Think you'll never sink?

Gofirstclass

Gofirstclass

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
11,698
Tri Cities, WA
Boat Info
Boatless in WA
Engines
No motor
Over the years I've thought about what I would do if Beachcomber was sinking. Being a river boater, I just figured I'd run the boat to shore, beach it and step off onto the shore.

I found this article 120 Seconds and it has caused me to rethink some of the things I'd do if I discovered my boat was going down.

It's an interesting read and should make any boater think about how prepared he is (or not) and what he would do under similar circumstances.

I'd appreciate hearing your comments after you've read it and given some thought to what you would do.
 
An incredible story, wow. What I found interesting is the fact that USCG would not come until all of the blanks were filled out, so just say anything. My thoughts around what I would do if sinking are typically centered around standing on top of the boat as the south shore of Long Island averages 6-8 feet of water. That said I recently bought a handheld VHF and have started to put a ditch bag together with EPIRB for when I do make the occasional off shore run. I suppose I should get a life raft as well, but storing it becomes a hassle. If I had a "big" boat I would absolutely have a life raft.
 
What a story!

Being mostly in upper Chesapeake Bay, we are usually no more than 5 min away from waist-deep water and there are usually plenty of other boats in the area. But a true catastrophic event really changes everything and this article gave me some food for thought. I have a ditch bag but I'll look for an easier accessible location to store it and I will mount a knife somewhere near the swim platform to cut the dinghy straps in case of emergency.

Glad those guys made it through... truly an amazing story!
 
aquadancer said:
What a story!

Being mostly in upper Chesapeake Bay, we are usually no more than 5 min away from waist-deep water and there are usually plenty of other boats in the area. But a true catastrophic event really changes everything and this article gave me some food for thought. I have a ditch bag but I'll look for an easier accessible location to store it and I will mount a knife somewhere near the swim platform to cut the dinghy straps in case of emergency.

Glad those guys made it through... truly an amazing story!
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Lots to think about but the knife is a good one. I keep a knife at the helm, any one messing with it or moving it catches hell...they say what difference does it make? I tell them what ever the emergency that requires a knife, I want to be able to put my hand on it instantly. I ask, 'If you're tangled up in a line and drowning do you want me to waste time hunting for the knife or just grab it and help you', I usually get a 'OH, now I get it'.
 
I read this of some thing similar a few years ago. We have an orange pelican case with all you need to survive for a few days at the upper helm. It has VHF radio, GPS, flairs. space blankets, candles, fish line and lours, sea anchor it can be used as a tent or to help with the dinghy, flash light, batteries. Knife is a good idea will add one.
We once hit a steel unmarked pile and tore a hole in the boat below the waterline 6" by 2 feet. It was towards the front where the boat is double hull (Compartments inside are boxed in) missed all the running gear. Spent the night on boat next day went 20 knots to get the boat pulled out. Comment from the marina if this had been a different boat we would have sunk quickly.
 
MonacoMike said:
A

The pros suggest a non folding knife for strength and ease of use in an emergency, like described.

MM
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Well guess I'm not a professional diver. Just a pleasure boater who doesn't want to walk around wearing an 8.5" knife on my belt.
 
Another doomsday report, more like fear mongering.

Bottom line is, if you can't relax and enjoy yourself, think you might have a heart attack, need a scalpel to save yourself, or might run into foreign objects and drown, maybe boating isn't for you.
 
Thank you for posting this. Very sobering read, definitely prompted some thoughts on my end.

I guess I always felt a sense of security with the dinghy on the back. But mine is secured with stainless turnbuckles. Once you loosen the turnbuckles, you can pull the quick release snaps. But - that operation could not be done in 1-2 minutes - more like 4 or 5. What struck me was as the boat was sinking on the stern, once the swim platform is under water you are fighting against the buoyancy of the dinghy. Once that pressure is on, how easy is it to loosen the turnbuckle.

The next learning was the location. I think of ditch bags, etc for out in open water - not in the ICW.

My third learning was life vests. Yes, have them on the helm, downstairs, etc. They are all nicely tucked away out of sight, out of the way. I saw an interview with a person from the Coast Guard out of Miami sector who was responsible for search and rescue teams. His comment, #1, was accessibility of life vests.

We regularly cruise 25-30 miles off shore. Pick the point we are going to, set a heading and go.

We will have the life vests out when we are cruising, easily accessible. I imagine there are some other changes that I will make.

I look at this as fear mongering - or gloom and doom - just a heads up to have some plans in place.

thank you for posting,

Mark
 
The plan for us is to grab the epirb, cut the dinghy free and grab the ditch bag. We practice a calm response to everything. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Where we boat we are within 20-30 miles of land even when we cross to the Bahamas.
 
Even on a river I do think of this. Portions of the Potomac River are 7 miles wide. Even at full throttle it will take us several minutes to get to shore.

We we have a ditch bag, EPIRB and I'm planning to add a coastal four person life raft this off season. We also have off shore life jackets in addition to coastal life jackets.
 
It's a good lesson. And it once again proves that "I'm from the government and am here to help," is still the world's biggest lie.
 
I have put together a ditch bag but since we're just simple ol' river boaters I don't keep it on the boat. I assembled the stuff for when we eventually do take the boat out into the ocean and up to Canada.

I'll put a list below of the things in it, and a couple of things I'm going to add to it when we go are copies of our passports, copies of credit cards, driver's licenses, etc. Those will go into doubled up gallon size zip lock baggies.

The rest of these things are already in the bag and they're all in plastic jars (the kind spices come in) to make sure they stay in good shape. We have a 4-man life raft but it also won't be added to the boat until we head for the ocean. They're pretty bulky so it's not something that's easy to store or easy to take back and forth to the boat. Here's the list of the ditch bag contents:
EPIRB
Asst LED Flashlights and batteries
Toilet paper in a zip log baggie
First Aid Kit
“light meds” including Aleve, Pepto Bismol Tablets, Alka Seltzer, Tagamet, Sudafed, Ibuprofen
1 prescription bottle of 30 Hydrocodone (Oxycodone's little brother) in case someone gets a serious injury
4 pr sunglasses
Sun screen
50’ Parachute cord
50’ Polyproprene line
Extra reading glasses for me
Rubber palm gloves
6 Cyalume light sticks
Stainless folding knife w/serrated blade
Weatherman tool
6 Space Blankets
Waterproof matches
Safety mirror
Bug repellant
Floating VHF & Charger
Asst aerial flares and hand held smoke flares (these are all expired and off the mother ship.)
Microfiber towels
Energy bars

With all those items packed in the plastic bottles the whole kit floats even though the bag gets waterlogged.
 
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I had a bit of a scare 2 weeks ago and that really opened my eyes. I hit a 12x12 by 9 foot long rail road tie doing 25 mph. Immediately shut me down. Thankfully it didn't breach the hull. Put pulled my star shaft out about a half inch destroyed my rudders props shafts and struts. Thankfully no water coming on board. I was a mile offshore In the Atlantic Ocean. Dropped the hook opened all the bilge hatches and waited for boat us. Cg passed by a couple times and never asked if we were ok. Had the boat hauled 3 hours later and then noticed how lucky I really am. 1 thin layer of glass was left were the tie struck. The damage to the glass was only the size of a quarter but definetly would have taken in enough water to call in a mayday (I think) but anyway my jackets are always out in the open and in a spot were if the boat goes down they will float off whole in open waters. I always have a vhf and my knife attached to my waist when running open waters but in slowly realizing that's not nearly enough. Especially now that I have the 14 month old princess on board. This winter is all about ditch bags and epirb stocking. Thanks for the eye opening story. You may just have saved a life or two or ten in a future incident.
 
scoflaw said:
Another doomsday report, more like fear mongering. Bottom line is, if you can't relax and enjoy yourself, think you might have a heart attack, need a scalpel to save yourself, or might run into foreign objects and drown, maybe boating isn't for you.
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scofflaw, I don't think this is about fear mongering as much as it is to rethink how prepared we are in case something happens. You're on Cape Cod. Have you given any thought to what you're going to do in the event you strike a large objet in the ocean? Who are you going to call? What if your boat is sinking?

If I am prepared for the unlikely event such as this, IMHO it makes it easier to relax and enjoy my time on the water. Basing your safety planning on "it's never going to happen to me" is like sticking your head in the sand. While your head may be safe in the sand, your azz is really hanging out there. I'm responsible for my life, my wife's life and the lives of any passengers we have on board, plus the safety of those mentioned.

Like Scott said--I take it you were never a boy scout.

I'm not telling you what to do or how to go about your boating, but perhaps you should re-read that story and give some thought to being prepared. If not for your safety, for the safety of those around you.
 
couple of months ago, was 3-4 miles out of government cut Miami - still following the ship channel markers.

Water in front looked clear, then I saw something - just the end of it - bob up with a wave.

Slowed, turned a bit to port - turned out was some kind of timber. The size of a rail road timber. Was mainly submerged - 1-2 foot deep.

Hit that at 20Knots - ruin your day.

I caught it and missed it - did a securitie call about it.

Mark
 
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