Toys for the boys

[Keith Hart]

We know that all these gadgets we get for our boats are all essential safety equipment, dont we? Yeh, right!

So what have YOU got then. Lets see just how popular these bits of ESSENTIAL kit are. What is the well dressed RIB (don't forget the SIBs as well) wearing down on the marina catwalk?

Come on folks get polling. Vote for what YOU think is the most essential piece of kit that any RIB/SIB should have.

Keith (Swingometer) Hart

PS The 'Swingometer' thing is a British political joke.

You only get ONE vote, so think about it first

[Keith Hart]

Oops, I think I'll get this back up top.

Keith (pushy) Hart

[dbillyboy]

Never mind what gadgets have we got, a bloody engine would be nice!!

Bill (A ten horse would be nice) Davison. TLS!!!!!!!!!!!

[Keith Hart]

20 votes so far and Hand Held VHF Radio appears to be streaking ahead with 5 votes to date. I wonder who voted for Radar (Brian)?

Keith (keep on polling) Hart

[Keith Hart]

Just a thought...

Why did I vote for Hand Held GPS? (who cares Hart) - (I keep hearing voices - they are telling me to buy a Fish Finder aaaargh)

My vote was initialy a tie between HH VHF and HH GPS. Both are, in my very humble opinion essential. Well I finaly decided HH GPS after reflecting on Andy and Cherie's story about being stranded on the island at the SoC sendoff weekend.

They had to wait for the tide and by the time they were able to leave there was some mist and they could not see the Barage Locks. Fortunately Andy had marked the locks as a waypoint on his HH GPS. They were therefore able to get back okay.

If they only had the HH VHF, what would they have done? Would they call the coastguard, maybe. Okay so what if you hit something and your boat sinks? Chances are you'll loose the radio anyway (certainly will if it is a fixed set).

Well that made me decide that overall the HH GPS was best. They can be used anywhere in the world and as Jools said they can even be used by a large vessell. Also the HH VHF has a limited range and the GPS does not.

Well that's my reasons. Shoot away folks, I'm thick skinned. As proven by the dent my forehead made in PoB's bunk!

Keith Hart

[Mike Garside]

Keith. as far as I'm concerned, you're right about GPS.

But no-one should put to sea with less than two of them. Personally I reckon 3 is better. GPS ineveitably makes us lazy navigators and to avoid the total panic that can occur as the fog clags in and the charts are packed away you need plenty of electronic back-up.

I have a fixed GPS and a hand held onboard these days. In the days I roamed further afield I had 5 - including the one in an Inmarsat-E kept in the grab-bag.

[jools]

OK, so at the moment (combining fixed and H/H units)

VHF Radio is in the lead with 40% of the votes
Second GPS with 25%
third Mobile Phone 18%

This seems to me to be the correct order

Taking Kieths example of finding yourself on an island and trying to find the Barrage in the fog - Fine GPS helps, but you should also have a chart and compass - and with these you should have been able to find Cardiff.

Now if the situation had been slightly different, and when beeching there RIB on Flat Holme they had damaged their RIB, Prop or their engine wouldn't start. Using a GPS to see where they are - or where Cardiff is won't help much! - having a VHF radio they could call for assistance from other RIBS or ships in the area - or worst case the coastguard.

Without a radio they would be stuck - in the tides in the BC there is no way that you could row or swim etc.

I picked the fixed set - as I'm always petrified that the batteries on my portable are going to run out!!

A mobile phone is a poor mans substitute - the networks aren't too keen in putting masts in the middle of the sea just in case you get lost.
(technicaly its also illegal because the mobile phone licences are for "Land use only" - but thats another story)

Also RNLI, CoastGuard etc can home in on your VHF transmission - so even if you don't know where you are (no GPS) they should be able to find you - and they can't do that with a mobile phone.

just my 2penith

Jools

[Mike Garside]

No argument with your logic, Jools. But have to differ with you on the fundamantal thinking.

Your choice of radio over GPS puts a priority on getting help from others when you are in trouble.

I, personally, have a problem with that line of thinking. I believe that if I put to sea, I should be responsible for my own destiny. Sort out my own problems.

Of course, you can, perfectly reasonably, put forward the argument -"What is the RNLI there for if it's not to rescue people?" I can't dispute that. Only I do have a big problem with putting anybody else's life at risk coming to my rescue, especially if my need for rescue is in any way linked to a navigational error on my part.

I choose GPS - because good navigation is fundamental to good seamanship.

Over to you!

[batfalcon]

A HH VHF because as you may know, there are some GPS writstwatches made by CASIO.
It is not a RIB/SIB gadget so you may have them both.

[Brian]

Keith-no, I didn't vote for RADAR !!
I voted for fixed GPS/Plotter.
My logic is like Mike's-sort yourself out-don't get into trouble to start with. Hence most vital bit of kit is a fixed plotter (batteries on HH give out too quickly and plotter not really up to the task). VHF is a backup, except......
For years I cruised without a radio. When asked why I didn't have one I used to argue that
a) I wouldn't get into trouble to start with and
b) I would sort myself out and
c) if anything untowards hapenned to me it would be MY OWN STUPID FAULT and I didn't want anyone risking themselves to sort out a prat like me.
This argument allowed me to sleep at night until someone asked me what I would do if I came across a burning, drifting boat with injured people on board who couldn't help themselves and needed urgent external assistance.
I took my radio course and bought a radio the next week.