What would a lifejacket have done?

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
According to the paper this morning, the crew discovered at sea that all
the lifejackets were gone. They were presumably pilfered. Prefloats are
not part of the boating culture the way preflights are in aviation. This
is a good example of why they should be.

The lack of communication from the son was also reported to be because of
low batteries. Sea and wind conditions were pretty gnarly and we all know
how much more likely engine problems are in rough conditions.
A charging problem might easily go undetected on a shorthanded boat in
this weather.

An emergency battery that can be easily switched into the radio circuit is
something I'm going to install. It may be a dry cell set that won't self
discharge and can be completely isolated from the rest of the system.
With our little diesel, it might even start the engine in a pinch.

This accident is starting to sound a lot like many aviation accidents,
experienced pilot, challenging weather, high work load. A couple of not
immediately critical items (lifejackets, charging problem?) get over
looked and things snowball.

--

Roger Long

"barry lawson" wrote in message
...
What would a lifejacket have done?

Good point. In this case, nothing. The poor kid couldn't even use
the radios to call for help so it's pretty unlikely that he could have
maneuvered a 41 foot sailboat in 30 plus mph winds back to pick up
anyone.

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Roger Long

"barry lawson" wrote in message
...
What would a lifejacket have done?
If he had a life jacket with a harness and the harness was clipped to the
life lines, he would not have been lost over the side. Most people that I
know use the safety harness and life jackets when they are off shore. I
always wear the Mustang SOS inflatable life jacket when I am on the Great
Lakes.
Jim

Er, ummm... it's not a good idea to clip yourself to lifelines. You should
use jacklines. They're designed for that. Lifelines aren't.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Jim Carter" wrote in message
.. .

"barry lawson" wrote in message
...
What would a lifejacket have done?
If he had a life jacket with a harness and the harness was clipped to the
life lines, he would not have been lost over the side. Most people that
I
know use the safety harness and life jackets when they are off shore. I
always wear the Mustang SOS inflatable life jacket when I am on the Great
Lakes.
Jim

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Er, ummm... it's not a good idea to clip yourself to lifelines. You should
use jacklines. They're designed for that. Lifelines aren't.
Sorry Capt. JG, It's my bad terminology. I did mean to say Jackline not
Lifeline.

Jim

"Jim Carter" wrote in message
.. .

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
Er, ummm... it's not a good idea to clip yourself to lifelines. You
should
use jacklines. They're designed for that. Lifelines aren't.
Sorry Capt. JG, It's my bad terminology. I did mean to say Jackline not
Lifeline.

Jim

I figured as much... :-)

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com