Spring Boating ... Be Safe In the Water Too

Spring is here and well every where else in the country too, though I am sure those of you having snow still have not started boating..
If you have a boat then you should have your safety needs in mind.. Did you follow our Spring Safety Check List Posts  , if not you can click the link and read them.

Triad Marine reminds you to be safe while boating this Spring and Summer as well as anytime of the year, but today I want to talk about safety when playing in and around the water.
Remember the ocean and rivers have currents even if they look slow moving or still, water can always be in motion.
Never swim alone.. it is just bad practice anything can happen. Take flotation devices with you and your swim partner, the best ones are worn and the worst one is the one you left at home. Keep watch over your swim buddy at all times. If you are in a moving body of water wear the life vest... Weak swimmers should wear one at all times and strong swimmers should consider it.
Keep in mind the temperature of the water can affect your ability to swim...
Watch for the weather to change, when the wind picks up so do currents and that is when people get swept away.
Drowning can happen with no warning signs, most victims of drowning never make a sound or thrash like you see on TV or would imagine.

From This Article by Mario Vittone you can read about most drowning cases and how they really look

1. Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.
2. Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
3. Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
4. Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
5. From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.

Be safe my friends and at Triad Marine we believe marine safety encompasses a lot more that just boating.

A comfortable solution to Traditional PFDs is the belt pack..

Small Craft Safety Equipment

Every boat needs safety equipment... From the smallest aluminum boat to the biggest commercial tankers you need the right safety gear. The size of the vessel and the waterways you use can be a factor in choosing the minimum safety gear.
On a small craft the number one essential piece of equipment is a life vest for every single person on board! This is a no exception to the rule piece of safety gear no matter the size of the vessel but in small craft it is often the only safety gear. Make sure they are working properly and all of the straps are in good shape.
To supplement your life vest you can add a strobe to the vest that will go off should you fall over board and end up in the water. You may also consider a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) not to be confused with a messenger device like SPOT which also has a place and a purpose. My advice with SPOT is be sure you pay your subscription fees and double check your batteries.
If you have a small craft over 20 feet you may want to consider a small life raft such as a Revere Coastal Compact, it is light weight and only a single buoyancy tube but will get you out of the water if you capsize. You may accompany the life raft with a small ditch bag.
Pick a safety package based on where you will be in your small craft. Consider the possibility that your boat could capsize, consider the possibility they there may not be anyone else around if you go off course, and remember to consider the fact that cell phone batteries die and most all cell phones are not water proof.
I feel compelled to talk about small craft safety today based on a couple of recent stories in Texas.
Safety gear is no guarantee that you will come out of the situation alive and well but, you have to arm yourself with the best possible equipment to have the best chance at survival.

Coast Guard Rescues 2 After Boat Capsizes in San Antonio Bay Near Port Lavaca

And this story
Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Fisherman in Galveston Bay

Here is my small craft Safety Equipment Package Idea

This package includes:

*Revere Coastal Compact 4 Life Raft with Canopy

*Revere Survivor Ditch Bag

*4 Revere Comfort Man Inflatable PFDs Auto Activation

*1 USCG/SOLAS Hand Flare

*2 USCG/SOLAS Parachute Flares

* Revere Day Pak Plus First Aid Kit

* Revere Hear Me Whistle

* Revere See Me Strobe

* McMurdo Fastfind 210 PLB

Remember we can customize a package for you!

Colder Weather Means More Boating Risks

As the cooler temperatures make their way south to the Houston area we find increased risks with boating...Should you fall over board and remain in the water very long you are at increased risk for hypothermia. Hypothermia is actually defined as any time the core body temperature falls below 95* F. Taking extra precautions in cooler temperatures is the key to avoiding a tragic outcome.  On Friday December 2, 2010 we had a shrimp boat capsize in our waters and 3 of the 4 men were rescued clinging to debris, sadly they have to be treated for hypothermia which leaves a grim reality that the 4th person in the water probably has hypothermia as well leaving them at greater risk of drowning. He has still not been located and the Coast Guard suspended it's search for him. You can read the full story here.

Make sure there is a working PFD for each person aboard and make sure they are wearing it. By having the life vest on you give yourself an advantage should you fall over board. Once you fall into the cold water if you begin to lose dexterity and function you will not be able to swim to keep your head above water a PFD is designed to help you stay afloat. Wearing it is the only way to be sure it will work.

With that being said there are some things that can make your journeys on the water safer and help protect you against hypothermia. The first thing you need is a life raft this will help get you our of the water if your boat were to capsize or sink. even if you go into the water and become wet and cold you can increase your chances by having a way to get out of the water. Pack some extra isothermal blankets in your ditch bag and use them to attempt to stay warm once you are in the life raft. Purchase an EPIRB or PLB or both and keep the PLB with you. The sooner they can find you the better chance you have of recovering fully from hypothermia.

If you plan on making overnight trips in cold weather you may want to consider an immersion suit for each crew member. The immersion suits are designed to help you stay warm, they will make a big difference in how quickly your body begins to go through the stages of hypothermia.

As always file a float plan, check dates on safety gear, check all components of the boat, and be prepared for the worst conditions and you will always have a more enjoyable boating experience.
There are a lot of ditch bag items that can help one survive and if you need help choosing these items we will be happy to sit down and help you. We can also provide you with more information on PFDs, PLBs, EPIRBs, and Life Rafts.

Survival Times in Cold Water Without Protective Clothing

Water Temperature		Loss of Dexterity	Exhaustion or	Expected Time of
Degrees C	Degrees F	with no protective clothing	Unconsciousness	Survival
0.3	32.5	Under 2 min.	Under 15 min.	Under 15 to 45 min.
0.3 to 4.5	32.5 - 40	Under 3 min.	15 to 30 min.	30 to 90 min.
4.5 to 10	40 - 50	Under 5 min.	30 to 60 min.	1 to 3 hrs.
10 to 15.5	50 - 60	10 to 15 min.	1 to 2 hrs.	1 to 6 hrs.
15.5 to 21	60 - 70	30 to 40 min.	2 to 7 hrs.	2 to 40 hrs.
21 to 26.5	70 - 80	1 to 2 hrs.	2 to 12 hrs.	3 hrs. to indefinite
Over 26.5	Over 80	2 to 12 hrs.	Indefinite	Indefinite

The above table is simply a reference, remember each person's body reacts differently and one may become colder more quickly if they suffer from certain illnesses or if they take blood thinning medications.

Safety Man Part 1

Stay tuned for Safety Man part 2 Coming soon you will meet his arch enemy ...DOPE (Doesn't Own Proper Equipment)

I have a (Insert Unsinkable Boat Name Here) so I don't need one of "Those"

In the title it says I have a (unsinkable boat) you can choose your favorite brand name as my point is not to bash the boats but the mentality that comes with the word unsinkable. Also in the title I don't need one of "those" you can make this a few items EPIRB, PLB, Ditch Bag, or a Life Raft.


"In 2008 the #1 cause of deaths - 278 of them -- in boating accidents was because of capsizing, flooding or swamping.

Last month the U.S. Coast Guard awarded a two-year grant to the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and Davis & Company (boat surveyors) to investigate capsizing and swamping occurrences in recreational boating. The last time the USCG investigated this category of accident in a special study was in the 1970s. In 2008 there were 856 reported accidents involved with capsizing, swamping or flooding, and 535 (62.5%) of these involved "cabin motorboats" or "open motorboats."


To me 62.5% is a big number of cabin and open motor boats, that is more than half. So these unsinkable boats do you think they capsize ...Of course when you are doing things wrong like this little story below or mother nature decides the weather will change and the seas will be rough.


"Katherine Martin was operating a 17-foot Boston Whaler when she crashed with an 18-foot Larson Bow Rider operated by Eric Meyer at 12:15 a.m., police said. The Boston Whaler (unsinkable boat) capsized and sent all five people on board into the water. "
See the full story HERE


Beyond capsizing there are chances of motor and electronics failure so every boat no matter the sinkable factor needs to be properly equipped for every trip you make on the water.


Should your unsinkable boat capsize would you be able to hold on the the hull of the boat in rough seas and manage to hold on to your kids, wife, family, or friends. If you are in an area where no one may see you for 17 hours like THIS POST how will you fair. Do you have an accessible life vest for everyone on board or better yet are they wearing them.  A PLB could have changed their story and reduced time in the water how could it change yours.
Remember This Story From Last Summer a PLB or EPIRB could have re-written this as well.
Safe boating is the most important part of boating, in the event your unsinkable boat leaves you stranded or capsizes wouldn't you like to just say that it did not matter because I had my back up plan in place.


No one at this point can make recreational boaters have life rafts, EPIRBs and PLBs as these are not regulated under laws like the commercial vessels, so it is up to each boater to put forth personal responsibility in the matter.  Not every boat needs to be decked out with every piece of safety gear available but at least choose safety gear based on where you boat and the number of people you are going to be responsible for while on the water.
Everyone from the Kayaker to the ocean cruiser can benefit from safety gear, starting with a small and simple PLB and going all out with an EPIRB, Life Raft, PLB, Ditch Bag, VHF radio, Sat Phone and many other items you may want when doing an ocean sail or cruise.


Remember unsinkable means nothing to mother nature, unsinkable doesn't mean the battery won't go down, the engine and electronics won't fail or that your boat won't capsize.
Something as simple as spending less than $400 on a PLB can re-write your story!

As Small as most Mobile phones sells for $279.00

Buy it Here

use Coupon Code BLOG at check out to save $25.00

This Larger PLB unit is full of features and will come with a belt clip, lanyard and floats!

Also now with yearly subscription you can get the "I'm OK" service to learn more visit 406 Link 

$395.00

Buy it Here

Use Coupon code BLOG at check out to save $25.00

Don't go on any outdoor adventure without the peace of mind a PLB can bring.

I Fish the Bay Do I Need a PLB?

Yes even if you just fish the bay you need a PLB!
The story below could have been written differently, with the help of a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon).


Two boaters rescued after 17 hours in the water
Posted: 09 Aug 2010 09:18 AM PDT
HOUSTON – The crew of a towing vessel rescued two boaters Monday morning after their vessel capsized Sunday afternoon in Trinity Bay.
The crew of the T/V Diamond Back rescued the two people at approximately 8 a.m. Monday morning. The survivors left in a small pleasure craft Sunday from Eagle Point in Galveston County, and were forced into the water after their vessel capsized at approximately 3 p.m. They reported that they were unable to make a distress call.
A 25-foot Response Boat – Small from Coast Guard Station Houston is en route to transport the two back to shore. Their survival is attributed to wearing their life jackets and staying with their vessel after it capsized.
“Due to the circumstances of their situation, they were unable to make a distress call,” said Bill Segelken, an operations unit controller at Sector Houston-Galveston. “The fact that they were wearing their life jackets, significantly increased their ability to remain afloat throughout the night.”
“Staying with their vessel after it capsized, contributed to them being visible and able to be rescued,” he said.
According to the National Safe Boating Council, 85-90% of people who drown in boating accidents are not wearing life jackets.


These boaters and so many others could have decreased their time spent in the water by having a PLB on them. When you are on any boat in any body of water anything can happen. These boaters were in an area they felt was relatively safe and they were smart to have life jackets but they could have been out of the water much sooner with the help of a PLB.

This story has a happy ending of rescue not recovery but the rescue could have been much sooner with the right equipment. There are PLBs as small as a mobile phone now, that cost less than a lot of phones, so not having one is just a matter of not wanting to have one. Put yourself in those soggy shoes and ask how long would you want to be in the water especially over night. Even near shore and in the bay a PLB attached to your life vest could save your life.

As Small as most Mobile phones sells for $279.00

Buy it Here

use Coupon Code BLOG at check out to save $25.00

This Larger PLB unit is full of features and will come with a belt clip, lanyard and floats!

Also now with yearly subscription you can get the "I'm OK" service to learn more visit 406 Link 

$395.00

Buy it Here

Use Coupon code BLOG at check out to save $25.00

Don't go on any outdoor adventure without the peace of mind a PLB can bring.

August Boat and Customer of the Month

For August the boat and customer of the month have to be Ken and Sherry. They have been very awesome throughout the purchase process. They wanted a small rigid hull inflatable and I suggested the Achilles HB240LX. This is not a big RIB but it is deep and open so it feels bigger than the 7'10" that it is. We ordered it and had to wait for it to arrive and when it finally came in we had some hold ups in the Weaver Snap Davits fitting the boat to their large boat. After some trials and errors we finally made the delivery. I have a couple of shots of the boat on the swim platform davits, a shot of the boat with the Yamaha F2.5MSH and a great shot of Ken and Sherry with the new dinghy. We wish them many happy years of boating fun and we hope their Achilles with the Yamaha is a reliable and fun package. We know that they will have the prettiest new dinghy at the up coming TMCA dinghy regatta! Happy boating and Thanks for being awesome customers.

World Largest fold up inflatable boat!

Well here you have it the largest fold up boat in the world. I guess you could say it is portable but I would say it is mostly for ease of shipping. This is a Zodiac MKVI HD. Tom is having a seat there on the thrust board and as you can see we either have a big boat or a little guy. This "little" inflatable is 23' aka 7 meters long. If you think you need one let us know.

Here is a link so you can go check out the specs on this boat ....did I mention it weighs 705 lbs empty!
http://www.zodiacmilpro.com/product/zodiac/MK6HD.pdf

Triad Marine Since 1992

Triad Marine was opened in November of 1992 to sell and service inflatable boats and life rafts to the customers along the Texas gulf coast. Since that time Triad has grown, and now services a world wide customer base. Our technicians are the best trained in the industry. We are factory certified and trained to accomplish the most complex service requirements. In addition, we are also a United States Coast Guard certified life raft repack station.

visit www.triadmarine.com
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Triad Marine & industrial Supply, INC.

I will be blogging about specials, events and marine safety as we as some funny tells and happy customers from time to time.

Please leave us comments and let us know what kinds of questions you would like to see answered here!