Emergency procedure thread
#1
Admirals Club 

Thread Starter

In light of the recent events I'm wondering if a thread about how to prepare for and the proper procedure for emergency situations including the proper game plan to educate passengers on your boat with before potential threats happen. If some of the more experienced captains want to chime in with items that should be carried with no exception like ditch bags(Epirbs, handheld VHF etc) and more so boat handling procedures in flash seas. I know it will be easy to say everyone should know these things before going out but there are more people getting the offshore bug everyday and do not have the experience or education should the unthinkable happen. Just a thought.
#3
Admirals Club 

Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Martin County Florida formerly Palm Beach County
Posts: 11,987
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First step is do you have the proper safety gear? Type 1s!! So many of my friends don’t and I don’t get it.
#4
Member

Teach people on your vessel where and how to use safety equipment, sounds dumb right? Friends had been on my old boat maybe 100 times in local small lake what could go wrong? As we were never "far" from land. We got hit at dark by a drunk boater going maybe 45 mph happens so freaking fast!
after we were hit my friend was looking in the correct compartment; but who likes moldy vest so I put them in large plastic container , not a great idea!
We still boat together in the same lake, new boat and now we all know where and how to use safety gear and we think everyone goes too fast and to damn close too us now!
after we were hit my friend was looking in the correct compartment; but who likes moldy vest so I put them in large plastic container , not a great idea!
We still boat together in the same lake, new boat and now we all know where and how to use safety gear and we think everyone goes too fast and to damn close too us now!
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#5
Senior Member

Designate people in the boat (that are familiar) to carry out tasks in case of an emergency. Someone grab the ditch bag, another mans the radio, another traces incoming water. Everyone knows where and how to use a fire extinguisher. Someone should know where and how to install thru hole plugs to stop a leak. Main thing is for a Captain to remain calm and maintain the situation. If no epirb it is of the utmost importance to have a long/lat to get out on the radio so help can find you.
#7

An easy and cheap item that not many carry is a distress blanket. Bright orange plastic sheet with a black V in the middle and ties along the sides Tie it across your drifting boat or even upside down hull and double your visibility.
#8

Hello, in my experience so many people have all of the required equipment, because they must do so. The problem is they do not know how to use it! Make sure you know how to use it and at least one other person on board should know how. As silly as it sounds, a fun thing to do, is a dummy run, practice, what to do if....Man overboard, use me as the dummy, north of 200 pounds, wet and uncooperative. Can you reach seacocks, plug holes, know how to use the VHF and who to call, if you engine has a pull cord (small outboard), does it work? etc. etc. Hope for the best and plan for the worst.
#9
Admirals Club 


One theme I have seen over and over is people are not aware of where their seacocks are or through hulls or know how to plug them
another is a lack of a high water alarm
if I ever start taking on water my first thought is close all seacocks.
another is a lack of a high water alarm
if I ever start taking on water my first thought is close all seacocks.