Training for offshore safety

On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 22:01:20 +0100, "Nigel Knott" <nknott DeleteThis @bigfoot.com>
wrote:

 >A couple of miles offshore, you will be lucky if you have any mobile signal
 >on any network.

because?

We can use our mobile from the DFDS Newcastle IJmuiden ferry for 2 or
3 hours after it leaves.
We also use our Mobile all over the IJsselmeer.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Training for offshore safety 

In article <8p4o805j9i37cgo0801b48rqgvo4c8edjk.RemoveThis@4ax.com>, H. Neary.
<URL:mailto:spamstopper@junk.net> wrote:
 > 'Was thinking of getting a small day boat for fishing, maybe upto a
 > couple of miles offshore.

Good idea

  > Is a correspondence course or any literature available that
 > would provide me with sufficient information to eliminate risks due to
 > ignorance, or is a formal class needed?

Take one of the RYA classes - Day Skipper for eg. Distance learning doesn't
really work so join an evening class (You'll learn nearly as much in the pub
afterwards.)

  > Is a marine radio obligatory BTW or would a couple of mobiles
 > on different networks be adequate for communications?

No. Get radio, licence and take the (very easy) exam.

Mobile coverage is very patchy. In some places you can get a signal miles
offshore, in others the signal stops half way down the beach. In neither
case can you talk to the most important people, those on the other boats
around you, respond to other's distress calls or even listen to CG
navigation warnings.

Cheerio,

--
  >> derek.moody.RemoveThis@clara.net<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Training for offshore safety 

"Derek.Moody" <derek.moody.DeleteThis@clara.net> wrote in message
news:ant260659fc4BxcK@half-baked-idea.co.uk...
 > In article <8p4o805j9i37cgo0801b48rqgvo4c8edjk.DeleteThis@4ax.com>, H. Neary.
 > <URL:mailto:spamstopper@junk.net> wrote:
  > > 'Was thinking of getting a small day boat for fishing, maybe upto a
  > > couple of miles offshore.

Maybe a single day course in sea survival? I've found with anything
practical, like boating, then practical courses are a lot more effective
than reading a book. I found this especially true when doing my powerboat
level 2. You can read as much as you like about making an aproach when you
have wind in one direction and the tide in another, but, when you actually
come to do it, its a whole lot different than you imagine. I'm sure the
same is true for many aspects of marine leisure.

After all, what price do you put on your life and that of your friends who
may be with you?

Remember, many people are picked up by the lifeboats or even die because of
inadequate training or ignorance of their situation. Don't let this happen
to you. The RNLI has a wealth of information that may be of interest to
you. <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.rnli.org.uk/angling.asp" target="_blank">http://www.rnli.org.uk/angling.asp</a>

Most of all, enjoy yourself

Tony Kenny<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Training for offshore safety 

Many thanks to all who replied. I appreciate the advice from Derek and
Tony, but I have little free time and the hours I work would be almost
guaranteed to preclude any formal training.

  If this lack of formal training puts myself and/ or others at
risk, then the boat is out of the question.

  Many thanks for the pointers, I'll now embark on a bit of
research.


HN<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Training for offshore safety 

In article <njet809huollehe948hhbh926rv86o4ifa.DeleteThis@4ax.com>, H. Neary.
<URL:mailto:spamstopper@junk.net> wrote:
 > Many thanks to all who replied. I appreciate the advice from Derek and
 > Tony, but I have little free time and the hours I work would be almost
 > guaranteed to preclude any formal training.

Will it also interfere with routine maintenance?

 > If this lack of formal training puts myself and/ or others at
 > risk, then the boat is out of the question.

At the very least the first few trips ought to be in the company of someone
with experience and you should take some sort of course - even a weekender
or some such (might reduce your insurance too). Of course people have gone
to sea for centuries without formal training - but until the last forty
years or so those with little or no background knowledge were unable to get
very far...

....and you don't have to go very far to find trouble. Ask any blue-water
sailor, they don't worry too much until they get within sight of land but
they start to sweat when within a couple of miles of shore. Most of the
dangers are in just the areas you're likely to frequent with a small
dayboat.

 > Many thanks for the pointers, I'll now embark on a bit of
 > research.

You've begun the right way by asking the question.

Cheerio,


--
  >> derek.moody.DeleteThis@clara.net<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Training for offshore safety 

don't be put off the formal training route. I approached a company for
training and they were very accommodating they split the course up to suit
times I was available and I had a great time.
Brian


"H. Neary." <spamstopper.DeleteThis@junk.net> wrote in message
news:njet809huollehe948hhbh926rv86o4ifa@4ax.com...
 > Many thanks to all who replied. I appreciate the advice from Derek and
 > Tony, but I have little free time and the hours I work would be almost
 > guaranteed to preclude any formal training.
 >
 > If this lack of formal training puts myself and/ or others at
 > risk, then the boat is out of the question.
 >
 > Many thanks for the pointers, I'll now embark on a bit of
 > research.
 >
 >
 > HN
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Training for offshore safety 

If I remember correctly, the sea survival course was a single day and my
powerboat level 2 was also in a single, but very busy, day. I assume your
boat is powered. The powerboat level 2 was most useful and covered very
important topics such as man overboard, tides, weather, charts, buoyage,
coming alongside to name just a few.

The idea of taking somebody out with you who knows the area sounds good.

Going out without formal training may not put you in danger in itself but
you my be less likely to spot potential danger or know what to do about
them. Even with training this doesn't automatically make you 'safe', but
maybe 'safer'.

Tony

"H. Neary." <spamstopper RemoveThis @junk.net> wrote in message
news:njet809huollehe948hhbh926rv86o4ifa@4ax.com...
 > Many thanks to all who replied. I appreciate the advice from Derek and
 > Tony, but I have little free time and the hours I work would be almost
 > guaranteed to preclude any formal training.
 >
 > If this lack of formal training puts myself and/ or others at
 > risk, then the boat is out of the question.
 >
 > Many thanks for the pointers, I'll now embark on a bit of
 > research.
 >
 >
 > HN
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Training for offshore safety