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Author Topic:   Life Rafts and Survival Suits

rtk posted 05-06-2005 10:46 PM ET (US)
I am setting up my 1997 21 Outrage for inshore/offshore (out to 30-40 miles) fishing on the Atlantic Coast. I also fish into December near shore, water temperatures down in the forties.
I am considering carrying a life raft and/or survival suits on the boat.
I notice on the larger boats it is not uncommon to see a life raft mounted on the boats that fish offshore. I very rarely see the same on small boats that venture out 20-30 miles.
Does anyone carry this safety equipment on their "small" Boston Whaler used for offshore/cold water fishing?
Rich

andygere posted 05-06-2005 11:28 PM ET (US)
Since your Whaler can't sink out from under you as with other boats, but could capsize and/or swamp, a survival suit might be the best route to go. My gut feeling is you are better off staying with the Outrage, but protected from the elements in a survival suit if things really go wrong.
JOHN W MAYO posted 05-06-2005 11:47 PM ET (US)
I purchased a survial suite to carry on my Whaler. You may be able to find a cheap one on Ebay sometime I have seen them in the past. I would not have gotten one myself except I found it at a good price. Even with the best suite, in cold water your survival time is not to long at all, of course longer with the suite. Do some research before you buy one. About the only way I could see leaving my Whaler is fire and could not get it out or I was knocked ot of the boat.
Chuck Tribolet posted 05-08-2005 08:12 PM ET (US)
Dunno about survival suits, but I've spent an hour and a half
in 44F water in my scuba dry suit, no problem. I've also done
three hours (less about two minutes on the beach to drop off
my camera before doing a rescue) in 50F water in a 7mm wet suit.
No problem. Duration is limited by bladder size, not the
suit.
The problem with carrying a survival suit (as opposed to
wearing one) is getting into the suit when the stuff hits
the fan. If your whaler capsizes, it's unlike you can get
into the suit at all, and if you can, it will be full of
water and your insulating layers will be wet, and therefore
not very insulating.
I've worn my dry suit for as much as 10 hours.
Chuck
millerbr posted 05-09-2005 07:30 AM ET (US)
Check out the Mustang Survival MSD900 suite. They are not cheap, but this is what the CG has gone to.
http://www.mustangsurvival.com/products/product.php?id=306
bigjohn1 posted 05-09-2005 08:30 AM ET (US)
Chuck, point well taken on a dry suit's abilities in very cold water but, from a practicality standpoint, who in the heck is going to wear a drysuit all day while boating in anticipation of an emergency? I know they work well for their intended purpose but wearing one all day while fishing and/or joy riding doesn't sound very fun due to the restricted movement aspect.
WHALER27CC posted 05-09-2005 09:37 AM ET (US)
Rich-
you may be better served with good survival suit,an EPIRB with built in gps, and a GOOD sea-anchor. The money spent will probably about the same , but will offer you more flexability for more likely scenerios that you will face other than sinking. The Epirb will get help there quickly, and the sea anchor will keep the bow into the wind, and prevent a dangerous situation from happening should the motors go out. If you have cash to burn after that then go for the raft.Obviously other equipment is important too, like pfds,the necessary electronics,and the items that meet CG safety requirements.
Peter

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Author	Topic: Life Rafts and Survival Suits
rtk	posted 05-06-2005 10:46 PM ET (US) I am setting up my 1997 21 Outrage for inshore/offshore (out to 30-40 miles) fishing on the Atlantic Coast. I also fish into December near shore, water temperatures down in the forties. I am considering carrying a life raft and/or survival suits on the boat. I notice on the larger boats it is not uncommon to see a life raft mounted on the boats that fish offshore. I very rarely see the same on small boats that venture out 20-30 miles. Does anyone carry this safety equipment on their "small" Boston Whaler used for offshore/cold water fishing? Rich
andygere	posted 05-06-2005 11:28 PM ET (US) Since your Whaler can't sink out from under you as with other boats, but could capsize and/or swamp, a survival suit might be the best route to go. My gut feeling is you are better off staying with the Outrage, but protected from the elements in a survival suit if things really go wrong.
JOHN W MAYO	posted 05-06-2005 11:47 PM ET (US) I purchased a survial suite to carry on my Whaler. You may be able to find a cheap one on Ebay sometime I have seen them in the past. I would not have gotten one myself except I found it at a good price. Even with the best suite, in cold water your survival time is not to long at all, of course longer with the suite. Do some research before you buy one. About the only way I could see leaving my Whaler is fire and could not get it out or I was knocked ot of the boat.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 05-08-2005 08:12 PM ET (US) Dunno about survival suits, but I've spent an hour and a half in 44F water in my scuba dry suit, no problem. I've also done three hours (less about two minutes on the beach to drop off my camera before doing a rescue) in 50F water in a 7mm wet suit. No problem. Duration is limited by bladder size, not the suit. The problem with carrying a survival suit (as opposed to wearing one) is getting into the suit when the stuff hits the fan. If your whaler capsizes, it's unlike you can get into the suit at all, and if you can, it will be full of water and your insulating layers will be wet, and therefore not very insulating. I've worn my dry suit for as much as 10 hours. Chuck
millerbr	posted 05-09-2005 07:30 AM ET (US) Check out the Mustang Survival MSD900 suite. They are not cheap, but this is what the CG has gone to. http://www.mustangsurvival.com/products/product.php?id=306
bigjohn1	posted 05-09-2005 08:30 AM ET (US) Chuck, point well taken on a dry suit's abilities in very cold water but, from a practicality standpoint, who in the heck is going to wear a drysuit all day while boating in anticipation of an emergency? I know they work well for their intended purpose but wearing one all day while fishing and/or joy riding doesn't sound very fun due to the restricted movement aspect.
WHALER27CC	posted 05-09-2005 09:37 AM ET (US) Rich- you may be better served with good survival suit,an EPIRB with built in gps, and a GOOD sea-anchor. The money spent will probably about the same , but will offer you more flexability for more likely scenerios that you will face other than sinking. The Epirb will get help there quickly, and the sea anchor will keep the bow into the wind, and prevent a dangerous situation from happening should the motors go out. If you have cash to burn after that then go for the raft.Obviously other equipment is important too, like pfds,the necessary electronics,and the items that meet CG safety requirements. Peter