Re: Chances of getting lost
Sonny K9<br />You are doing it the right way. This dumb boater did not but did surive. When you are out to sea land will not look like you expected so make sure you look back and note something to guide on.<br /><br />I took my new boat out to sea and up the coast about 25 miles to fish. It was a calm sunny day. I went with two guys who had road Party boats to the same area many times and ensured me we could find this area called Fort Ross. After about 1 hour 20 minute ride we saw what looked like 3 guys on a surf board. It turned out to be a kyack. I ask the guys if they knew how much farther to Fort Ross and they informed me We were way past it and we were at Timber cove.<br /><br />So we fished there and caught a nice limit of fish and headed back. About half way back we could see a big fog bank ahead. I was running about 1 mile off shore. Before long we were in the fog but could still see land. The farther we went the thicker it got. Soon we could not really see land but could see the white of the breaking swells as they hit land. Next we could see nothing but could hear the Buoy that is about 1 mile off shore. So we headed in on a heading I though to be right. First two times we missed and only way we could tell is by the sound of the breaking swells. Third time we made it and found the 100 yard wide channel. When we got inside the harbor the sun was out. <br /><br />That day was the day I knew I would not ever do that again. I had lots of boating experience but not in the ocean.<br /><br />What you need to be safe in the ocean Is a GPS even a cheap hand held will work but carry extra batteries. You must still have a good compass and the chart for the area. If you do not know the area you must check the chart. As an example on the trip I talk about there is a rock near Jenner called 1 mile rock. This rock is 1 mile from shore and at high tide is covered by water and can not be seen, at low tide may be 4 feet out of the water. Your GPS will not tell you that this rock is between two of your waypoints but the chart will. You should set another waypoint in your route to take you either inside this rock or outside a safe distance. Today I would not go with out a GPS, a VHF radio, a depth finder and a working Kicker motor. I also have a Loran C and will soon buy a Fixed GPS. <br /><br />Before I went I had taken the Coast Guard Aux class. Today I have taken it 3 times and even taught a class when the instructor could not make the class. I have also taken the US Power Squadrons class 3 time. <br /><br />For Basic Navigation the long (13 Week) US Power Squadrons class is the best. They teach BASIC NAVAGATION. To get questions correct you must plot a course out to a island then to a another port and then direct back to the starting port. The answers must be accurate to 2 degrees and time to with in 1 minute. All the classes are free from both groups but you must buy the training manual and work book. For the long US Power Squadrons you also buy a navigation kit. The kit contains a Parallel Rule, a Protractor, a Compass Rose, and a small chart. Good basic equipment and did not cost much. Still this is a basic class as you do not have to compensate for wind or current as in the real world. One thing the short class (9 week) does not teach is the navigation class. <br /><br />The US Coast Guard Aux also has long and short classes but they do not have a navigation week. I think they do a much better job explaining aid to navigation, Buoys, Ranges, and Lights but so much depends on which group you get. As a example for Buoys they will teach the difference between red and green, odd or even, square or tringle, informational, what the light patterns mean, how to use the chart to tell which buoy you see in the distance both day or night. Will teach you how to know your starting down a new channel. How to decide which side of the Buoy has safe water or if either side is ok. <br /><br />Out here in California for the last two years I have not been able to find the long class for Coast Guard or Power Squadron. When I ask why both said the same thing. Answer was that most people will only sign up for the short class as all they want is the Certificate to get a discount on their insurance. <br /><br />The Short class will explain basic boat saftey, what gear is required and recomended, rules of the road, how to use you radio and that you must monitor channel 16. It will talk about trailer saftey and launching, how to fuel safely and much more.<br /><br />I have enjoyed every class and learn something in each. I have meet people with tons of knowledge and experience and many with no knowledge or experience that I was able to give a lot of info. The long class are much better.
<br /><br />Btw, I think the record for surviving adrift is about 14-months, maybe more. Three guys in on open fishing boat got caught in bad weather and blown into currents they didnt want to be in and couldnt get out of. They got caught in the currents going back and forth over the Mariana trench, or something like that. Two of the fisherman survived.
