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Page 2
A very tragic story, and it never should have happened! Anyway, thanks for the course and all the neat info — I have it in my 'Favorite Places' file, and I'm going there now!
__________________________________________ Janice, I think your story is a very significant and important issue and would like to publish it so others will possibly learn from this tragic mistake. Capt. Matt __________________________________________ Capt Matt, Yes, you may use that story at your site — if it helps even one person to realize that it is imperative to teach the crew the basics, it will be worth it. A mere 5 minutes or so at the beginning of each trip would do it — a mini-briefing, of sorts. The following is some of what I think the captain should cover, at least briefly:
By the way, the part of the USCG requirement concerning PFD's states that they must be readily accessible. That does not mean in the storage compartment in the V-berth under two cases of your favorite beverage. 2. Point out the fire extinguisher locations and instruct passengers/crew how to use them. 3. Conduct a demonstration on how to use the VHF radio. Discuss which channel in your area is the emergency channel, and how to pinpoint your location on the GPS (if you have one), in order to give it to the emergency personnel. 4. If something goes wrong and the captain hasn't ordered you to do anything, GET OUT OF THE WAY! It's amazing how many people just stand there dumfounded in the middle of chaos - it drives me nuts! We lost an engine in a 30 knot wind on the Charles River on the 4th of July where there were literally thousands of boats anchored and rafted all around us, and within seconds we were in extreme danger of a collision. We were trying to retrieve a tow line from a fellow boater, and my landlubber brother sat in a chair right in the middle of the back deck (we were on a 32-footer with about 10 people on board, and I was first mate) - after I tripped over him and his chair for the third time, I yelled at him to get out of the way - go into the cabin and stay there! He was hurt, of course, and took it personally, but I tried to explain to him later that on a boat in a critical situation, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem! GET OUT OF THE WAY! (We didn't collide, but it was very close, and everyone was really stressed out for a while afterward).
The copyright of the article Passenger/Crew Orientation - Page 2 in Boating - Power & Sail is owned by . Permission to republish Passenger/Crew Orientation - Page 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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