How many mistakes can you spot in this story?

That story had a great ending and result.
If that had happened in my water here in Alaska (42F) the story would have been much shorter. All of that goes through ones mind when out on the water and I hope it forces some common sense into me and you.
 
mistakes he did not mention.
1) no whistles on the vest. this could have helped when the other boats where near by.
2) No training. Susan is getting a class on popping flares tomorrow whether she likes it or not.
3) apologizing for prayer> Iam not a prayer or believer but if you are never apologize for it.
4) Life jackets. never can say it enough.
5) Iam looking in to a water tight cell phone case, but a radio in the ditch bag would be great. hell even a disposable cell phone in a water tight case might be a good idea.
6) bigger bilge pump?
7) I thought boats under 20 ft were supposed to float? even if rolled over and just the bow up?
 
on the whistles. try yelling at another boat some time. Does not work very well. Then pull out a safety whistle and watch their heads spin. over looked piece of safety equipment.
 
starcrafttom":3nnki7hi said:
on the whistles. try yelling at another boat some time. Does not work very well. Then pull out a safety whistle and watch their heads spin. over looked piece of safety equipment.
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Definitely. ATTACH one to each PFD and make sure that all on board are wearing one!
 
OK with whistles! Used to be required equipment (among other things) to be attached to all life jackets when racing sailboats.

Question: Which type of whistle can be heard at a greater distance, one with a rotating cork ball inside (police/playground whistle), or one with a constant tone?

I think I'll opt to add a gas powered horn also for a ditch bag. They can be deafening up close and heard a long ways away. :smileo

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
In Lake Superior you will last about 1/2 hr. if your lucky. 95% of the time you need long pants and a sweat-shirt. A whistle would not be of much help.c-Otter
 
if you read the story two boats where in sight but could not hear him. a whistle could be a life saver. better to have it and not need it then not have it.
 
C-Otter":1mklsd3r said:
In Lake Superior you will last about 1/2 hr. if your lucky. 95% of the time you need long pants and a sweat-shirt. A whistle would not be of much help.c-Otter
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Depends on where in Lake Superior you are. In the Western part of the lake and SE part of the lake, current surface water temps are around 70F (similar to the water they encountered in Lake Michigan) and survival times of several hours are common at those temps. In central Lake Superior, current surface temps are in the low to mid 60's and one to a few hours are what one can expect at those temps. As for the whistle, as Tom points out, they had boats within sight that didn't see or hear them. The high frequency noise from a whistle travels much farther than the noise from a shout or yell and could have made all the difference.

Next time you're out with a buddy boat, put a little distance between yourself and them and then test out the whistle vs. shouting. Use the radio to confirm whether or not you could hear the whistle vs. the shout. I'm willing to bet you'll be quite surprised at the difference in distance over which you can hear/detect a whistle. See this link for some distance testing of the audibility of various whistles
 
We do include whistles on our live jackets, and a couple by the doorway.

But, we each carry a waterproof hand held VHF radio, and a Personal Locator Beacon with us--either on the jacket or in the small ditch bag we carry.

The boat should have had floatation. 3 foot seas are very significant, early in the day--good chance that seas will increase.

The issue of an open transom, in on self bailing boat is a serious issue. The splash well in the C Dories have real virtues, but a self bailing hull is better. However, even a self bailing boat, when filled with a large wave is likely to capsize.

Agree so many mistakes--but even with mistakes, if life jackets, radios, EPRIBS are back ups which will save lives in the eventual danger.
 
Good learning experience for this time. TOO MANY dumb choices. I don't believe you can call all of those "mistakes". Ignorance may be bliss, but it does not relieve one from the all encompassing laws of physics OR the responsibilities of taking someone with you in your boat. I this case, they got lucky (of someone upstairs was watching out for them). Which ever you believe, it could have turned out VERY BAD for all involved. Hope some lessons were learned.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Surface temp. in the 70's on Western Lake Superior are very rare and only go down about 6 inches on a clam day. Three foot waves are starting to white-cap, making it difficult to see a person in the water, their is also very little fishing traffic,not like Lake Michigan. With 3-0' waves the temp. is in the mid fifty's or less, plus when you hit the water it takes your breath away.

I'ved lived on the shore of the lake for over 82 years and seen it all, believe me, these people would have of had no chance to make it.

I have fished it and sailed it for many years (wooden boats and open flywheel motors) and it still scares me. C-otter
 
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