Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

There has been extensive discussion about the advantages/disadvantages
of hull types in specific situations, especially with regard to the
following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxvP3DWi7_k

While I believe the other thread covers many points of view, I'd like to
know what others believe the boat owner could have done in a
hypothetical situation similar to one one shown.

Presume you boat is disabled for the following reasons:

1) The engine will not start because a rope is wrapped around the prop.
Assume also that there is enough water in the diesel fuel to require
your extended attention below decks before be able to attempt restarting
the engine. In other words, there is no "quick fix" to get you motoring
again.

2) You have been completely dismasted and the prevailing wind is pushing
you onto shore, through a breaking surf zone similar to the one shown in
the video

3) The depths in the surf zone range from about thirty feet (where you
are at present) to zero. The bottom is sandy/rocky.

4) Your batteries are dead, but you've already activated the GPS EPIRB.

5) You have passengers on board that can not fend for themselves.


What are your options?

Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

AMPowers wrote:
There has been extensive discussion about the advantages/disadvantages
of hull types in specific situations, especially with regard to the
following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxvP3DWi7_k

While I believe the other thread covers many points of view, I'd like to
know what others believe the boat owner could have done in a
hypothetical situation similar to one one shown.

Presume you boat is disabled for the following reasons:

1) The engine will not start because a rope is wrapped around the prop.
Assume also that there is enough water in the diesel fuel to require
your extended attention below decks before be able to attempt restarting
the engine. In other words, there is no "quick fix" to get you motoring
again.

2) You have been completely dismasted and the prevailing wind is pushing
you onto shore, through a breaking surf zone similar to the one shown in
the video

3) The depths in the surf zone range from about thirty feet (where you
are at present) to zero. The bottom is sandy/rocky.

4) Your batteries are dead, but you've already activated the GPS EPIRB.

5) You have passengers on board that can not fend for themselves.


What are your options?

Anchoring maybe, depending on the location of the surf break. If you
can get one anchor to hold, then swim out a 2nd anchor, using a fender
to support it. Gradually winch yourself into deeper water.

Flares, calling for help on the handheld VHF, using a powered dinghy
as a pushboat. You've got no time to sort out much more.

Evan Gatehouse

Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

"AMPowers" wrote
What are your options?

How about avoiding the situation in the first place? It just seems to me
that you probably don't suddenly find yourself rolling in the surf on an
otherwise uneventful day. There are generally a series of decisions that led
you to where you are right now.

Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

throw out a sea anchor to stop the boat turning side on to the waves, and
let her drift onto ground?

Anchoring is a great option if you have one. let out plenty of rode if
you're still in the surf.

Shaun

What are your options?

Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

AMPowers wrote:
5) You have passengers on board that can not fend for themselves.

What are your options?


If it was just himself no problem. "Stupid is as stupid does" (FG).

But there was a kid inside?!?!? I hope the guy does time for nearly
killing his child.
What to do? Get inside, close the door, let it wash up on the beach,
get out and walk to car.

At lease that way he would be assured of still being a Dad. Lets see,
door open, boat rolls, kid gets sucked out, or boat fills with water
and sinks with the kid inside. It didnt happen............ this time.

Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

One of the colorful traditions of the sea is the use of rhymes and ditties
to remember important concepts and help sailors keep safety information
handy in their minds. You know, the "Red sky at night.." sort of thing.

You raise a very important question because thinking about these situations
and how you would handle them will make you a better sailor and better able
to fulfil you sacred responsibility towards those who have put their faith
in your skill and judgement and entrusted you with their lives.

There is a particulary ditty that bears directly on the situation you
describe even though it isn't exactly nautical and needs some modification
in execution to apply on a sailboat:

"When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout."

The answer to the little problem you pose lies quite a bit in the past.
Anticipation and early response to developing situation is, indeed, a key
principle of safety.

--
Roger Long

Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

Roger ,, I wondered this myself when I watched the video. How long was this
guy in trouble? He didn't use very good judgement taking a 2 year old on a
boat without another adult. I think the video said "2 year old".

Was he at the mouth of the harbor and everything went to hell? This can
happen. I was on my way into York, ME once .. everything going super, and
just as I get to Stage Neck ( the worst possible spot ) , I hook a lobster
pot.

The "have a knife on you at all times" ditty came into play. Me? Knife at
the ready. I cut that lobster pot line faster than you can say "in the
rough". I pulled the line up with a mooring pickup pole, pulled out my
knife, and cut away. Once I got the main line cut my engine did the rest.
But, it could have gone south; easy. I was right at the mouth, at the
neck. If the tide wasn't right, etc, I could have been driven up on the
rocks.

Maybe the guy was entering the harbor. The video doesn't say.

I would not bring a 2 year old onboard without Mom. And even then, ???

I do see folks with young kids onboard all the time. I just hope they have
taken the time to do a safety drill.

One of my spring projects is too write up safety bulletins. I do this on my
computer, print on heavy paper and then enclose in plastic.

I post these for myself as well as crew ( even though I doubt I will have a
crew ).

Such as: I have one posted near the companionway. It is a list of things I
must do after shuting off engine, etc before leaving boat. Kinda anal but
it has helped me.

I also have a "book". I call it "the book". The book has everything in it.
Not a Ships' Log. A "book" .. I write in it maintenance items, things to
do, good ideas, contacts, anything and everything to do with the boat. This
"book" is priceless.

Another item: the plastic container. I bought a plastic container at Wally
Mart which can be closed real tight. I wrap a bungy around it for even more
security. I keep the old manuals for stuff such as radio, gps, antenna,
whatever in the container. Everything stays dry!

As for the guy with the 2 year old. He used poor judgement. But, we still
don't know exactly where he was. At the end of the video the narrator says
he floated into safer water. That makes me think he was close to a harbor
entrance.

Who knows.

Good lesson though. I would rather spend the night offshore .. safe. Than
spend the night on the rocks ... while still in the boat.






"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
One of the colorful traditions of the sea is the use of rhymes and ditties
to remember important concepts and help sailors keep safety information
handy in their minds. You know, the "Red sky at night.." sort of thing.

You raise a very important question because thinking about these
situations and how you would handle them will make you a better sailor and
better able to fulfil you sacred responsibility towards those who have put
their faith in your skill and judgement and entrusted you with their
lives.

There is a particulary ditty that bears directly on the situation you
describe even though it isn't exactly nautical and needs some modification
in execution to apply on a sailboat:

"When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout."

The answer to the little problem you pose lies quite a bit in the past.
Anticipation and early response to developing situation is, indeed, a key
principle of safety.

--
Roger Long

Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

"NE Sailboat" wrote in news:TUpqh.1131$tZ.11
@trndny05:

I cut that lobster pot line faster than you can say "in the
rough". I pulled the line up with a mooring pickup pole, pulled out my
knife, and cut away.

How many lobsters did you get?!

Larry
--
Extremely intelligent life exists that is so smart they never called Earth.

Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

NE Sailboat wrote:

One of my spring projects is too write up safety bulletins. I do
this on my computer, print on heavy paper and then enclose in plastic.

I post these for myself as well as crew.

I was going to write:

What crew? I doubt that the inflatable Paris Hilton will be able to make
any better use of these items than the real one.

But then I realized:

Hey, this is actually a mature and useful post, unlike so much of what has
preceeded it. I should really encourage this.

Cruising under sail is one of those things in which attitude and judgement
are more likely to get you through a situation that is beyond your skill
than skill is likely to make up for a deficiency in the former.

I'm glad to see some good attitude developing. Keep it up and maybe you'll
have a crew.

--
Roger Long

Question regarding boat in surf zone.
 

Larry,, you rascal. If I touched the trap I would have been shot or
arrested.

At least that is the way I understood it at the time. The lobster trap had
been dropped in the middle of the channel. Therefore, it was not in a legal
spot. But.. it is still against the law to disturb a lobster trap. And if
Mr Lobsterman sees you touching his trap you won't need the law because you
will have an ass full of whip ass .. if you know what I mean.

I only cut the line that was wrapped up to my prop.

Hey,, one thing though. In the summer when I cruise downeast, if I get
along side a lobster boat up one of the rivers, I will call over and see if
Mr Lobsterman will sell me a few of those little clawed morsels. On many
occasions I have purchased a few lobsters from the lobster boat. Yum..
talk about fresh lobster. And the price is usually pretty good.

I'm getting hungry for some right now.

==============================



"Larry" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in news:TUpqh.1131$tZ.11
@trndny05:

I cut that lobster pot line faster than you can say "in the
rough". I pulled the line up with a mooring pickup pole, pulled out my
knife, and cut away.

How many lobsters did you get?!

Larry
--
Extremely intelligent life exists that is so smart they never called
Earth.