Mechanical failure and boat catches fire or sinks....
 

A friend of mine was out boating early last year and was out on the way to Catalina Island. The island is 32-35 miles offshore. About half way out an engine failed and blew apart sending parts flying and smoke coming out from areas that you wouldn't think about. They were running by themselves with 5 folks on-board including 2 kids. The situation kind of caught them off guard.....and probably weren't the best prepared if they had to ditch. The SoCal water temps are usually around 57-59 degrees this time of year.

As the boating season starts to heat up, I remembered this and am making sure that I try to prepare for the worst! I really want to be prepared since we'll probably have quite a few trips to Catalina this year with kids on board.

I installed an EPIRB on our bigger boat last year, and this year I'll have an extra waterproof handheld VHF radio with GPS. Last year we also installed a new VHF fixed mount VHF with DSC and connected it to our GPS so it can broadcast a distress call with a push of a button with GPS coordinates.

Also, since we'll probably have quite a few trips to Catalina ourselves this year, I went with the ultimate.....a friggin life raft! It was one of those late night purchases online, but still glad that I got it. I sure wouldn't want anything to happen to my friends or family on a that $hit happens during a day of having fun. Check it out....I got it yesterday and it's in a duffle bag. Pull a string and instant life boat!! I put the beer there to help folks gauge the small size of this package for a 6-man raft.

Next is to put together a "ditch" bag that can be grabbed if needed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=3oz2CQuyUDw

Check out how it pops up!

I would think the beer would be better served in the ditch bag. If I'm going swimming, I'm probably gonna need it.

That or a bottle of Grey Goose for medicinal purposes (cleaning wounds or cuts) in the ditch bag! LOL :drink: :drink: :drink:

Ok great idea. So where on line did you find this nifty item? Oh and how much did it set you back?

Good investment, I had a close call last spring, 48' Sunseeker, Dusk, nobody around, boat started slowing down, opened hatch and water was shooting up 3ft in the air and taking on water fast, wife and young daughter on board, 6 miles from shore, starboard engine died, boat heavy with water and would not get on plane with the center and port engine, made it back safely.... it would of been much worse if it had been half way to Catalina in the Pacific.

I actually ordered a different one from another company that was smaller HERE, but I was told it was discontinued and later found it was inferior for the price difference. So after that I looked for an alternative and found what I wanted HERE at WestMarine for $1999 plus shipping.

Exactly!!!!!!!!! Glad you get what I'm talking about!

Excellent planning, people forget the effect water temps have on survival times.

Expected Survival Time in Cold Water

Water Temperature Exhaustion or Unconsciousness in


70–80° F (21–27° C) 3–12 hours


60–70° F (16–21° C)2–7 hours


50–60° F (10–16° C) 1–2 hours


40–50° F (4–10° C) 30–60 minutes


32.5–40° F (0–4° C) 15–30 minutes

<32° F (<0° C) Under 15 minutes

I worked in the North Sea when I was younger, less than ten minutes without a survival suit. maybe 30 minutes with one.

Of course the chances of surviving a Chinook wreck offshore were a lot less>

Maybe you should be on a special edition of "Doomsday Preppers". :D In all seriousness though, it is a great idea to be prepared .It will make your trip to Catalina so much more enjoyable taking that element of worry away.

Good info, thanks for sharing Nort and Mark.

I went down years ago on a PWC while out in March on a beautiful day; on an inland lake in VA. The air was 70* degrees or so, but the water was 59*. The bottom of my PWC came apart and I can remember the cold water sucking the air right out of me. I was wearing only the top half of my 2 piece wetsuit. I was extremely fortunate that a bass boat cruised by within 15 minutes; with a couple out for an afternoon cruise. They saved my life. Looking back, I wish that ski had headed to to the bottom of the lake. I had nothing but trouble with it afterward.

We'll have some type of contingency plan like this for our Bahamas trip.

If I was going out in the pacific/atlantic on a regular basis I think a life raft is smart. I am considering one for my boat on the great lakes.

Here is a website that discounts them.
http://www.wmjmarine.com/marine-safe...-liferaft.html

Wannabe

In most "boat went down stories" they all seem to be: 1. shocked a boat of xyz size went down and 2. surprised how fast it happened mostly in a matter of a few short minutes.

Now in a fast boat (narrow beam, chance of impact damage higher) I would suspect steps 1 and 2 happen faster than if in a larger cruiser/sportfish.

Some NFL players got in trouble off the west coast of Florida a few years back in a Everglades CC (unsinkable) but the boat did capsize and the bulky players had hypothermia related dementia and simply let go.... The guy that lived survived by staying on the hull (out of the water). I believe they got an anchor stuck 30+ miles offshore and rather than discard the anchor as a lost cause they tied it to the rear cleat and tried to power it out. Anchor did not dislodge but when the throttle was pulled back rapidly the rope acted as a rubber band and pulled the transom under water causing the capsizing. Sad 3 guys lost their lives over an anchor (maybe $50 or $100).

That Revere is the one I first ordered....but the place I ordered from didn't have it (and said it was discontinued). Anyway, the REVERE show here only has ONE air compartment. The Viking has two. Yes it is cheaper and smaller than the Viking I picked above.....but there is a reason for that. :D I think the Viking duffle bag I got is about 50 pounds....the Revere is about 20.

I like your style Nort. Smart move especially if you have kids with you.

Done that Catalina trip a number of times myself when I lived out West, it can get a bit rough out there sometimes too.

Dang it Nort! Now I got another thing to worry about. :cartman:

I've made solo trips to Catalina and never worried about sinking, or even breaking down for that matter. It might have something to do with having a slow stock powered boat that is super reliable.

Are you using that on the Formula too? Will you stow it in the cabin? Although it is not huge, it looks like it will still take up a fair amount of room, especially in a smaller cabin boat.

Also, if in the cabin I wonder if you would have enough time to grab it and get it out of the boat?

I thought about getting a small rubber dingy and lashing it to the swim step. That way when you get to the island you have one you can get to shore with and I guess it could double as a life raft. May have to give that more thought when I get my next boat.

liftraft and an epirb, vhf radio capable of transmitting gps data.

the last is a cheap option that will get the coast guard right on your location quick.

I bought one few years ago for the cig and it fits under the back seat.
i wouldn't stow it in the cabin on the cig since if you were to have an electrical problem you might not be able to open the cabin door, plus the fact if you are in a position to need the raft you probably don't want to have anyone going down into the cabin

i hope i never need the raft but sure am glad that i have one