Mandatory dockside exams
Carol W
2013-01-07 01:06:44
I just cruised thru ALFA's website and there is a news release dated Jan 4 2013 that says mandatory dockside exam deadline extended until Oct 15 2015.
Keep your hand on it
Tom
Katlian
2013-01-07 01:14:24
I think this exemption only applies to boats operating inside waters of SE. It is pretty confusing. The email from the USCG sounded like a broad exemption. The letter seems more constrained. Letter is attached.
[attachment=0]Recission of SEAK Exemption from Mandatory Dockside Exams Response, Jan2013.pdf[/attachment]
slr
Once and Future
2013-01-07 02:00:03
I opened the link above. The third paragraph in that letter removes the confusion for me.
Salty
2013-01-07 02:14:04
Not confusing to me. What is confusing is where are the dockside exam requirements for the charter operators?
salmon4u
2013-01-07 05:05:18
thanks Obama...sounds like a great way to create more Federal jobs.. mandatory inspections and regulations on all commercial fisherman, placing the burden of proof on them. I wonder what the fines will be? Probably fairly high, That'll be good to fund the newly hired inspectors also, if it's not used for lavish vacations.. NOAA???? and good thing most commercial fisherman are so well off.... Sorry for the sarcasm.. I like having good safety equipment but don't think this was necessary.
Trnaround
2013-01-07 17:33:19
I agree what was wrong with voluntary inspections? I went through the inspection and got a sticker because I wanted to get it right. Two reasons for doing it: 1. you are sure you won't get cited for some obscure technicality. 2. You know your safety equipment is ready in the event there is an emergency. Maybe lives will be saved by requiring everyone to go through this, or maybe it will improve the odds of success of rescue and be safer for the rescuers if everyone is prepared. I don't know but I think that is the reasoning. There is a list of things that already seem a little excessive like repacking life rafts every year and the expiry dates on flares being so short to name just two or are you even required to have a life raft. Hopefully the safety benefits are worth the cost, I am sure that in a bad spot cost is not a thought that comes to mind. It seems like things are working fine the way they are but once again they didn't call me and ask my opinion.lol Stay safe.
Salty
2013-01-07 19:16:38
WTF are you thinking being opposed to voluntary and required safety exams? You like the thought of the rest of us or the CG having to risk our lives to save your sorry ass because you didn't do the minimum, and these standards are minimized in order to get approved, to assist us in keeping you afloat, finding where you are, and helping us keep you alive. If you don't want to meet these minimum standards then get out of trolling, you are a hazard to the rest of us and a disgrace to the fleet.
Salty
2013-01-07 19:18:16
Buy a charter boat where you can take "sport fishermen" out and risk their and your life with minimum required exams and safety equipment.
Kelper
2013-01-07 19:29:57
Boy Salty, you sure don't like charter boats. I'm not sure how mandatory dockside inspections for the commercial fleet suddenly became about the charter fleet.
Salty
2013-01-07 20:25:42
Wrong, I have a long history in the charter fleet and working with their leaders to solve problems. My father was a charter guide starting in the 50's, in addition to trolling. I got my 6 pack license in the 90's. Mostly so I could sport fish for salmon off my licensed troller until I proposed and the Board of Fish passed, on a 4-3 vote, the present rule that allows it so long as we remove the dorsal fin of salmon immediately. Some of the best and hardest working people I know are fishing guides.
I think it is disgusting that to take 6 people out sport fishing I need less safety equipment than to go out commercial trolling by myself. I think the whole premise of "sport fishing" to take 400 pounds of filleted salmon, halibut, and lingcod home from SE Alaska is an abomination. The hubris of a local charter lodge and fleet owner who lives part time in Sitka, applying to be on the Halibut Commission as an Alaska resident when he was not, he paid a fine for misrepresenting his residency, astounds me.
Apparently it has been too long, sometime in November, since I caught a king salmon and I am getting grouchy. Plus, filling out forms, going through the checklist, arranging for a dockside exam, replacing a boat battery, hooking up my fuel flow monitor, scheduling annual engine maintenance, and starting tax work when I didn't make enough, always makes me crabby.
Once and Future
2013-01-07 20:57:19
Salty, I'm glad you realized you were being kind of grouchy. I will trim my contemplated comments down to this: I remember when my brother had started up a new business on borrowed money many years ago. Some new regs were coming down, and he attended the meeting as he was eager to learn the new rules so he could comply. After the speaker spoke for a few minutes, my brother laid his pencil down, as he realized there was no way he could afford the required (and redundant) machinery. And no, his business did not survive. But there were more reasons than just that regulation.
Kelper
2013-01-07 21:23:35
I think it is disgusting that to take 6 people out sport fishing I need less safety equipment than to go out commercial trolling by myself. I think the whole premise of "sport fishing" to take 400 pounds of filleted salmon, halibut, and lingcod home from SE Alaska is an abomination. The hubris of a local charter lodge and fleet owner who lives part time in Sitka, applying to be on the Halibut Commission as an Alaska resident when he was not, he paid a fine for misrepresenting his residency, astounds me.
Apparently it has been too long, sometime in November, since I caught a king salmon and I am getting grouchy. Plus, filling out forms, going through the checklist, arranging for a dockside exam, replacing a boat battery, hooking up my fuel flow monitor, scheduling annual engine maintenance, and starting tax work when I didn't make enough, always makes me crabby.
Charter fleet has it's own regs to deal with that the commercial fleet doesn't have. Drug testing program, twix card, capt license, physical every 5 years, it's own safety equiptment that is appropriate for the fishing, etc. And, based on the condition of the power trollers I've been looking at for purchase, I'm glad some sort of safety standard exists. I don't even know how some of these commercial vessels stay floating at the dock they are in such rough shape and have been so neglected. I'm sure if the charter fleet was as worn down as some of the commercial vessels I've seen, they'd be having manditory dockside inspections too.
BTW, to clarify things.. the average charter customer in SE AK takes home 50-70lb of fillets in June and Early July, and a bit more later in the season when the cohos come in, for a 3 day fishing trip if they have the weather. Limits are very tight, and should be. 1 king a day, 4 a year. 6 coho a day. 1 halibut a day that average 14lbs. (reverse slot limit) 1 annual lingcod limit, under 45". The days of the meat hunter are long gone in SE AK.
islands50
2013-01-07 21:36:51
Welcone to Amerkia, and the land of Erkil (0bama), This has been in the works for a few years, and should not be a suprise to anyone, yet it always seem to hit right when eveyone is down on the extra cash and didn't expect to get hit with another several thousand dollar bill.
When I was trucking I used to dread getting pulled in for inspections, then one day I relised reguardless of how hard I tried to make everything right I could have missed something, the same princple applys to your vesels, in the long run I think it will not be that dramatic.
SilverT
2013-01-07 22:53:52
Amusing exchange. It appears that Salmon4u & Trnaround didn't say either one were against voluntary inspections. I do come away with the impression that they don't like increased regulation & government. The point would be that mandatory inspections require more time and money from everyone involved. The other side would be that it's money well spent it if a few more people several more years on earth. There is a line somewhere that is the correct level of government and money applied to safety. Can we afford to take the position that anyone who apposes or is frustrated by increased regulation should cease to discuss & express it? Even if the comments start with bait known to exact such strikes? I sure have enjoyed the posts lately and hope they continue in their normal fashion. May your holds be filled and you inspections be smooth.
Take care,
Lane
Salty
2013-01-07 23:39:48
Long post in response to previous posts deleted. Off to re-install my epirb. Nice comment Lane but for me this forum has been getting altogether too sweet, time for some spice.
Trnaround
2013-01-08 00:32:40
Don't get me wrong, I think I stated that I had an up to date sticker voluntarily, because I think it is the right thing to do not because I was forced to do it. I like the fact that it was voluntary, but apparently there was not enough participation that way so now it will become mandatory. For me it makes no difference. I would assume by your response Salty, that you have an up to date inspection sticker, have done the drill instructor training and have logged your training drills, have at least a Solas B raft and would have no problem being boarded beyond the three mile limit. Salty maybe you should do inspections now that you have navigated through the process so well. The pay is probably comparable to trolling and it isn't weather dependent. Ok you said it was getting too sweet didn't you?. Thanks Lane for your comments. :D
Salty
2013-01-08 04:43:53
So, you have to be perfect yourself to call others out for dissing regs which have saved lives? I have been working on the checklist so I can fail another voluntary exam though.
salmon4u
2013-01-08 06:01:44
I think a majority of trollers stand a greater risk of death from health related issues than from boat safety issues. Most fisherman can't afford good health insurance. But man oh man.. we have rafts and epirbs, survival suits, etc. on our boats.... it's funny, how our boats usually last longer than we do... : ) fun discussion
yak2you2
2013-01-08 17:59:07
This thread is labeled clearly. It is not about the regs. I don't see anyone "dissing" the regs. It's about big government making one more thing mandatory. Here's 2 very good reasons why MANDATORY dockside exams are a bad idea. First, It might seem like an easy thing to support if you happen to live in a community that has their own resident Coast Guard inspector, but what about those of us living out here on the fringe?? If the inspector comes to your remote village based on a schedule that fits his, and not the predominant fisheries, there's a good chance you'll miss the one and only visit he makes to your town because you were gone fishing, so now, you would be in violation. This happens regularly, and not just because folks are fishing, illness, BOF meetings, vacation, etc. There are any number of other reasons why a person might not be able to catch the visiting inspector. Second, MANDATORY, means you must pass the dockside exam. This means whether you will or won't be legal, would now be left up to one person's interpretation of the regulations. One would think that the rules would clear cut enough that this would not be an issue, but in my personal experience, this was not the case. I used to try to get the dockside exam, at every single available opportunity I was in town for. I rigorously try to have everything the Coast Guard requires of me to have on board to be legal. Why? because I don't want a ticket or a terminated fishing trip, but more so because I want to do everything I can to keep myself and anyone fishing with or around me as safe as possible. So, I get an inspector a few years ago, who appeared to be having a bad day, or maybe he was also grumpy from everybody chewing his ass about all the little things they were missing, who knows. He went through my gear, and found that I had everything, and nothing was out of date. However, when it came to my life ring, he didn't like it, and he said he wouldn't sign me off, unless I replaced it. So I asked him, "what's wrong with it? It's legal size, has the required reflector tape, the required 60 ft. of line attached, no stress cracks or signs of wear. It meets all the requirements the regulations specify." His response, "it's old." Mine, " the regulations say nothing about the life span of a life ring." Still he refused to sign me off. I could have gone an bought another one just to make him happy, but I didn't see where I had to according to the rules, and they want 175 bucks for a new one out here in the bush by the way. So, I told him thanks anyway, but I guess we'll be skipping the exam sticker this year. Wouldn't you know it, I got boarded several months later by the cutter crew while actively fishing. They went through the whole process, checked all my gear,,,,including the questionable life ring, and I passed with flying colors. So, the rules can be grey apparently. What else appears to be a grey area, is the line between what is sound rules for keeping boaters safe, and placing undue hardship on them, solely for the purpose of keeping up the momentum of a rapidly growing snowball of bureaucratic redtape. I am very surprised actually, by the fact that we as commercial fishermen havn't been required, yet, to have an official vessel operator's license just to leave the dock. You have to have one to charter fish, drive a car, an airplane, even a motorcycle requires a license. I'm sure they'll get around to it, sooner, probably than later. I shutter when I think about what this will entail. Background checks? physical exams? prescription eye wear? hearing aids? and then where do we go from here? Mandatory number of crewmembers based on vessel length? Mandatory insurance? Only certified mechanics can sign off your repairs? If we don't draw the line and stop the snowball somewhere, we'll all be out of this business. And then what? Take a look around, big government has already consumed anything else that folks like us would have any potential at, so it's the pioneer's home, or a life on the run as an outlaw in what used to be a free country.
best thread in ages! I love it...lets get to the bottom of this and speak our minds. Over here in Norway they just lowered cod to 10 crowns a kg, lowest in many, many years. They raised the cod quota to an all time high (1 million tons) and there is tons of surplus frozen cod in the freezers at the docks. Who is paying the real price....the small fish boats, the small fish buyers and processors, the small fishing towns and the consumer. its not that long away that it is only the big big boats and the one or two big big multinational fish buyers and no small guy and no small fishing towns.
I mostly agree with Saltys sentiments and as for the charter boats, screw em. As for trawling, screw em. Yes, there are some law abiders , but mainly the statistics mentioned here above are skewed as they are only what is reported. Unfortuneately there are a lot of unreported outliers in the charter statistics game, as well as the commercial game.
Get down to the root of this, be honest, be safe. Dont want a dockside exam? Buy a canoe.
FV_Wild_Card
2013-01-08 19:14:39
I couldn't get a dockside exam last year in Petersburg. The examiner (CG Aux.) had some kind of falling out with the Coast Guard and quit, leaving the town without a resident examiner for months (probably still). An at sea boarding (welcome anytime) by the crew of cutter Liberty deemed my CG compliance efforts to be "above and beyond" (it says it on the pink copy). The same dockside exam issues post 2015 would be catastophic to my business, stranding me in Petersburg until the CG worked out its personel issues. I like the dockside exam. On the seiner/crabber I crew on it's a good shake down for any new crew members and a good double check of the equipment. But mandatory... no thanks.
All exams are apparently not equal either. The CG still wants to board you (even with a current sticker) if it's "been a while" since your last at sea inspection.
I agree with yak2you2. Especially here, "solely for the purpose of keeping up the momentum of a rapidly growing snowball of bureaucratic redtape". F%$#ing A.
Salty
2013-01-08 19:42:42
Well, well, some spice has stirred things up. I agree with both Yak and Wild Card. The post I deleted had a similar story of failure and frustration as theirs. And I am pretty adept at both paper work and work details, having worked as a teacher, planner, and executive director in my life in addition to a lifetime on fishing boats. I see the point on "mandatory" inspections. Nevertheless, in part because of the posts here, and an experience of a friend who lost a boat this fall after he had updated survival suits, EPIRB, and raft which all worked, thank god, I will go get another voluntary exam and probably spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on recommended upgrades to safety equipment.
In response to the post from Norway, the land of my father. So, after years of working to rebuild North Atlantic Cod stocks, it appears they and Russian stocks are so healthy that the market is flooded reducing Alaska cod prices to about 25 cents per lb. Tough for the small boat cod jiggers. Perhaps the small boat fishermen are doomed, along with Puget Sound salmon. Take a look at this article: http://seattletimes.com/html/othersports/2020068220_fish06m.html
Trnaround
2013-01-08 19:58:32
Salty I am in favor of anything that will save the lives of fishermen and the rescuers period. These changes are uncomfortable but they will save lives, I am all for it mandatory or voluntary although I prefer voluntary. We fish the same waters so I want you as prepared as you want me and I get that you feel strongly about it which is good. The Coast Guard are true professionals and I think they want us to step up to a higher level, many already have. Not a bad thing. Hope your inspection goes well.
Dan
FV_Wild_Card
2013-01-08 20:18:06
Abundance
2013-01-08 20:59:26
Thanks, Wild Card. I have been looking for an easy way to figure out what I needed to do to get prepped for an inspection. I agree, fishermen in outlying areas get screwed on this. They usually come over to Craig for one week in late winter/early spring, always the week that my family has our annual vacation. If I miss it again this year, I might try to get one arranged when I buzz over to Ketchikan for the spring fishery. I believe they are delaying the deadline to give themselves time to hire more inspectors in SE. I don't have a real problem with the safety gear we are required to have, but I think that the expiration dates are nonsense. Why do they keep reducing the expiration dates for flares and other things? Have there been cases of people having flares or life rafts malfunction after a couple of years at sea? It looks to me like the manufacturers are using the Coast Guard to sell more gear faster, with us as a captive market. There really isn't anything we can do about it. As far as I know, there is nobody to complain to. We have to accept what they decree, and have no say in the matter. That actually annoys me more than anything else, that we aren't part of the decision making process in what is unnecessary and what isn't.
Carol W
2013-01-08 22:26:34
Boy the last 2 posts I have started have stirred things up. Personally I don't have a problem with having liferafts survival suits, flares, alarms, horns, safety training, and fire extiguishers, but the goverment intrusion of mandatory inspections is pushing the envelope a little to far for a one man boat.
I will be getting an inspection soon as it is time for me to go cruise thru some of my wintertime drags after next weeks SSRAA meeting.
Keep your hand on it
Tom
Salty
2013-01-09 04:54:32
Tom, what an agitator. Too bad we have never been on a board or task force together. Might be a better, or worse fishery, but wouldn't be the same.
Carol W
2013-01-09 05:06:07
The staff of the coop considers me the biggest pain in the ass board member although I did pass the torch to Bert the last meeting.
Keep your hand on it
Tom
Salty
2013-01-09 06:16:08
Tom,
As you noticed I sat through nearly the whole meeting. Bert has taken it up really well. Are you getting old, tired, or complacent?
fvsedna
2013-01-09 09:04:19
I feel I need to chime in here with a few accounts of personal experiences with our mandated, expensive & lavish on-board safety/survival equipment. Short story first; The two winters ( 08-09),I was keeping the Sedna In Craig's south harbor I would load up my 4-man Coastal Pac Into my pickup & take It to Ketchikan to have repacked. I am a strong proponent of doing as much business locally...reasonably. I actually had It repacked three seasons there...07 being the first. In 2010 I relocated to Sitka, & In like manner used the fine fellows out @ Allen Marine (across from the Alaska ferry terminal), to repack my raft. It was during a January cold snap & the temps. were In the teens for several days. The two fine fellows @ Allen Marine we will call Bob1 & his partner Bob2. Great guys, really. I called out there first & spoke with Bob1 about what I needed...after a few questions he said to bring It out & we will see what we can do. I walked Into their shop & met Bob1 & Bob2 for the first time ...we walked outside to get a visual on my raft....both Bobs Inspected the dated stickers & stamped aluminum tag to get a jist of the raft's repack history. Both Bobs became suspicious @ the way the aluminum tag had been stamped, although they somewhat accounted for their suspicion as the raft had actually skipped two seasons maintenance prior to my ownership. None the less the raft was actually "outdated" or passed It's use full life. It should not of been repacked In 08-09, & I needed a new raft @ $3,400. So we ordered one, a nice 4 man Zodiac. I asked them what happens to rafts like these......the Bobs basically said anything I wanted. I had never actually witnessed a canister raft being deployed let alone yanking out all the painter line. So, Bob2 said lets set It out on the ground & see what happens. so, we did...& I yanked until I got out about 130' of painter line & It came taught...Bob2 said ..o.k. giver a good jerk!....& jerk I did...& again...like I had mentioned earlier It was cold out ....my hands are stinging & the white plastic canister Is skidding across the frozen dirt......the Bobs are silent...I stick my hands In my pockets...Bob2 looks @ Bob1 & says " Ah oh...I wonder.."..
while the Bobs are wondering, I am wondering about the large white plastic grenade we have laying on the ground with the pin pulled. Should we pick It up & shake It?...how a bout set the fork of that forklift over there on It and cut the bands with a knife taped to a stick.
I did not get to and still have not witnessed a raft auto-Inflate, other than video. Bob1 called me a day or so later & revealed what he & Bob2 discovered when they opened the raft. It was explained to me that when a raft Is repacked a "safety" pin Is Installed Into the trigger mechanism to keep the O2 bottle from Inadvertently discharging while being repacked....It Is then removed lastly just before positioning the top half of the case & banding shut. Bob2 showed me the one of only two they use In their shop, have a very long red ribbon attached. For now obvious reasoning...It does not get left In the bottle trigger actuator. The outfit In Ketchikan had left the ss pin still In place...my raft would of never auto-deployed, nor manually. It would of rested In Davey Jones locker a mystery. Garret, If you have read & lasted through this post thus far.....I felt just as you do at one time....until the winter of 2010. Unfortunately, I was told after the Coast Guard probe that the business In Ketchikan Is no longer repacking rafts...I guess It went clear to H.Q. West Virginia. You fellows from Ketchikan may know more about that....
I have probably as most of us either donated for training or stuffed In a Ziploc bag & marked "for training only" our outdated flares & smokes. & set off quite a number though training with Amsea & self, kids & family. I have been astonished @ the failure, either absolute or partial of my smokes & flares...mostly flares..hand & aireal...parachute Included.They were like cheap Chinese fireworks. These were 4-2 years past labeled expire date. Simply put, I now have the comfort ,(false or justified) that the powers that be have our's & our Industries best Interest In mind. To me If this Is the Gov's established protocols developed for my chosen Industry I am unjustified to resist...I have nothing to back any complaints ...no more than cost & Inconvenience...that Is not enough. I recall derby fishing out In the gulf 89-94.....both halibut & black cod...the seemingly daily mayday calls...."..Comsta Kodiak"....& reports leaking through the fleet of lost vessels & lives...that Is where I saw my first dead guy...In the Seward hospital...I was treated for a broken foot as a result of a buoy war on deck with fellow crewmen...the guy In the room I walked by with a sheet over him was a first year kid that caught the tip of a longline anchor In the forehead. I know IFQs greatly attribute to our less loss now than then...but does anyone think that the safety protocols we have now In place & the attention givin to them by us & the Gov. would have attributed to less loss then?....something to think about...
I still become exasperated with the high cost & frequency of maintaining safety equipment along with everything else...but I've learned being proactive & not reactive In my personal view & actions creates a comfort and establishes a meaning that does make sense.
I had the opportunity this afternoon to sit down with Jerry Dzugan, director @ AMSEA here In Sitka. AMSEA was awarded a federal grant by OSHA, to proliferate a program revealing the ergonomic hazards of our profession. I recall a thread not long ago forum members started & I cannot seem to locate to add to. So, for now In brief & In part, the crew @ AMSEA & others nationally are brainstorming solutions & Ideas among themselves & fishing Industry folks. And Eric, If you do no mind I mentioned your numbered step by step landing-killing-icing-etc....as an not unrealistic example of an example. AMSEA will be posting eventually, class/seminar as a result. I understand It may be Incorporated within normal AMSEA classes. I will shut down now @ the risk of saying much beyond my knowledge.
standing by..
Andrew
Abundance
2013-01-09 17:28:47
Thanks, Andrew. I learned a lot from this.
lone eagle
2013-01-09 19:26:05
Coast Guard said I needed a new life ring so I got one, it was clearly old and breaking down so that wasn't an issue. I now know that survival suits are no good beyond a certain age and that isn't in the regs either....I'm sure they don't come cheap anymore. The big ticket item is the sideband that I'll never use
Salty
2013-01-09 23:09:37
I understand the CG inspection includes a survival suit pressure test now and most of the old ones won't pass it. Just replaced the hydrostatic release in my EPIRB today. Working my way through the checklist toward an inspection. One year I failed because I didn't have an auxillary battery dedicated solely to my VHF. Now I don't need that as my Sat phone has it's own battery. I still can't figure why my hand held VHF with it's own battery didn't fulfill that obligation, maybe I never brought it up.
I have had a work therapist on my boat and we have gone through all kinds of things to make it more ergonomic. Jerry should give me a call and come by the boat. In terms of fish handling for quality and ergonomics I share whatever I can. Going to bow poles and not having to wrestle float bags is one of the best moves I ever made for my wife. Brailer bags, slush tanks, and pulling the stabies in with power are a couple others. We even have a rope and block for pulling the aft hatch covers up to put fish in. Have not shoveled ice out of my hold in about 20 years now. Have not scrubbed a bin board in about 15.
Stainless chain sheds kelp way better than either cable or galvanized chain.
lone eagle
2013-01-10 05:45:32
my dock neighbor went with s/s chain but had corrosion problems, believe it or not...cost$$ and I didn't get it- never thought of kelp.just goes to show. My friendly CG inspector told me 20 years on the survival suit and then you need profesional testing. I had heard that the handheld doesn't substitute for the VHF ..no range I guess. I had a couple of young CG guys give me an involuntary inspection and they were not up to scratch on the regs....stern light? Cat 1 vs Cat 2 epirbs!. They wrote me up but I never heard any more about it. The inspector I recently spoke to was very helpful, informative and professional. I too was a truck driver and can vouch for dreading the inspection...horrible attitudes from people hell bent on giving you a ticket for all and any petit paper errors.Truly hope we don't have to go that way
Trnaround
2013-01-10 14:11:09
Just thought I would share a way to keep track of all of the expiration dates on an on going basis because as you go through the process you will find there will be many items and documents that have different dates. I have listed everything that has an expiration date in one column and in another column when it will come due and in another when it it was renewed. Every year you can see at a glance what you need to do. I heard a rumor that the CG wants to move away from the Epirb and go to the Gpirb does anyone have more information on that?
Thorne Isl.
2013-01-10 16:00:43
GPIRB - The Smart EPIRB
This is the first of a new generation of emergency beacons. GPIRBs (Global Position Indicating Radio Beacon) combine the latest in GPS and 406MHz EPIRB (Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon) technology, and add extraordinary precision to your emergency distress signal. If you are a boater who operates offshore or in the Great Lakes, this could be the best "life insurance" policy you could own.
The GPIRB, with its built in GPS, determines and broadcasts its own location. This shortens the time required to get an accurate fix on the beacon location and saves valuable time at the beginning of an SAR (Search And Rescue) operation.
The unit comes with a float-free bracket that releases it if it is submersed as in a sinking. There is a manual mode to turn the unit on manually and a test mode which should be used on a frequent basis to test the operation. It has a minimum 48 hours operating life, 8-channel internal GPS and comes with a lithium battery.
Salty
2013-01-15 07:24:07
Jerry came by the boat and took a lot of pictures and listened to my ideas, mostly which my son and wife suggested and implemented, for making the troll pit, gear and fish handling as ergonomic and safe as possible. As I was explaining things, and plans for more improvements, there was a moment when I realized how much I have benefited over the years from the tips of other fishermen and some of my crew. How much we take for granted, little things that have evolved that make our lives easier, that people have built in, or crew members set up that I hardly even think about.
While Jerry was there he asked me about a couple of things I have never even thought about, that somebody building something on my boat thought about. And other things that are so simple that I never even really think about but which make life so much easier for both me and my crew, whatever their height, like an adjustable clothesline for stringing leaders that moves down for the short ones and up and back for the tall ones.
So, still working on the list. Annual engine maintenance being a little more thorough this year and changing out cooling system hoses, replacing belts, etc. in part because of being shamed into it by this thread. I got an e-mail today from a reader who said he appreciated all the positive comments here about being safe. Lets hope the result of all our contributions makes a difference for somebody.
latitudes
2013-01-17 14:53:50
Another way to look at the volunteer vs mandatory argument is that the Coast Guard doesn't have the option of only rescuing those who passed an inspection. Even when you fish alone you put others at risk by virtue of being there. The associations work with all sorts of boards, why not the Coast Guard. That way if issues of abuse of power do come up, they can be resolved. Also would make for a more consistent inspection between boats.
Journey
2013-01-24 23:58:42
JYDPDX
2013-01-25 20:39:17
Thanks for this update.
Salty
2013-05-24 17:49:13
Well folks, after thousands of dollars and hours of going through the checklist to make sure I had all the paperwork and required items I finally got a voluntary exam yesterday. It had been several years since my last one. I only "failed" five items. After 6 hours of work and several hundred more dollars I was re-inspected and now have a sticker.
I also have:
Three new survival suits, all the new flares, a new mast lite, alcohol testing kits, new epirb hydrostatic release, new bilge alarm in my cockpit, new batteries in all my survival suit lites, new float ring, new line to the float ring, new pin on the epirb case, updated contact information, a waterproof handheld VHF, new Coast pilot, light lists, tide and current tables, and updated SE paper chart.
Fortunately I am under 36 feet, have a maximum of three people on board, and always stay within 12 miles or there would have been a lot more requirements, like a raft.
I highly recommend everyone go through this. The examiner here in Sitka was great to work with, his grandfather and my father were friends in Petersburg, and he assured me that it would be easier next time.
Between the various improvements associated with a survey last fall, regular maintenance, some unexpected equipment failures needing replacement, and improvements in safety gear it has been an expensive winter. But, the boat is working great and if some fish show up we should be able to work on em.
mydona
2013-05-25 15:35:58
guess I should have posted here.
Found a new USCG web page for com fish regs. and Pre dockside exams. I'm still checking it out but looks extensive; http://www.fishsafe.info/ Don't miss the CHECKLIST GENERATOR section.
As to gumby suits, like a fire extinguisher, I wonder if we can do it ourselves and just get the magic marker out, do the yearly wax, batteries, etc and list the inspection date, with your initials on it or the bag? If a pressure test is needed couldn't I just fill the face hole with a bouy or balloon, add air and look for leaks? My suits only see daylight once a year and saltwater when I have a greenhorn on board that has never been in a suit in the water. Oh and once in the Craig pool for a class. Do the new suits have an expiration date on them? Or a manufactured date? What about shelf life, does Murry refold them every year to prevent creases? Do new ones come with plastic boot covers for ease of donning?
Paper Charts.. I know I'm required.. so from the charting program just hit print and put it in a folder? How many boats are required to have parallel rules, dividers so the paper is useful?
Holding tank for the head...regs don't say what size..a plug at the end of a 3' hose past the "Y" valve? I've passed using this in the past.
Hand held VHF.. mine has a high and low setting and so does the one in the pilot house. It's got it's own battery! Whats the difference? none and where in the regs does it say a Hand held won't pass? Waterproof verses water resistance regs don't say. It's just a good idea.
I realize this is bending the regs a bit but just trying to cut cost without sacrificing safety. I believe these are loop holes that will be covered soon enough. USCG courses (50/100 ton licenses) and TWIC's cards, so you can walk the docks, are coming.
Hi All:
Here's the current dockside inspection schedule:
- Yakutat: 03-07 June
- Haines: 11-12 June
- Sitka: 17-18 June **
- Pelican: 24-25 June
- POW: 24-26 June
- Elfin Cove: (TBD)
** Sitka has a full time examiner but there will be three of them on the docks June 17-18th.
Good fishing!
Dale
ATA
Salty
2013-05-31 16:03:46
Mydona,
Great idea, I should have thought about printing a chart from the web. Good points on what is required and what isn't. I printed out the checklist twice and it was very helpful.
Not all the stuff I printed out was required for the exam, for example: all the engine work, the hand held waterproof VHF, extra alarms. Another thing that was not required that I highly recommend is a watch alarm. I turn ours on whenever we are running anywhere, day or night. Another thing that is not required but a good idea is some sort of lifting sling to help pull a guy out of the water. I have a rope rigged to use with our winch.
The main thing about this exam is not that it will save you in an emergency, which it might, but that all that attention to detail will keep you from sinking or needing it.