being preparedA

[digger]

NOW LAMPUKI SEASON IS COMING I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU OF EXPIERIENCE HAPPEN TO ME AND HOPEFULLY MAKE US THINK A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS FOLLOWING FADS WHEN A 13 FT BOAT OVER TOOK ME AT FULL SPEED SOME HOURS LATER I SAW A DOT IN DISTANCE WHITE WAY PAST HURDS BANK THINKING IT WAS A CIMI I HEADED TOWARDS IT MY FREIND SAID THEY ARE WAVING SOMETHING WHITE IT TURNED OUT THERE SINGLE OUTBOARD BROKE DOWN THEY HAD ALREADY DRIFTED ALMOST 1 MILE WHEN I REACHED THEN THEY HAD NO WATER BUT LOTS OF OF CHOC BARS THEY HAD MOBILE PHONE OUT OF REACH WITH 1 CENT CREDIT AS THEY TRIED TO CALL FAMILY WHEN I TOWED THEM BACK TO MSIDA MAYBE THEY ARE MEMBERS OF FORUM SO PLEASE DO NOT THINK I AM GIVING YOU BAD MEMORIES IF THEY ARE NOT ITS A LITTLE REMINDER THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE PROBLEMS AT SEA BUT PLEASE PREPARE AND KNOW YOUR BOATS CAPABILITYS WITH ALL OUR PROBLEMS WITH ILLEGALLS I WOULD THINK TWICE IF I SAW SOME ONE IN DISTRESS UNLESS I WAS ABSOLUTILY SURE SORRY ITS LONG BUT I STILL THINK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THEM IF I DID NOT GO TO THEM

[kempy]

thank you for the tips this is my first season with a boat so i will be taking every step i can to ensure i have safe trips

[kempy]

Never persume your safe While on a boat


http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=066_1181335729

[blabfish]

Hi,

I am no expert but from past experiences when you go fishing out with your boat take the following into account:

Carry an air horn and a small mirror (Nothing expensive) to signal your location.
While going out, if you have no VHF, check your mobile for reception.
Latest mobile phones have GPS installed in them to track your location in case of rescue.
If you have a recent mobile check if you can intall maps on it here: http://www.google.com/mobile/maps/

If you gonna carry anything with you on the boat it has to be this:
Water 2 bottles each min so you keep hydrated
Sun cream and a good tent
Very long thin rope and a small anchor so you don't drift out
Toolbox and extra new spark plugs

Another crucial thing if you gonna go out far at sea is simple:
Dont go alone and dont go too many people and tell someone where you are going and what time you should be back.

Hope you guys read this.
And please add to this post, I probably left something important out.

[skip]

Ben, whilst modern phones have GPS's they are only GPS receivers and not GPS transmitters meaning that yes you can know your location but you still rely on having a sufficient mobile signal in order to SMS via an app on your phone your exact position to friends/relatives.

If like digger pointed out you are out of range, out of credit or out of battery relying on your mobile phone will be a poor choice. In addition at that distance handheld VHF's are unlikely to help you unless there are boats in the vicinity.

My recommendation: Purchase a Personal Satellite Locator Beacon http://maltafishingforum.com/talk/index.php/topic,814.msg33856.html#msg33856

At the beginning of summer we organised a group purchase of such devices with Medcomms, and negotiated a price of €250 incl VAT which is a small price to pay for safe guarding your life. This is a one time cost, no annual fee. I believe he may still have some available for stock.

I know a lot of people go way past 12nm in very small boats which are not equipped properly, before buying your next mobile or rod/reel, if you like to go offshore get one of these with the floating pouch and have some peace of mind.

[blabfish]

Yes,

I was meaning 1 till 3 miles out.

This Personal Location Device is great in case of destress !

[robby017]

the very first thing you should do is NOT PANIC.... if you panic, you make mistakes and could make things worse.

[shanook]

A signal kit is not very expensive (compared to your life that is). When out at sea it is difficult to be located, especially if there are crested waves (zwiemel, rawa).
shouting, using an air horn or whistle are ok, but the rescuers have to be within hearing distance. A flare or orange smoke can be seen in rough weather and from a very long distance.
As Skip said the Personal location beacon is very reassuring especially if u happen to have the misfortune of being in the water.....(day or night)....it is nerve wrecking. knowing that a distress signal has been sent with your location, will work wonders for ones moral..