2008, 22:48

Think the earlier coment about having a radio or flares depends where you are and where they are going , though flares would be my first choice ,with flares people can see them even if they are only land lubbers on holiday or coastal walking, with a handheld vhf unless its a decent one and they know which channel to use they probely wont be heard ,regards mobile phones they are better than nothing if you can get a signal ,statistics show that owing to the numbers of people that get rescued by using them ,i personally are belt and braces loads of indate flares 2 vhf radios plus the crews personal mobile phones.