Sea Gull
Well-Known Member
I don’t want to perpetuate the “Yacht Controller” thread because I don’t want this to be a big boat versus little boat discussion. I also don’t think this should be airplane versus boat or car versus boat. But, some interesting points were raised in that thread about equipment failures and I would like the group members to consider their own preparedness for equipment failure ON THEIR OWN BOAT.
Murphy’s Law proves time and again that equipment will fail or mishaps occur at the worst possible moment. We are talking about engine failure as you approach the dock, steering failure just as you make the turn down your fairway, crew overboard off the stern as you are backing into your slip – or worse, crew overboard in heavy seas or at night (with only two of you aboard). What about engine failure in 4’ seas? Flooding while well offshore? Even something as simple as line wrapped around your inboard prop or a clogged fuel filter? Remember, each of these will happen at the worst possible time.
Who among us has actually practiced a man overboard situation where the victim is unconscious? When was the last time you docked your twin screw boat on one engine? Could you actually squeeze between your hot engines to close a flooding seacock? What if your electronic navigation system failed? At night, in deep fog, in a narrow channel surrounded by shoals?
Some of you will say that the way you boat, these things will never happen. “I’ll just swim ashore” or “I’m never out of yelling distance from someone” are cop out answers. Think like a mariner, not a boater. Questions like these roll around in my mind all the time – how about you?
Murphy’s Law proves time and again that equipment will fail or mishaps occur at the worst possible moment. We are talking about engine failure as you approach the dock, steering failure just as you make the turn down your fairway, crew overboard off the stern as you are backing into your slip – or worse, crew overboard in heavy seas or at night (with only two of you aboard). What about engine failure in 4’ seas? Flooding while well offshore? Even something as simple as line wrapped around your inboard prop or a clogged fuel filter? Remember, each of these will happen at the worst possible time.
Who among us has actually practiced a man overboard situation where the victim is unconscious? When was the last time you docked your twin screw boat on one engine? Could you actually squeeze between your hot engines to close a flooding seacock? What if your electronic navigation system failed? At night, in deep fog, in a narrow channel surrounded by shoals?
Some of you will say that the way you boat, these things will never happen. “I’ll just swim ashore” or “I’m never out of yelling distance from someone” are cop out answers. Think like a mariner, not a boater. Questions like these roll around in my mind all the time – how about you?