CanCanCase wrote:I've got one of the "WestMarine" brand 6-man canister made by Zodiac. Great little unit, but annual service cost is creeping up toward $800 for re-cert.
I don't think much of a valise unit... gotta go dig it out of the v-birth, lug 50+ pounds up on deck, then deploy the thing? Not when I'm in "a situation".... Mine is right up top with a hydrostatic thingy that cuts it loose when it sinks.
Unless you're a commercial fisherman or trained (and required) to don your survival suit in less than 30 seconds, I don't see the value in them. Every boat or ship I've watched sink has gone down in under a minute.... it happens faster than any of us would like to admit.
Especially in these cold waters, I don't want to spend any time in them if I can avoid it! (unless I've got 250 cf of 17/50 strapped to my back!) ;-)
-Case
CanCanCase:
I really couldn't disagree with you more! and what I am about to say, I ay with respect and conviction to you for your own safety, not to be a wise BACK SIDE...
1st I agree that the recet fee sounds expensive, I pay $375.00 last time but it worth the annual cost. I think (not even knowing you) that the 800.00 fee is less than trying to replace your life!
2nd, I think that waiting til the boat is going do and waiting it the water for my self-deploying raft to pop off and inflate is not my choice of actions to take. If it happens on a breach and your flipped OK, but, you want if at all possible to deploy the raft yourself, get your crew and your self in it and leave it lashed to your vessel until it is undoubtable about to go under, then disconnect or cut the teather. I use the valise case and have it so it is the 1st thing out of my Emergency Equipment bin, no lifting, just open the bunk door and drag the raft out on the floor and then to the rear of the boat, lift to the gunnel and put overboard on the lee-ward side of the boat, if the boat is burning you don't want the raft being blown back into the burning boat. Proper access and placement is most important, case or valise is secondary.
3rd, Saying that you think that only a commercial trained crew is the only people to use survival suits is just plain nieve and dumb! It takes all of an hour of trial runs to get your speed down to a minute or less getting into a survival suit. Remember these words, when you in the water in your cloths, as the 70-degree water sucks the life out of your body till your shivering to death. These suits are made large and bulky to be easy to get into and to ad air insulation between your skin and the suit which is submersed in water
4th, the survival suit is just as important in your Offshore raft as it is just floating in the water without a raft. The rafts always end up with water in them, at night being in a raft in the N.E. is going to be quite cold and that suit is a real deal maker. Trust me, plus if your raft fails, that suit will be a real sweet thing that may just help save your crews and your life..
5th, You should always train your crew on what exactly will happen, who will do what, ho is responsible for what if the Doo-doo hits the fan. When you come on my boat, I give a five minute on-the-boat training class on what each person must do, how and what is stored in the Emergency Cabinet, I tell the biggest two guys that they are responsible to get the raft out and ready at the engine box, while the next two guys are to get all the survival suits, life preservers, ditch bag, main GPS EBIRB, first aid kit, who is to get water bottles and food. Then it takes a few minutes to take out one suit and show how it goes on. I value my crew, my son and my self to be insistant on this EVERY time I go offshore. My crew know I am the Captain, I tell them what to do in case of an emergency and I will bring them home safe. If something happens to me, my son is second in command and know and cna handle the situation.
When I did the film with Tred, i had alread been offshore on 40+ canyon trips and I'll tell you, that simulated experience is one that EVERY offshore fisherman should be able to train and experience. Unfortuantely, that's not possible and if it happens it will be for real...KNOW YOUR Doo-doo!
Marty