Westport Accident

[burliest]

I appreciate many of you for your attention to safety. This is the reason for this topic.

Some of you probably heard, but 3 soldiers from Fort Lewis died Saturday. Without spending too much time on details, they lost their lives because they went out in rough water AND did not have a VHF radio.

A $100 radio would most likely have saved their lives. It really is sad. People spend more than that for a fishing rod and reel.

Thanks to all who have contributed to help others be safe. Let's all be sure to remind our new friends to carry essential equipment when going to sea.

I want to take this opportunity to suggest that the iFish site have a checklist area that we can use and refer to our friends. This area could have safety checklists as well as simple checklists for other activities. What do you think???

[Mr. Fisherman]

It's called a float plan.

use the search function in the archives to get all the details.

Don't leave the dock without having one in place.

Maybe a section on the board is a good idea but when the life of my friends and myself are invloved I make certain to leave the information with someone I trust. And ALWAYS contact the waiting party as soon as you are off the water.

Hope this helps...

[craigc]

I pulled out a number of safety related lists, and information from Chapman Pilot and posted on my website

http://geocities.com/crcboatsafety/index.html

for everyone's use. Earlier today, I had also made put down all my personal, contact and medical information on a card that I'm planning to leave at Lou's house, in case of an emergency. I certainly agree about leaving a float plan, contact, and calling when you return to dry land. Please down load the information from my website, that's why I put it up electronically.

[Troller]

Here is a link to a site put on by the Washington boating safety officers association. Good site with many links to other sites including rules and regs., books, classes , and monthly email newsletter. Maybe Oregon state has a site of their own.
http://www.boatwashington.org/