[Rhodes22-list] sinking cruiser

[William E. Wickman]

Peter,
Yes,  I am planning to go at the end of May.  My current plan is to launch in Homestead, FL and position myself for a crossing.  If the weather is favorable, I will cross over to Bimini for a few days and then continue on across the Great Bahama Bank to the Berry Islands.  I'm allowing two weeks for the whole expedition.  If the weather is not favorable, then I'll just hang around the FL Keys.

I am really looking forward to the trip as I will be taking my son and  it will probably be the last trip before before he heads off to college.

I will, of course, take some pictures and let you all know how I and the Rhodes fare.

Bill W.

--------------------------




----- Original Message -----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces
Sent: 02/28/2006 11:43 AM
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] sinking cruiser

Bill E,

The point about the new radios (DSC equipped) is that they will transmit
your position, automatically acquired from your GPS, to any other DSC
equipped radio and the CG (they are so equipped).  Do you see how this could
be a BIG time saver in an emergency?  Like Ed pointed out, at $150 per
radio, this safety feature is within the affordability range of many Rhodies
who might someday be glad they have one.  I agree EPIRBs are costly.  But if
you get caught out, what's your life worth?  The dead guys had cellphones
stowed in their stuff.

Bill W,

Are you planning on sailing your Rhodes to the Bahamas?

PT



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] sinking cruiser


> Peter,
>
> Here on Long Island Sound everybody has a radio that can hail another
> radio, and there are literally thousands of boats out there on
> weekends.  At my (narrow) end of the Sound, a decent cell phone provides
> shore to shore coverage--better as you get farther from shores.  Many
> carry EPIRBS -- which fall into the water along with everything else and
> go off -- CG generally seeks confirmation before responding. Yet people
> still die of hypothermia.
>
> I carry "Space Blankets" -- small Mylar sheets.  If my Rhodes "sinks"
> and I die, they won't find me floating in the water without a PFD, or in
> a cabin full of water with a fixed mount VHF that has shorted out and a
> microphone in my hand while I quickly froze to death.
>
> They will find me wrapped in 2 highly reflective "space blankets",
> staying as warm as possible until my last breath.  I will have lashed
> myself to the cabin rails, and I will be floating high and dry.  I will
> have my cell phone, my handheld GPS, my handheld VHF, a strobe light, a
> small kite, some extra batteries, some emergency food...in a small
> waterproof orange floating box where I keep this stuff.  That will be
> lashed to the cabin top rails also.  The boat will be anchored, so if
> they find me I'll still be in the same place when they come to get me.
>
> Depending on how long it takes me to make contact with rescuers, I will
> towel dry myself, and change into dry clothes.
>
> Almost everything on my boat is inside waterproof plastic "ammo boxes"
> or clear rafting bags.  If the boat goes down, they will be inside--and
> they will remain dry.  I have a manual bilge pump.  I carry epoxy.   I
> will review these provisions before going out next summer.
>
> The Rhodes is far more capable as a "lifeboat" than any of these
> floating toys people carry on big boats.  If mine filled with water I
> would first secure it.  Then secure me.  Then try to contact others.
> Then fly my small kite with the long orange tail and the word "HELP!".
> Then I would start figuring out what went wrong, and what I could do to
> improve my situation.
>
> Bill Effros
>
> Peter Thorn wrote:
> > Bill,
> >
> > Hypothermia equipment?   Carrying wetsuits or drysuits onboard is an
> > excellent idea!  Usually this equipment is associated with sailing
dinghies
> > but, as you say, cold water is cold water.
> >
> > I beg to differ on the radio.  A good radio to report distress and
position
> > would have saved them.  Captain Walker said too many just try to solve
the
> > problem themselves without first contacting the Coast Guard, reporting
> > position and asking CG to stand by.  By the time things get complicated
it's
> > too late.
> >
> > PT
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
> > To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 9:21 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] R22 Instrumentation
> >
> >
> >
> >> Peter,
> >>
> >> Funny thing about the list.  Sometimes you don't get feedback.  But
that
> >> doesn't mean nobody thought about it.
> >>
> >> No time then, no time now.
> >>
> >> Just a few thoughts.
> >>
> >> 1.  You can die of hypothermia in a bathtub.  The size of the waters is
> >> not the factor.  This type of accident can and does happen to pond
> >> sailors.  A better radio is not the solution.
> >>
> >> 2.  Rescue boats don't show up in time under these kinds of situations.
> >> Make a plan for how to save yourself.  Easier in a Rhodes which won't
> >> sink.  People are yelling "May Day" "May Day" into a radio instead of
> >> doing things that could actually save their lives.
> >>
> >> 3.  Stay out of cold water.  I no longer sail in cold water.  I did
when
> >> I was younger.  I stopped when I dumped a sunfish 200 yards off shore
> >> late one September, and while I was in the water realized I could die
of
> >> hypothermia if I was unable to right the boat, and get back to land
> >> quickly.  I will sail a Rhodes for longer in the season than most other
> >> boats, but I will review my hypothermia equipment for next year.
> >>
> >> 4.  Couldn't help but notice the comment about unable to search because
> >> the anchor wouldn't hold...  Not only do the anchors hold under those
> >> conditions, 30 knot winds drive the anchors so deep into the bottom,
> >> it's difficult to free them.  These guys didn't know how to set an
> >> anchor, or didn't have the proper anchor for their waters.  Practice
> >> next summer.  When you start taking on water, know how to set an anchor
> >> first.  Then start to deal with the water, with the radio, your GPS
> >> position, your EPIRB, with the life raft, whatever.  You can stabilize
> >> your situation in less than a minute if you know how to do it.  It's
> >> important to know how, and to know that's the first thing you do.
> >>
> >> 5.  Bilge pumps?  'nuff said.
> >>
> >> Bill Effros
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Peter Thorn wrote:
> >>
> >>> Dave,
> >>>
> >>> Last week I posted a few articles about a new 38' Carolina Classic
sport
> >>> fisherman boat that sank recently while en route from Edenton to the
> >>>
> > Miami
> >
> >>> boat show.  It seems no one on the list took much notice, but this
event
> >>>
> > has
> >
> >>> intrigued me since I first read about it.   It turns out the Captain
was
> >>>
> > 78
> >
> >>> years old and evidently experienced.  His mate was 55 and not much was
> >>> written about him.  Both died of hypothermia resulting from exposure
to
> >>>
> > cold
> >
> >>> water when the new boat they were delivering sank in 18' of water,
about
> >>>
> > 5
> >
> >>> miles from Oriental, NC  near Garbacon shoals.
> >>>
> >>> Last Friday I helped my buddy Lawrence deliver his Tanzer 26 from
> >>>
> > Oriental
> >
> >>> to New Bern to prepare for a race last Saturday.  As is our custom, we
> >>>
> > ate
> >
> >>> lunch at M&Ms Restaurant before departing  and happened to sit at the
> >>>
> > bar
> >
> >>> next to Captain Larry Walker (who teaches the Captain's courses in
> >>> Oriental).  We engaged in a discussion about the accident -- it has
been
> >>>
> > the
> >
> >>> talk of the town since it happened.
> >>>
> >>> Captain Walker made some excellent points I feel are worth sharing.
> >>>
> > First,
> >
> >>> if the lost souls had contacted the Coast Guard, they would doubtless
be
> >>> alive today.  They only had 5 watt hand-held radios with them, which
in
> >>>
> > 3-4'
> >
> >>> waves may not have been able to transmit that far.  The investigation
> >>> revealed that other hand helds at that location could not raise the
> >>>
> > Coast
> >
> >>> Guard either.   VHF is line of sight and it was blowing 30 that day.
A
> >>> fixed mount VHF on a sailboat is a big advantage worth acquiring: 25
> >>>
> > watts
> >
> >>> of power and 30' of  antenna elevation.  The higher the antenna, the
> >>>
> > longer
> >
> >>> the range.
> >>>
> >>> Captain Walker strongly suggested an EPIRB (Emergency Position
> >>>
> > Indicating
> >
> >>> Radio Beacon).
> >>> http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|302025|320637&id=99121
> >>>
> > This
> >
> >>> is a small expensive device that sends a signal up to a satellite and
on
> >>>
> > to
> >
> >>> the Coast Guard, telling them you need help.  You just throw it in the
> >>>
> > water
> >
> >>> and it automatically goes to work saving your life.  Don't buy an
EPIRB
> >>> without the built-in GPS feature.  The GPS EPIRB transmits the
location
> >>>
> > of
> >
> >>> the EPIRB to the Coast Guard.  This can save lots of time they would
> >>> otherwise waste on triangulation.  When hypothermia is involved
minutes
> >>>
> > can
> >
> >>> be life and death.
> >>>
> >>> There are now fixed VHF sets available that connect with your GPS and
> >>>
> > have
> >
> >>> an emergency switch that will transmit your position to nearby vessels
> >>>
> > with
> >
> >>> similar equipment and to the Coast Guard.  (The Uniden UM 525 is one
> >>> example, on sale now at Defender for $150.)  Evidently, Channel 70 is
> >>>
> > soon
> >
> >>> to be the new emergency channel and these are set up for that too.
> >>>
> > These
> >
> >>> radios are much less expensive and for coastal sailing may be a
> >>>
> > reasonable
> >
> >>> compromise.  However, if the cockpit fills with water and the
electrical
> >>> system shorts out the radio may not be much good and you may wish for
an
> >>> EPIRB.
> >>>
> >>> If you are still deciding how to spend money on your new Rhodes, you
> >>>
> > might
> >
> >>> want to consider some of these equipment choices.  I hope you never
have
> >>>
> > the
> >
> >>> need to use them.
> >>>
> >>> PT
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >>> From: <DCLewis1 at aol.com>
> >>> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2006 12:12 AM
> >>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] R22 Instrumentation
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Folks,
> >>>
> >>> We are in the midst of trying to get our R22 equipped while it’s still
> >>>
> > at
> >
> >>> GBI and the matter of instrumentation has come up.   The purpose of
> >>>
> > this
> >
> >>> Email
> >>> is to solicit input regarding what works.
> >>>
> >>> Our current plan is to have a depth finder (Humminbird Mk17?) and
> >>>
> > bulkhead
> >
> >>> compass mounted on the exterior cabin wall.  Questions:
> >>> - Both  instruments seem to me to be far from the tiller.  In your
> >>> experience
> >>> can  you meaningfully use instruments mounted on the cabin (I realize
> >>>
> > this
> >
> >>> may be a  function of your farsightedness, but any input is welcome.).
> >>>
> > In
> >
> >>> particular, would a hand held compass be more useful than a bulkhead
> >>> compass?
> >>> If you like a bulkhead compass, any specific recommendations
regarding
> >>> models
> >>> and types?
> >>> - If these instruments are mounted  on the exterior, how do you keep
> >>>
> > them
> >
> >>> from walking away?  Has anyone had a  problem in this regard?
> >>> - I understand the Mk17 has a bezel that facilitates  mounting.  I
also
> >>> think
> >>> the Mk17 has a 1 year warranty that the display  will be waterproof.
> >>>
> > But
> >
> >>> for
> >>> the long term, how do you keep the Humminbird  (or any other) depth
> >>> finder/GPS display secured and out of the weather when the  boat’s
> >>>
> > secured?
> >
> >>> I haven’t
> >>> identified a cap that would keep the sun and  precip off it and/or
> >>>
> > secure it
> >
> >>> - have I missed something?  I gather there  are a number of Humminbird
> >>>
> > users
> >
> >>> on the board, what do you do?  I believe  there are caps for bulkhead
> >>> compasses, that protect them from the weather, and  provide some
> >>>
> > security,
> >
> >>> it that what
> >>> you use?
> >>>
> >>> I’m inclined to use a hand held GPS, just because it will be closer to
> >>>
> > me.
> >
> >>> Also, it will be easily secured and I can take it home to program way
> >>> points
> >>> etc.  The same GPS could act as a compass.  The alternative is  to use
> >>>
> > the
> >
> >>> Humminbird depth finder with a GPS driver - they make one - or
another
> >>> bulkhead
> >>> mounted GPS system.  The Humminbird will have a larger  display, but
at
> >>>
> > the
> >
> >>> front of the cockpit.  Again, I’m not sure the  Humminbird can be
> >>>
> > secured or
> >
> >>> kept out of the weather, and I don’t think it will  be a simple matter
> >>>
> > to
> >
> >>> take it
> >>> home to program a course, way points, etc.   Has anyone considered
these
> >>> trades and come to a decision as to the way to  proceed.  Better yet,
> >>>
> > does
> >
> >>> anyone
> >>> have experience with hand held vice  bulkhead mounted GPS displays.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for any input.
> >>>
> >>> Dave
> >>>
> >>> __________________________________________________
> >>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>
> >>> __________________________________________________
> >>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >> __________________________________________________
> >> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> >
> >
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list

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