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Random Quote: Someone actually reads this crap? -Brad Woolard
Hello everyone and welcome to our Life Raft & Survival Equipment, Inc (LRSE) forum. LRSE is a USCG Approved Liferaft service station located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, we service all ports in the Northeast from Maine to New Jersey. We offer sales service and advice on a full range of safety at sea equipmnent. Our website is http://www.lrse.com/
Products include most brands of life rafts like Switlik, Elliot, Crewsaver, Revere, DBC, Zodiac, Plastimo, Winslow to name a few, immersion suits, flare kits, PFDs EPIRBs, Inflatable Boats by ZOdiac and Avon.
Simply stated, at LRSE we are experts on safety and survival at sea. We welcome your questions and will work to provide solutions for you.
We offer a USCG Approved Drill Conductor course for F/v captains or crew and welcome inquires for training and seminars.
Contact us for a quote or with a question in any of the following ways:
1. E-mail me at jim@lrse.com
2. Post a trhead on our THT Forum
3. Visist our website at http://www.lrse.com/
4. Call toll free 800-451-2127
I look forward to hearing from anyone.
Thank you,
A few of questions? Is your boat documented or state registered? How many people on board when you are commercial fishing? How far offshore do you go? and where do you fish from? What type of permit/liscense do you have?
There are a whole lot of variables that determine your requirements. Get back to me with these answers and I will be able to give you the answer.
Jim, This is hypothetical, but use as a "go by" for req'd. equipment.
Boat - 24'
Fishing area - Southeast NC
Distance offshore - max. 60 miles
People on board - usually 3, sometimes 4
Permits - Fed. Tuna/HMS, Fed. Charter/Headboat
I know that some of the required equipment changes at 25 ft or larger.
Thanks
__________________
2005 McKee 23 TE/FS with 200 Zukes
50 Ton Masters with Towing Endorsement.
State registered is good. The reason is the liferaft required for a state registeres boat is an inflatable buoyant apparatus (IBA),not a SOLAS liferaft. Because the SOLAS raft is huge and would be alomost impossible to put on a 24' boat.
You will need to have a 4 person IBA life raft, can be packed in a valise or a canister. Type I Lifejackets for each person , one throwable device like a cushion or a 24" lifering, a 50plus miles flare kit, a category II EPIRB, one 5# ABC Fire extinguisher, a first aid kit.
I hope this helps, I would be happy to e-mail you a quote on any of this equipment or speak to you anytime. You can reach me or anyone at my company at 800-451-2127. Thanks.
Jim
Hi Jim, could you fill me in on what safety gear i would need for a federally documented 27' boat to meet thre requirements of a Federal Tuna-HMS commercial license? i am out of Falmouth MA. crew would never be larger than 4.
I am assumning that you will be goig out beyond 50 miles? There is a lot of required equipment for a documented vessel that has the commercial Tuna permit. First is the life raft, you will have to carry a four person SOLAS A Pack liferaft, immersion suits for each person on board, a 50 plus mile flare kit, a 24" ring buoy with 60' of line, a category I EPIRB, 1 B-I fire extinguisher.
Hi Jim,
I have a Contender 27, and as a recreational boater, I would like to know what kind 4 man raft would actually fit on my boat? Not sure of how things would be mounted, but I am always safety conscience first. We make runs as far as 80 miles out and I'm not a commercial fisherman. I think having a raft onboard would be a great thing. Thanks.
Yes, I know, it's a lot of stuff to carry, and finding a place for a SOLAS Life taft can be hard that and the four immersion suits would also take up a lot of room. It's too bad because the exact same boat that is state numbered rather than a documeted vessel is not required as much. Go figure. Thanks.
jim
Joe, a lot of people with this size boat carry a valise rather than a mounted canister. they can be stowed in a lot of different spaces and are lighter and easier to handle, can be taken on and off the boat with ease. Of course the convenience of stowing a canister on the deckspace if you have it is nice or on a tower or bridge. But I often recommend the valise for someone who either doesn't have or doesn't want to give up the deck space.
Thanks,
Jim
Jim et al, does anybody know how often this stuff gets checked by the coastie's? is it crazy to consider carrying a commercial permit to sell the extremely rare (to me) giant w/out the gov't regulated safety gear??
also, Jim, let's say i get a recreational HMS permit...and occasionally travel 40~60mi out...what realistic safety gear setup do you rec'd, considering only a precious supply of space and money is available? thanks.
I am hearing more and more sportfish boats are being checked each year. But I have yet to hear of anyone being fined for it. Ussually they will issue a warning and possible they will terminate the voyage and send you back to port. I have heard this happening once in a while. There are a lot of guys out there that have this permit to sell that are not up to snuff with all of this equipment. It's heavy and bulky and expensive, so a lot of people are taking the risk they won't get boarded.
With the recreational permit, not fishing in the winter, with a 406 Mhz EPIRB, I think you would be sufficiently covered with a coastal life raft either in a valise or a deck mounted canister. These are smaller lighter and less expensive to buy and to service. I have no problem recommending one of these as long as you have a good EPIRB. I'd be happy to give you more information and specifics. Tell me what you have on board currently.
I am also big advocate of Inflatable PFD's, I know that no one wants to wear them, it just doesn't make sense to me. There are more guys commercially that are lost overboard than from sinking. Inflatable mustang jackets make so much sense. They are comfortable to wear even for the whole day, not in the way at all, but when needed they are the best flotation available. 35 pounds of buoyancy keeps you floating high and head back. It's a no brainier to me, but it is hard to convince people.
Thanks,
Jim
LRSE Info and welcome 
