[Rhodes22-list] R22 Instrumentation

[Bill Effros]

Peter,

Funny thing about the list.  Sometimes you don't get feedback.  But that 
doesn't mean nobody thought about it.

No time then, no time now.

Just a few thoughts.

1.  You can die of hypothermia in a bathtub.  The size of the waters is 
not the factor.  This type of accident can and does happen to pond 
sailors.  A better radio is not the solution.

2.  Rescue boats don't show up in time under these kinds of situations.  
Make a plan for how to save yourself.  Easier in a Rhodes which won't 
sink.  People are yelling "May Day" "May Day" into a radio instead of 
doing things that could actually save their lives.

3.  Stay out of cold water.  I no longer sail in cold water.  I did when 
I was younger.  I stopped when I dumped a sunfish 200 yards off shore 
late one September, and while I was in the water realized I could die of 
hypothermia if I was unable to right the boat, and get back to land 
quickly.  I will sail a Rhodes for longer in the season than most other 
boats, but I will review my hypothermia equipment for next year.

4.  Couldn't help but notice the comment about unable to search because 
the anchor wouldn't hold...  Not only do the anchors hold under those 
conditions, 30 knot winds drive the anchors so deep into the bottom, 
it's difficult to free them.  These guys didn't know how to set an 
anchor, or didn't have the proper anchor for their waters.  Practice 
next summer.  When you start taking on water, know how to set an anchor 
first.  Then start to deal with the water, with the radio, your GPS 
position, your EPIRB, with the life raft, whatever.  You can stabilize 
your situation in less than a minute if you know how to do it.  It's 
important to know how, and to know that's the first thing you do.

5.  Bilge pumps?  'nuff said.

Bill Effros




Peter Thorn wrote:
> Dave,
>
> Last week I posted a few articles about a new 38' Carolina Classic sport
> fisherman boat that sank recently while en route from Edenton to the Miami
> boat show.  It seems no one on the list took much notice, but this event has
> intrigued me since I first read about it.   It turns out the Captain was 78
> years old and evidently experienced.  His mate was 55 and not much was
> written about him.  Both died of hypothermia resulting from exposure to cold
> water when the new boat they were delivering sank in 18' of water, about 5
> miles from Oriental, NC  near Garbacon shoals.
>
> Last Friday I helped my buddy Lawrence deliver his Tanzer 26 from Oriental
> to New Bern to prepare for a race last Saturday.  As is our custom, we ate
> lunch at M&Ms Restaurant before departing  and happened to sit at the bar
> next to Captain Larry Walker (who teaches the Captain's courses in
> Oriental).  We engaged in a discussion about the accident -- it has been the
> talk of the town since it happened.
>
> Captain Walker made some excellent points I feel are worth sharing.  First,
> if the lost souls had contacted the Coast Guard, they would doubtless be
> alive today.  They only had 5 watt hand-held radios with them, which in 3-4'
> waves may not have been able to transmit that far.  The investigation
> revealed that other hand helds at that location could not raise the Coast
> Guard either.   VHF is line of sight and it was blowing 30 that day.   A
> fixed mount VHF on a sailboat is a big advantage worth acquiring: 25 watts
> of power and 30' of  antenna elevation.  The higher the antenna, the longer
> the range.
>
> Captain Walker strongly suggested an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating
> Radio Beacon).
> http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|344|302025|320637&id=99121 This
> is a small expensive device that sends a signal up to a satellite and on to
> the Coast Guard, telling them you need help.  You just throw it in the water
> and it automatically goes to work saving your life.  Don't buy an EPIRB
> without the built-in GPS feature.  The GPS EPIRB transmits the location of
> the EPIRB to the Coast Guard.  This can save lots of time they would
> otherwise waste on triangulation.  When hypothermia is involved minutes can
> be life and death.
>
> There are now fixed VHF sets available that connect with your GPS and have
> an emergency switch that will transmit your position to nearby vessels with
> similar equipment and to the Coast Guard.  (The Uniden UM 525 is one
> example, on sale now at Defender for $150.)  Evidently, Channel 70 is soon
> to be the new emergency channel and these are set up for that too.  These
> radios are much less expensive and for coastal sailing may be a reasonable
> compromise.  However, if the cockpit fills with water and the electrical
> system shorts out the radio may not be much good and you may wish for an
> EPIRB.
>
> If you are still deciding how to spend money on your new Rhodes, you might
> want to consider some of these equipment choices.  I hope you never have the
> need to use them.
>
> PT
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <DCLewis1 at aol.com>
> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2006 12:12 AM
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] R22 Instrumentation
>
>
>
> Folks,
>
> We are in the midst of trying to get our R22 equipped while it’s still at
> GBI and the matter of instrumentation has come up.   The purpose of  this
> Email
> is to solicit input regarding what works.
>
> Our current plan is to have a depth finder (Humminbird Mk17?) and bulkhead
> compass mounted on the exterior cabin wall.  Questions:
> - Both  instruments seem to me to be far from the tiller.  In your
> experience
> can  you meaningfully use instruments mounted on the cabin (I realize this
> may be a  function of your farsightedness, but any input is welcome.).   In
> particular, would a hand held compass be more useful than a bulkhead
> compass?
> If you like a bulkhead compass, any specific recommendations  regarding
> models
> and types?
> - If these instruments are mounted  on the exterior, how do you keep them
> from walking away?  Has anyone had a  problem in this regard?
> - I understand the Mk17 has a bezel that facilitates  mounting.  I also
> think
> the Mk17 has a 1 year warranty that the display  will be waterproof.  But
> for
> the long term, how do you keep the Humminbird  (or any other) depth
> finder/GPS display secured and out of the weather when the  boat’s secured?
> I haven’t
> identified a cap that would keep the sun and  precip off it and/or secure it
> - have I missed something?  I gather there  are a number of Humminbird users
> on the board, what do you do?  I believe  there are caps for bulkhead
> compasses, that protect them from the weather, and  provide some security,
> it that what
> you use?
>
> I’m inclined to use a hand held GPS, just because it will be closer to  me.
> Also, it will be easily secured and I can take it home to program way
> points
> etc.  The same GPS could act as a compass.  The alternative is  to use the
> Humminbird depth finder with a GPS driver - they make one - or  another
> bulkhead
> mounted GPS system.  The Humminbird will have a larger  display, but at the
> front of the cockpit.  Again, I’m not sure the  Humminbird can be secured or
> kept out of the weather, and I don’t think it will  be a simple matter to
> take it
> home to program a course, way points, etc.   Has anyone considered these
> trades and come to a decision as to the way to  proceed.  Better yet, does
> anyone
> have experience with hand held vice  bulkhead mounted GPS displays.
>
> Thanks for any input.
>
> Dave
>
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