Friday, April 27, 2007

Boating Safety Aimed at Anglers - From Coast Guard Waypoints

Anglers Whether an angler prefers fishing for bass, salmon, or trout, one thing’s for sure: it’s important to pay attention to safety when trying to haul anything on board. The U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that, approximately 25 percent of recreational boating deaths were related to vessels that were engaged in fishing activity. According to Jeff Hoedt, Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety, “Boating safety among anglers is a very important outreach initiative. All of us in the collective boating community must take a role in making sure that the estimated 19.5 million anglers on our waterways understand the potential hazards of angling while boating—and how to avoid them.” (From the 2001 U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation survey, available at, p. 83.)

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Why does it take hours to evacuate a sinking vessel?

A cruise ship, the Sea Diamond, ran into a reef off the coast of Santorini, Greece, on April 5, tearing a hole in the hull that sank the vessel 15 hours later. The nearly 1,600 passengers and crew didn't get off the ship for three hours. Why does an emergency evacuation take hours? Dwayne

Rory McAlinden and Clare Steele - Cousins - Perish Together in Tragic Boating Accident

CASTLEWELLAN will come to a standstill today for the funerals of the two teenaged cousins who drowned after a tragic boating accident.

Rory McAlinden (18) died as he heroically attempted to keep his cousin Clare Steele (16) afloat in the icy waters of Castlewellan Lake when the canoe they were in capsized.



Brosnahan - Nearman - Story Continues -Iowa lawmakers fear proposed drunken boating law may be too tough

In the wake of an Okoboji boating death involving a Sioux Falls man, some Iowa lawmakers say they’re worried about a proposed law that would toughen drunken boating laws in that state. A bill, which was approved unanimously in the Iowa Senate, would lower the blood-alcohol limit for boaters from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent, the current limit for driving on Iowa roads. ----------------------------------- We have commented on this case for many months now. Dwayne

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Airboat Overturns In SW Miami-Dade - Airboat Accident

AirBoat Flips During Tour In Southwest Miami Dade (CBS4) SW MIAMI-DADE Several people were in need of assistance after an airboat overturned in SW Miami-Dade. The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon 15-miles west of Krome Avenue and Tamiami Trail when an airboat operating out of the Miccosukee Reservation overturned, sending approximately 8 people into the water. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived at the scene and was able to remove everyone from the water safely. The victims were treated nearby for minor injuries. ---------------------------------------------------------- Dwayne

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Why Celestial Navigation?? Do you need it??

Celestial Navigation is the art and science of navigating by the stars, sun, moon, and planets, and is one of the oldest of human arts. With the rise of radio and electronic means of finding location - especially with the increasingly popular GPS, based on satellite transmissions that can tell us our latitude and longitude within feet - knowledge of celestial navigation has experienced a precipitous decline. So why should anyone study it? This site will tell you why. says this: Well, the real answer is you don't. You don't even need a boat to get to Hawaii or Bermuda, or take a trip around the world. You can do this by plane. It is faster, cheaper, and more comfortable. On the other hand, if you do choose a life at sea, then one of the fundamental rules of thumb that has been tested so many times we don't even have to go over it, is you must be prepared to take care of yourself. You must be self reliant. Murphy's Law was invented on a small boat at sea. Anything electrical is vulnerable after some time in the salt air, especially when it is being jarred, bumped, banged, and dropped (i.e. going to weather). -------------------------------------

If you are planning an ocean passage and want to be safe this writer advocates celestial navigation as a safety contingency.