Safety on the MacGregor 26

[Clemo]

We have laminated check lists in big print. Two sets, one tethered by the radio, the other free to roam.

The most important ones are "Radio Emergency Call", "Radio Log On" and "Radio Log Off".

These briefly detail the radio status, protocol and the conversation needed for each call.

As a personal preference, I usually get one of my guests to make the Log On call under supervision.

Thinking here is that, an emergency, like me out of action, is not the first time one of my guests has used the radio and the check list card with the wording etc.

Re PFDs, I wear an inflatable all the time. Everyone else has to wear a displacement type when leaving port and crossing the bar, thats the law.

Once at sea its up to the passenger, unless they are children who wear their's all the time.

And anyone having a swim must take their displacement type PFD into the water with them. There are few places to have a rest in deep water.

Re overloading and ballast - sadly its all been said many times before.

But I like the idea of a fuel tank sender in the ballast tank with an alarm on the Navman. Overkill, but a good idea. Salt water is a toxic environment though.

Tks
C ya.

[Newell]

No Mike you didn't misunderstand me. I have a different perspective on life than you do perhaps. I just don't jump on the tragedy bandwagon over this incident. We all love to sail and we want it to be safe, we want it guaranteed safe if possible. There are no guarantees however. Accidents caused by lack of knowledge, poor choices, risk-taking where a innocent bystander is harmed do make us all wonder about many of the details and perhaps the meaning of life but the only good that can come out of all that hand-wringing and sympathetic BS is for ourselves it does nothing for the dead.

Too many people on a boat, any boat is dangerous. Too many people on this earth (boat) is dangerous. Who's is charge?

[NiceAft]

ixneigh said:

The guy had taken ten people on it many times before.

That just means that many times before, he was just plain lucky. He was playing Russian Roulet, and he, and another, lost their lives.

Ray

[grady]

I think this is tragic but I agree with Newell and Darwin!

[dlandersson]

Are images posted anywhere?

We have laminated check lists in big print. Two sets, one tethered by the radio, the other free to roam.

The most important ones are "Radio Emergency Call", "Radio Log On" and "Radio Log Off".

These briefly detail the radio status, protocol and the conversation needed for each call.

[Trouts Dream]

Bottom line......
Wear your PFD or possibly pay the price
Wear your seatbelt or possibly pay the price
When playing hockey, wear your helmet or possibly pay the price

Cars crash, boats spill people, players fall...life happens...

The perspective of trying to fault the boats design when the proven cause of death was failure to wear PDFs. I am basing this on the consistantly reported fact that the two that drowned were not wearing PDFs.

We have been adding to our inflatables and now have 4 aboard becasue its easy to wear something comfortable, even in calm waters, so less issue with encouraging guests to wear them.

[jschrade]

It's hilarious to read some of this stuff. The problem is that the captain did not understand how to operate his vessel in a safe manner. There were too many people on it, that is pretty darn obvious and the ballast was not configured properly for the load onboard. The liability is the captains and the courts will prove this out.

Lifejackets can be very valuable but are no guarantees, there are plenty of drowned sailors that were wearing their lifejackets and got caught in the rigging. Most lifejackets will put you face down if you are unconscious, so be aware of that and choose the jacket that fits your level of paranoia.

The point is to make good competent decisions in the first place. It's a terrible shame that this was a completely avoidable accident.

Jim

[NiceAft]

Too simplistic Jim. Things are rarely as black and white as you imply, and I don't remember seeing any reports of whether the boat's ballast was full, partialy full, or empty. If you have seen this, please post. I must have missed it.

My nephew used to have a bib which said "Spit Happens!" I have found that it pays to take certain precautions. Others don't. In my case, making sure everyone onboard Nice Aft wears one of the inflatable vests on board. I bought six, so that's the limit of people onboard. Others don't adhere to that policy. If someone does not know that limit for a Mac, then they are not ingnoring any rule when they put that many people onboard. It's just as dangerous to do it, but they did not intend to ingore that safety policy. They just did not know. If any reports say that the captain intentionaly ignored the passenger limit, I did not see it. Please post. He and the other fellow are still dead, but as I have said before, how to operarte a sailboat is not common knowledge, so there's no lack of common sense if one loads ten people on the boat.

I do not allow booze of any sort on board. Not before, during, or after a sail. Others do not adhere to that policy. In spite of my precautions, can something happen that I am not prepared for, sure, "Spit Happens!" I believe in my way, others don't.

Peace to us all
Ray

[Clemo]

dlandersson, they are not flash, only word docs.

I'm not clever enough to post fonts etc but here is the text,

Radio Log On Call

The radio shows 16 or 73. It is monitoring both channels.
Check it, squeeze the mike – it goes to 16 – the call channel.
Now make the following call……..

“Batemans Bay V.M.R., I repeat, Batemans Bay V.M.R.,
This is Mobile 699, repeat Mobile 699, Over.”
Mobile 699, this is Batemans Bay V M R,
Go to 73 please.

“Mobile 699, going to 73, Over.”
Now press the up button till it shows 73 and continue….
“Batemans Bay this is mobile 699 on 73, Over.”

Go ahead 699.

“Batemans Bay, we have just put in at Hanging Rock ramp.
We have X AOB. (That’s the number of Adults On Board.)
We will be sailing within the Bay.
We expect to return by XXOO hours.
All details as per Radio Club Registration, Over.”

Roger that 699.

“Thanks Batemans Bay, returning to 16, Over.”

Now press DW button on radio to return to Dual Watch mode.
Job Done.


Radio Log Off Call

The radio shows 16 or 73. It is monitoring both channels.
Check it, squeeze the mike – it goes to 16 – the call channel.
Now make the following call……..

“Batemans Bay V.M.R., I repeat, Batemans Bay V.M.R.,
This is Mobile 699, repeat Mobile 699, Over.”

Mobile 699, this is Batemans Bay V M R,
Go to 73 please.

“Mobile 699, going to 73, Over.”
Now press the up button till it shows 73 and continue….
“Batemans Bay this is mobile 699 on 73, Over.”

Go ahead 699.

“Batemans Bay, we have returned to Hanging Rock,
Please log us off, and
Thank you for your interest in our safety, Over. ”

Roger that 699.

“Thanks Batemans Bay, Over and out.”

Now turn the radio off.
Job Done.



Emergency Radio Calls

If we are sinking and LIFE IS IN PERIL!!!!

THROW THE E.P.I.R.B. OVERBOARD.

Grab the mike, squeeze and say….
“May day, May day, May day.
This is mobile 699, I repeat 699, Over.” Let go and listen.

There will be traffic, listen and wait till V.M.R. takes control of the situation. Only squeeze the mike when you are talking.
The V.M.R. will ask where you are and what has happened.

Answer the questions, and do as you are told.
The flares are in the bottom drawer under the sink.

If we have a problem which is not life threatening.

Grab the mike, squeeze and say….
“Pan, Pan, Pan.
This is mobile 699, I repeat 699, Over.” Let go and listen.

They will ask where you are and what has happened.
Answer the questions, and do as you are told.

Tks
C ya.
My call sign is 699 and the Voluntary Marine Rescue have my drtails etc.

[Divecoz]

Clemo: I.....Wouldn't " throw my epirb over board.... " That's assuming of coarse that conditions "weather" is bad, and its the cause of my duress...

Proper use of the Radio is imperative... No doubt. They'll get the idea in time even blathering, but proper use could save seconds, minutes maybe.........hours !
I am an advocate of safety though I am far from anal about it.. I assume most of us here are.... There are always a few who will contrive a scenario of doom and disaster for any situation.. But its true SLIP.....happens and its seldom to ever expected....
Seat Belts versus PFDs.. #1. Seat Belts are mandated by law..to be worn not just have "on Board"..I started wearing mine all the time in 1976.. I remember it so well because I had bought a CJ5 with the Optional 304 V 8 . It wasn't long and I became ( even at that young age) aware of the additional possible failings / weak areas of that Vehical.
If I feel I will be held responsible for your resulting safety..? You may have to wear a PFD .. even though I ...may not have one on..My boat not yours, you dont like it get off! I dont feel the need to get to know my Lawyer any better than I know him right now.... Get My Point? Do as I say not necessarily as I do .. because I wont be suing me...If and when , SLIP happens..
10 People on the boat? Where the HULL did they all sit?? There is NO WAY IMHO .... That , that was EVER a good idea!
Lets be honest ... The M with its small cockpit is tight with 4! By and large , the cabin is not where you want to be when you out on the water..
Can some...survive down there Yes! But why be down there? Its like being in a elevator sitting on a tilt-a-whirl... Is that what your mind conjures up when Any Of Us... think about, being out on the boat for the day? NOT ME!
Ballast in or Ballast out? We must assume the ballast was in and locked down.. Its been said at least .. This fellow was a SAILOR! Its was HIS boat .. he knew the need for ballast..
Boards? Up or down? Can any of you here, think of a reason for having your boat out on the water , loaded to maximum capacity and NOT having All Boards Down? I have been on much larger sailboats a few times..but I have been on my brothers Shamrock Numerous times .. It weights in at 14,000 lbs. At Deck Height....Its 12 feet wide and the deck is.... in or around 36 feet long... His cabin , though small for a boat that size , is every bit .....as big as ours or larger...( usable portion in our boats is not.. from the trunk forward IMHO.. ) That area is NOT ....Usable on our boats for Normal Usage... and surly NOT when underway.. All That to say.....10 people would be too many bodies on the Far bigger.... farrrrrrrr....... more stable boat!

[dlandersson]

Thank you.

dlandersson, they are not flash, only word docs.