Vhf hand held vs fixed.

[MustRib]

Originally Posted by GuyC

By the same token, I would imagine that firstly you want something on your person to try and raise help (PLB / HH VHF) and secondly something to help identify you should the worst happen. Can you get PLB's / EPIRB's that have hydrostatic operation i.e. when it floods it goes off, similar to a life jacket? I suppose the issue with that is accidental operation.

An EPIRB with hydrostatic release that stayed on the boat or one that operated off the kill cord (if it had a delay for when you accidentally operated it) would cover capsize and MOB.

I do have an EPIRB in the RIB, as well as my PLB webbed into my lifejacket.
As ShinyShoe has said, you can indeed get hydrostatic releases for EPIRBS
(although mine isn't fitted with one) but just to be clear - The EPIRB isn't something
I would want to attach to my person, its much bigger and clunkier compared to
a PLB which is something I do want to have firmly attached to my lifejacket.
As SS said - on a Rib - always the danger that your EPIRB will end up
floating under the capsized boat.

If you don't own a PLB, I strongly recommend you get one in your safety kit.
If your MOB or Capsized, you will be looking for what is to hand,
what is attached to you, and not be starting to hunt around for something
that was in or attached to the boat. Believe me, after 10 mins MOB in the water,
you will be pulling your hair out wondering if the Hydrostatic release functioned on the EPIRB,
if it has activated, where it is...PD summed it up in earlier post,
if your MOB in the sort of conditions which lead to an ejection, your not likely to get back to the boat.
To get back to the OP, my advice - best set up is fixed VHF AND a waterproof
Handheld VHF, and a PLB, and an additional means of raising alarm.
Make sure all the small stuff is very well secured to your lifejacket/person
in a way that can withstand an ejection into the water at speed.

[boristhebold]

I carry both, handheld DSC unit is attached securely to my life jacket, I also always carry a PLB which is small enouth to fit in my jacket pocket.

[HUMBER P4VWL]

As an aside, do PLBs float? I assume they do.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

As an aside, do PLBs float? I assume they do.

Some do some don't


Lions led by donkeys

[Poly]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

As an aside, do PLBs float? I assume they do.

As I understand it even those that do, won't float in the required orientation for best transmission (i.e. with the aerial pointing up).

[MustRib]

I think if you are activating any beacon then you will be hanging onto it. The winchman on the Seaking had to pry mine out of my fingers to switch it off!
They are all waterproof and most of them float but you want to have a lanyard on it and not let it float away.

[Pikey Dave]

The ACRs do float & have a clip to fasten to an inflated LJ to keep it in the correct position out of the water.


Lions led by donkeys

[idsebby]

Originally Posted by MustRib

I think if you are activating any beacon then you will be hanging onto it. The winchman on the Seaking had to pry mine out of my fingers to switch it off!
They are all waterproof and most of them float but you want to have a lanyard on it and not let it float away.

I wanna hear more about this?

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Originally Posted by idsebby

I wanna hear more about this?

Look at post 22

[paintman]

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Lifejacket will float you, but unless you are in your speedos unlikely to do so properly.

From RNLI: Lifejackets
"Lifejacket buoyancy is measured in Newtons (N). Ten Newtons equals 1kg of flotation. There are four European standards for lifejackets. All lifejackets must carry the CE mark. Newton ratings are relative to the weight of the intended user. Make sure the lifejacket you choose is the correct size for you and that it has the right Newton rating for your weight. A level 150 lifejacket designed for a child or young adult will not sufficiently float an adult. If you are buying for an adult you must get a level 150 lifejacket designed for an adult's weight."

[ShinyShoe]

Yip I'm aware of that. But you didn't link to the BS/ISO test method... ...so most people wear a 150 - 175N jacket... But most RIBbers in conditions where they may end up in the water will be in dry suit or heavy weather gear with boots on in swells of >1m ... A 150N jacket isn't tested to roll a person wearing that much gear in that kind of sea...

[sorabain]

Originally Posted by jonp

This is the basic safety kit recreational boaters need to have by law here, anyone who can't afford safety gear should stick to walking beaches

Safety equipment requirements - Safety equipment - Safety & rules (Boating Handbook) - Maritime - Roads and Maritime Services

"The V sheet is a fluorescent orange-red coloured sheet (1.8 x 1.2 metres minimum) with a large black V printed in the middle.

V sheets are required to be carried by all vessels operating on open (ocean) waters. They can be spread over the deck of a boat or flown as a flag to indicate that you are in trouble."

Is this an Australian thing? Hadn't heard of one before

[willk]

Originally Posted by sorabain

Is this an Australian thing? Hadn't heard of one before

The V-sheet may be - but the concept of a signalling flag is universal. I'm obliged to carry one. I've seen a vessel in difficulty close to shore trying to attract attention by the crew waving their arms. TBH, at first glance I thought they were waving to a shore party and almost drove past them. A fluoro flag would have had me on them in a heartbeat...

[sorabain]

Originally Posted by willk

The V-sheet may be - but the concept of a signalling flag is universal. I'm obliged to carry one. I've seen a vessel in difficulty close to shore trying to attract attention by the crew waving their arms. TBH, at first glance I thought they were waving to a shore party and almost drove past them. A fluoro flag would have had me on them in a heartbeat...

agree with someone waving a fluoro flag. I guess the "V" derives from the official Victor flag, which I wouldn't have recognised before checking just now, and maybe they're just really patriotic northern irelanders.

maybe a big fluoro flag with a sad smiley on it : (

[Daibheid]

Someone said all PLBs are manually activated, which is no longer true. There is a new auto life jacket with an integrated PLB which is being actively promoted by BIM the Irish government fishing body particularly at small fishermen. You do their survival course , cost about €150, and you get a free voucher for a life jacket worth about €700.

Details here http://chmarine.com/acatalog/mullion...150n-3mvi.html

Share with any commercial fisherman you know in Irish waters because way too many are fished out dead after going overboard hauling pots or nets solo.

As for their efficacy, a very safety conscious young fisherman I know went overboard about four months back. He was fishing with a crewman in a bit of a swell and about to drop a string of pots with an anchor attached. The anchor was sitting on the gunwale ready to be pushed in but slipped off with the swell as he stood by. The fluke went into his oilies and took him over the side. He'd done the BIM course just a month previously and was wearing the new Mullion integrated jacket. It inflated perfectly and then it took the two guys about ten to 15 minutes to get him back on board by which time they were both exhausted. Less than 15 minutes or thereabouts later the RNLI arrived alongside while the two lads were still recovering from the shock and exertion. The PLB triggers when the jacket inflates and had summoned the cavalry.

Amazing bit of kit and had my friend been fishing on his own he would most likely have died from hypothermia even though he's religious about life jackets. Full credit to BIM for both the jacket and the initiative, it will save lives.

For myself, as I'm mainly solo, I ensure someone knows where I'm going and when I'll check in at two/three hour intervals. I have a fixed VHF and always carry a floating hand held in my jacket. I carry a waterproof phone and while I have always carried personal flares on a lanyard, I've dispensed with those in favour of a PLB on a lanyard. I never had much faith in flares in remote spots anyway and there is a limit to how much stuff you can carry on your person. I place little value on anything in or attached to the RIB because on at least two occasions in my experience I've been extremely lucky not to get flipped and if that happens you won't be getting at anything in the boat.

If I had to choose one thing, it would be the PLB as I see plenty of areas where vhf is useless with high cliffs or no traffic in line of sight and phone coverage can be very sketchy inshore. With a six year battery, there is no maintenance and little to go wrong so maximum peace of mind. If you haven't got one, buy one , works out about €40-50 a year even if you throw it away rather than replacing the battery!

[HUMBER P4VWL]

Trouble is, jackets inflate accidentally and if everyone had them the call outs would soar. I've had three jackets inflate in say 5yrs accidentally.

Perhaps they should only be used by commercial fishermen or something?

[willk]

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Trouble is, jackets inflate accidentally and if everyone had them the call outs would soar. I've had three jackets inflate in say 5yrs accidentally.

Perhaps they should only be used by commercial fishermen or something?

I fully concur that you shouldn't wear one!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Daibheid

Someone said all PLBs are manually activated, which is no longer true. There is a new auto life jacket with an integrated PLB which is being actively promoted by BIM the Irish government fishing body particularly at small fishermen.

What makes you think that is automatically activated at a PLB? It reads to me as an auto lifejacket with a pretty standard PLB neatly carried in it.

[MustRib]

Originally Posted by Daibheid

Someone said all PLBs are manually activated, which is no longer true. There is a new auto life jacket with an integrated PLB which is being actively promoted by BIM the Irish government fishing body particularly at small fishermen. You do their survival course , cost about €150, and you get a free voucher for a life jacket worth about €700.

Details here Mullion Safelink Solo Compact PFD 150N 3MVI Lifejacket

Share with any commercial fisherman you know in Irish waters because way too many are fished out dead after going overboard hauling pots or nets solo.

As for their efficacy, a very safety conscious young fisherman I know went overboard about four months back. He was fishing with a crewman in a bit of a swell and about to drop a string of pots with an anchor attached. The anchor was sitting on the gunwale ready to be pushed in but slipped off with the swell as he stood by. The fluke went into his oilies and took him over the side. He'd done the BIM course just a month previously and was wearing the new Mullion integrated jacket. It inflated perfectly and then it took the two guys about ten to 15 minutes to get him back on board by which time they were both exhausted. Less than 15 minutes or thereabouts later the RNLI arrived alongside while the two lads were still recovering from the shock and exertion. The PLB triggers when the jacket inflates and had summoned the cavalry.

Amazing bit of kit and had my friend been fishing on his own he would most likely have died from hypothermia even though he's religious about life jackets. Full credit to BIM for both the jacket and the initiative, it will save lives.

For myself, as I'm mainly solo, I ensure someone knows where I'm going and when I'll check in at two/three hour intervals. I have a fixed VHF and always carry a floating hand held in my jacket. I carry a waterproof phone and while I have always carried personal flares on a lanyard, I've dispensed with those in favour of a PLB on a lanyard. I never had much faith in flares in remote spots anyway and there is a limit to how much stuff you can carry on your person. I place little value on anything in or attached to the RIB because on at least two occasions in my experience I've been extremely lucky not to get flipped and if that happens you won't be getting at anything in the boat.

If I had to choose one thing, it would be the PLB as I see plenty of areas where vhf is useless with high cliffs or no traffic in line of sight and phone coverage can be very sketchy inshore. With a six year battery, there is no maintenance and little to go wrong so maximum peace of mind. If you haven't got one, buy one , works out about €40-50 a year even if you throw it away rather than replacing the battery!

Lots of sound advice here and I really approve of the initiatives being taken
by the Irish fishing industry. It seems that fishermen
around the British Isles have always been reluctant to wear lifejackets,
for various reasons am sure - and am guessing, comfort at work, tradition, snagging ... etc.
Many reading this forum will need no convincing about the merits of a PLB,
but maybe one or two new to here will think about what's being said and buy one.

[Daibheid]

@poly
What makes you think that is automatically activated at a PLB? It reads to me as an auto lifejacket with a pretty standard PLB neatly carried in it.

You may be right, I went by the account of the guy who used it for real but it's entirely possible all the flailing around in the water or his crew trying to hoist him back up into the fishing boat triggered it too. I've the same McMurdo and it doesn't look too difficult to knock the trigger off so I always keep it in the yellow pouch to reduce the risk of that happening when it's tucked inside my PFD.
Btw I prefer a PFD because there's nothing to go wrong and nothing to think about when you go in the water plus if you go in the water or pop it accidentally snagging on something you don't need a rearming kit or risking being without a PFD on a long trip home. It's a trade off against the safety offered by a life jacket in an unconscious situation I know but that's my choice when Ribbing. I use a gas inflate LJ on a sail boat because it's more compact and has an integrated harness.