Safety, safety safety

Albacore Tuna Captain · 05-12-2003, 06:36 AM

We all talk about safety while on the pond and after experiencing a mishap on my boat and hearing about others this week, I'd like to offer a little piece of advice.

I had a passenger who lost his balance and fell backwards striking his head on the gunnel so hard, he was knocked completely out and opened quite a gash on his pumpkin.

We had him medically evacuated and sent to Corvallis by the CG. He's going to be alright, just a concussion and stitches.

But the point is that any boat on the ocean is an unstable platform and most injuries come from people who lose their balance and fall or are injured due to the boat action in rough seas. Everyone that you take on board your boat needs to be aware that they must constantly hold onto something firmly attached to the boat and in rough seas to be constantly vigilant to sudden and violent motion.

The ocean is a fantastic playground but we must always be aware that the park equipment can hurt us.

greenbuttskunk · 05-12-2003, 07:27 AM

No kidding! I took a tumble onto my keister and bruised my tailbone. It was pretty choppy sat. Fishing was good though. We should also mention to folks to remember to bring along an extra set of kidneys. They can get pretty pound on the ride out and back.

OceanBlue · 05-12-2003, 07:32 AM

Geez Mike! I'm glad it wasn't as bad as I heard it was! Was waiting for Pilar and crew to pull in on Saturday and overheard the coasties talking to Wak Jr. (who had a passenger that was awaiting transport to the hospital due to a back injury)

The story I heard was that your client had a STROKE which caused him to fall and split his melon. I'm glad it wasn't THAT bad! Ah how the stories grow, eh?

Sorry we missed you this weekend. I looked for ya several times on Saturday. What time did you get in anyway?!

bait boy · 05-12-2003, 07:33 AM

Fishplay had one of his riders get in a bit of an accident as well. I hope the ankle heals and no real damage was done.

CAPT KUJO · 05-12-2003, 07:45 AM

Boy Mike, that's a bad one. Hope all works out. I know I think about this on the BLACK ROCKET every time I go out! And everybody on board has a seat and PLENTY of stuff to hang on to.

Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom!

CAPT KUJO

tailchaser · 05-12-2003, 07:47 AM

Yeah there were some interesting incidents out there. We had one I talked about it on the S.Coast hali report thread. I had to help a guide out to navigate back to port with some petrified clients in the back of the boat. Definitely have to be careful and knowledgable of the big blue. I had to swallow the pill of an ego also and called it a day when the weather was getting really bad on saturday. One unfortunate decision a captain has to make but when we got back everyone agreed it was the right call and live to fight another day. I'm starting to learn as I get older that the bravest sea dogs don't live nearly as long.

tc

[ 05-12-2003, 08:50 AM: Message edited by: tailchaser ]

Pilar · 05-12-2003, 07:51 AM

There are old sailors and bold sailors but very few old, bold sailors.

Miss B Haven · 05-12-2003, 07:52 AM

Good advice ATC! :smile: Always keep one hand on something. I almost lost a 75 year old guy out the back of the flybridge last year. He came up the ladder and reached for the back of a seat just as the boat pitched up at the bow. Missed the seat and went backwards out "the hole". :shocked: He managed to stop himself only because he had the other hand on the rail the whole time. He was bent at the knees and horizontal before he stopped. Good thing he's small and wirey!
I think it scared me worse than it did him!

[ 05-12-2003, 09:09 AM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

corrirod · 05-12-2003, 08:21 AM

Great advice. It was a little unfriendly out there, especially for us smaller boats. Not necessarily from an unsafe standpoint, just very uncomfortable. Accidents happen so all you can do is be as prepared as possible.

Pilar · 05-12-2003, 08:50 AM

Inconvenience is the way I would describe the chop. Not too dangerous just very uncomfortable.

In small boats there are several hazards. One is getting thrown into something hard or even out of the boat. The old saying is 'one hand for the boat and one hand for the sailor'. So hang on to something and keep your center of gravity as low as you can.

The second issue is the list and trim of the boat. It is never a good idea for all of the boaters to gather in one place near the transom or on one gunnel in a rough sea. This is really a problem on landing fish. I make the fisher back up and then go to the rail for the landing. The other guy is on a camera or in the front of the boat. Anyone who has done the crabpot line in the outdrive rodeo knows this well.