There’s something at once thrilling and intimidating about venturing out of sight of land in your own boat for the first time. You know in your head that with modern electronics and communications, the line between where you can see the coast and where you can’t is mostly meaningless. After all, in most areas of North America, you probably still have cell service when you cross it. It’s not as if you’re alone in the middle of the ocean. But your gut says different.
With some planning and preparation, though, your first trip offshore can be safe and fun.
Contents
Safety Gear for Offshore Trips
In the first part, Part 1, of this three-part series, we discussed boat requirements, trip planning and preparation. This section addresses safety gear that can save your boat or your life in the event something goes wrong.
For heading offshore, you’ll want more than the bare minimum of Coast Guard-required distress signals and PFDs. Instead, you should put some careful thought into how you’ll respond and what you’ll need if something goes wrong.
Distress Signals
Consider investing in more visual distress signals than the minimum required and make sure signals aren’t expired. It’s okay to keep expired signals on board; most of the time, they work as intended.
Pyrotechnics (aerial and handheld flares and smoke signals) work for a few seconds or minutes and then are worthless. Signal mirrors, flags and whistles, on the other hand, keep working indefinitely, so carry those as well.
For boaters who spend a lot of time offshore and/or venture far from land, SOLAS-grade distress signals are worth considering. As a general rule, pyrotechnic signals approved by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) burn brighter, shoot higher and last longer than USCG-grade signals, often by a wide margin. Of course, they’re also much more expensive.
VHF Radio and Backup
Conventional wisdom says that a satellite beacon like an EPIRB or PLB is the most important device on your boat in an emergency. That’s certainly justifiable, but the fact is that in most parts of the U.S. coast, a VHF radio will get you help quite a bit faster since it can be used to communicate with other boats nearby. It can also be used to communicate instantaneously with the local Coast Guard Sector, even from many miles offshore.
In an emergency, the Coast Guard can then relay your position to boats in the area, which can likely reach you most quickly. Any boat regularly used offshore should have at least one traditional fixed-mount VHF radio with the tallest antenna reasonably possible — generally an 8-foot, 6 dB antenna mounted on a T-top or hardtop. If your boat’s electrical system fails, though, that radio will be useless. So you should also carry a handheld, waterproof backup radio. Check radio and antenna function regularly and monitor channel 16 while on the water.
It can also be used to communicate instantaneously with the local Coast Guard Sector, even from many miles offshore.
Finally, remember that potential rescuers have to know your position in order to help. Many handheld and fixed-mount VHF models include integrated GPS receivers that not only display coordinates on screen but also transmit coordinates digitally with calls via digital selective calling (DSC).
EPIRB and PLBs
EPIRBs (emergency position-indicating radio beacons) and PLBs (personal locator beacons) transmit distress signals from anywhere on the globe to responders via satellite. EPIRBs are registered to and mounted on a boat, while PLBs are registered to individuals and meant to be carried on the person.
PLBs are smaller, lighter and less expensive, but their batteries don’t last as long (24 hours vs. 48 hours for EPIRB batteries), they must be manually activated (unlike EPIRBs which activate automatically when submerged), and they must be held upright to function. A PLB is far better than nothing, though. And PLBs offer a unique advantage: they’re easy to take along on a friend’s boat that isn’t equipped with an EPIRB.
Satellite Messenger
Recently, satellite messenger devices have become more affordable, more functional and more popular. Like PLBs and EPIRBs, these devices can send a distress signal with coordinates via satellite from anywhere in the world, but they can also transmit text to private recipients.
Most models can also receive messages. Some stand alone while others are paired with a smartphone (no service required) for most functions. That catch is that unlike PLBs and EPIRBs, satellite messengers require a subscription much like a cell phone plan. Plan costs range from roughly $10 to $50/month.
Backup GPS
GPS receivers and chartplotters have made navigation almost too easy. If yours kicked the bucket 40 miles offshore, would you know how to get home? With a compass and the most basic geographic understanding of your area, you could probably hit land, but would you know which way to turn to get home after that? Would you have enough gas to get there? What if it was dark or storming?
The easy solution is to carry a backup handheld GPS (or a radio or satellite messenger with integrated GPS). It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; all you need to be able to do is enter the coordinates of your inlet or harbor mouth as a waypoint and set a course home. Ideally, your backup should be submersible too, so that if you have to abandon ship you can take it with you and communicate your position to potential rescuers.
Other Options
Another option is to make a point to check the approximate heading home on your primary GPS periodically. For instance, when you arrive at a new fishing spot, take a minute to note the heading that will take you back to the inlet or harbor. If your GPS fails, you can use your compass to navigate home. Of course, a paper chart can also give you a heading home with a bit of knowledge and the right tools.
If your GPS fails, you can use your compass to navigate home.
For most operators of small powerboats, compasses are just decorative. If you plan to spend much time offshore, though, you should calibrate your compass to account for nearby magnetic fields that can affect its accuracy. You should also understand how to correct for variation between true north and magnetic north in your area.
First Aid Kit
Cuts, scrapes and punctures are common offshore fishing injuries, and more serious injuries and medical problems are always possible. Buy or put together an appropriate first aid kit — including any personal emergency medications or devices — and keep it current.
Emergency Water and Food
Keeping a gallon of drinking water (or more) per person on board can make all the difference if you lose power and find yourself adrift for an extended period of time.
Especially in hot, humid weather, dehydration can incapacite you quickly. It’s also a good idea to keep some non-perishable, high-calorie snacks like energy bars on board.
Tapered Wooden Plugs
Below-waterline plumbing failures are a common cause of swampings and sinkings. In many instances, broken through-hulls, split hoses and failed hose clamps can be remedied with a conical soft wooden plug pounded into the opening. Sets of various sizes are readily available.
Sea Anchor or Drift Sock
If you lose power in bad weather, a sea anchor (essentially an underwater parachute designed for emergencies) or a drift sock (a smaller, simpler version designed mainly for fishing) can be used to keep your bow into the seas.
A sea anchor or drift sock will also slow your drift in windy conditions, making you easier for rescuers to find. If possible, attaching your sea anchor or drift sock to your bow eye, instead of to a bow cleat on deck, will let your bow ride up over waves more easily.
Ditch Bag
In the event that you have to abandon ship, having everything you need in a single, readily accessible container adds a considerable measure of safety. You can buy a purpose-built ditch bag, or just use a duffel with some flotation added.
Contents should include anything and everything you might need if you find yourself in the water. Here are some basics:
- PFDs
- EPIRB/PLB/satellite messenger
- Waterproof VHF
- Waterproof GPS
- Visual distress signals (signal mirror, orange flag & waterproof strobe)
- Whistle or air horn
- Waterproof light source
- Knife
- Rope
- Drinking water
- Energy bars
- First aid essentials
- Sunscreen
- Prescription medications