Securing Lockers.......I believe in BBBs'

Big Bloody Bolts.  This is a quote from the Fastnet Race Disaster of 1979.

"‘Lethal missiles;  Of the 303 yachts that started the ’79 Fastnet, 112 reported knockdowns, 77 of which were B2 knockdowns, ones in which the mast is substantially below horizontal, the yacht inverts or undergoes a full 360-degree roll. The inquiry into the disaster reported: ‘In several boats, cookers and batteries fell out of their mountings. Both items are potentially lethal missiles.’ On his Fastnet ’79 experience, Matt added: ‘Dangers below are frequently ignored. One of the biggest problems aboard Grimalkin during the height of the storm was how objects broke loose. Each time the yacht suffered a knockdown, tins of food and other heavy objects were flying around the saloon. When Grimalkin was recovered, one of the lead acid batteries, which had been secured under the companionway steps, was found wedged in the yacht’s bow. This deadly missile had taken away part of the main bulkhead during one of our pitchpoles.’"

This makes sobering reading/viewing; http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/sailing-skills/crash-test-boat-capsize-29161

Lockers on TIH have bolts to keep them closed.  "Finger Pulls" do not cut it;

A much younger me during the Fastnet 79, recovery operations with a fellow diver.

How many sailboats are capable of sounding correct "restricted visibility" signals?

Huh!  What signals?  Please don't tell me that, if sailing in fog, you will use your pissy little WM canned air foghorn, sounding one prolonged blast followed by two short blasts at intervals of not more that every 2 minutes, within an arms length of your ear.  That would get old fast.

Just to refresh your memory;

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=Rule35

When I was narrowing down my search for a VHF radio my list of necessary features included the ability to sound AUTOMATIC fog signals.  This excluded a surprising number of low end and not so low end models.

Does your VHF have such a feature?   Is it connected to a hailer horn?   A hailer facility on the VHF is also useful for passing verbal information to other boaters and people on the dock.

I eventually decided on the Icom IC-M504, a recently discontinued model, that WM was selling off at a very good price.  Likewise I purchased 2  x COMMAND MIC ΙΙΙ™ that were heavily discounted.

I have decided against a "receive only" AIS for the reasons stated in a previous post.  If, however, Standard Horizon had gotten off their butt and produced a NMEA 2000 one I might have been tempted.

An interesting device I came across on my foghorn search is the FogMate Automated Horn Controller.  Check it out here;

Hamilton Marine  or Go2Marine

Bye Bye Mr. ResQfix, glad I never had to use you..........

The batteries on my ACR PLB 300 have finally time expired.  A replacement battery will cost $200, a new floating PLB  (ResQLink+ Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon) will cost $269.99 and I get a free bag of goodies.  Plus its smaller and it floats.

Now for the rant;  If you do any type of boating which involves waters that might be outside shore based VHF range (you DO have a VHF?) AND you can afford $270 without putting your children in an orphanage AND you DO NOT have a PLB then you are an idiot.  Pure and simple.

Now, you can have all the arguments you like, "not relying on the govermint", not reliable (bollocks) etc.  I don't care if you refuse to use it in a deadly emergency, but your crew might like the option.  The "govermint" will still have to spend countless hours searching for your sorry ass body and putting their personnel at risk in so doing.  On a larger boat I prefer to see an EPIRB but baby steps will do.  You can also take your PLB with you to go exploring in the dinghy, travel on other peoples boats etc.

Remember to register it.  In a recent survey 40% of owners fail to do so.