Your point is well taken, especially for anyone copy cating my actions.
As for my safety, depending on the winds, I routinely go out in 3-5 on
Lake Erie. Hell you rarely have a choice! And if I'm away from home
port will routinely brave 4-6's to get back.
Eries 6-8's I would take now if I had to, but I'm not a bold as I use to
be. I did it then. I had experience with the water, and was prepared for
it. I was none the worse for wear for doing it, and did not feel that
endangered while doing it. Would I do it now in a 16 foot boat now?
Hmmmm..... *leaning* towards no on that one.
My upbringing taught me to respect and prepare for the rough water but not
necessarily fear it. In the instance you cited, you right my boat could
have just as easily sunk. But that contingency was and IS to this day
planned for. Watertight boxes with portable GPS, Flares, Portable VHF,
and visual marker are at my feet in any adverse weather. Life jackets on
not withing arms reach, but on. If its practical, an EPIRB is next on my
list.
I was not a stranger to boat handling even in rough weather. At ten
years I stood outside the cabin, on deck in 10-12 foot Huron swells, with
instructions that if the Jerseys gunn'ls touch the water to jump off. I
was not scared I had instructions and they would have been followed. I
knew my life depended upon it. I've gotten stuck in 6 foot seas while I
was traveling from Lorain to Huron (about 20 miles), in a 16 foot
Catboat. I was scared.
I was taught, and later relearned, that fear, in moderation, is good thing
to keep you out of harms way, but bad if you're already in it.
For as much boating as I try to do, the length of trips I like to take, I
think while it was not the most prudent, it was good for me. I can not
speak for our east and west coastal waters, but on the north coast there
is no such thing as only going out in good weather when your traveling any
distance or overnighting.
Please don't get the impression that I go off haphazzardly going
yeeehaaa. I prepare and try to minimize or mitigate every rick I
encounter in waters that are well know to me. I've been brought up that
way.
Still, thanks again for putting my story in a fresh and better
perspective. I do hope others will take your comments to heart as well!
In article ,
(Gould 0738) wrote:
Boat brand aside,
Your choice to put out in the conditions you describe "so you didn't miss your
girlfriend's BBQ" is nothing short of astonishing.
This is an interesting tale only because you survived to tell it. Had you not,
your loss could hardly be blamed on the boat builder.
You describe taking a 16-foot boat into 8- foot seas on the verge of breaking.
That's not a cruise, it's a stunt. And not a very bright one.
"I watched helplessly as an eight foot wall of water was approaching our
stern.
If this wave breaks the boat will probably sink."
If you get pooped by a breaking 8-footer in a 16-foot runabout built by
anybody, death is more likely than survival.
The specific problem with telling tales of this nature is that some poor
schmuck with a 16-foot Bayliner is going to voluntarily venture out in 8-foot
seas and think it's a fine, safe, smart thing to do because he read pn the
internet someplace that "guys do it all the time". :-(