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People Stocking Up on Safety Gear After Boating Tragedy

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By MARK  DOUGLAS | News Channel 8

Published: March 4, 2009

CLEARWATER - Gill Wilkins and his wife Maureen spent some time at West Marine this week stocking up on nautical supplies for their new 33-foot Chaparral cruiser.

The gripping story of three men lost at sea and a fourth recovering from exposure motivated their shopping trip. A boat carrying NFL players Victor "Marquis" Cooper and Cory Smith and former University of South Florida football players Will Bleakley and Nick Schuyler capsized after leaving out of Clearwater Saturday morning. Schuyler is recovering from hypothermia and dehydration at Tampa General Hospital. The Coast Guard called off the search for the others Tuesday night.

"I don't think you can fool with your own safety, and when you get the need of these things you won't have the opportunity to return and get one better," Wilkins said.

The Wilkinses were stocking up on personal flotation devices designed for offshore use, a throwable life ring and an emergency locating beacon known as an "EPIRB."

"You have to plan for the worst, and (hope) everything works out," Wilkins said.

They have to return Thursday for the EPIRB because West Marine was sold out of the model they wanted.

Managers at West Marine say they've had a hard time keeping the shelves full of safety gear this week. There was only one "Type 1" life vest after Wilkins purchased seven of them at $110 apiece.

The amount and kind of safety equipment boaters need varies depending on the nature of their vessels and what they plant to do with them, said West Marine store manager Kevin Davenport.

For boaters who stay in fresh water, bays or close to shore, a "Type 2" life vest for every person on board is probably sufficient. They cost about 10 percent of what a "Type 1" vest costs. Both versions fulfill Coast Guard requirements, but there are significant differences.

"The Type1, as you can see, used to be referred to as the old Mae Wests," Davenport said. "They're not as comfortable. They're bulkier, but they're designed to float you in an upright position even if you're unconscious, so they'll float you face up if (you have) hypothermia or if you were knocked out or whatever the case may be."

Optional equipment boaters can connect to vest includes light sticks and personal strobe lights, making it easier for rescuers to find them in the dark.

A simple mirror is effective in daylight, and even a reflection from a watch crystal is better than nothing to catch the attention of searchers.

The Coast Guard requires every boater to have some type of signal flares, but once again there are choices based on cost and need.

The simplest is a hand-held flare, followed by 12-gauge flare guns and 25mm flare pistols for projectiles that launch higher and last longer. The best ones float down on parachutes. Boaters should periodically check their signaling devices to make sure they're not out of date.

These days there's a vast choice of electronic devices that can be lifesavers in emergencies.

The most expensive -- and the most effective -- is the EPIRB, or emergency position indicating radio beacon.

"It's probably the single-most important piece of safety equipment you can offer," said Davenport.

Essentially, an EPIRB is a personal homing device that will guide the Coast Guard to within 10 feet of a boater's position, no matter how far offshore.

They're not cheap. Prices at West Marine start at around $600.

"I would not venture offshore without an EPIRB on the vessel," Davenport said.

Most boaters who routinely go offshore equip their boats with VHF marine radios. Prices begin at around $100 for hand-held models with a three- to six-mile range. They offer real-time marine weather reports, as well as enabling instant communication with the Coast Guard or other vessels.

Stationary models can cost $200 or more and are equipped with antennas that have a range of 25 miles or more, depending on how high they are off the water. VHF radio works on a line-of-sight basis with tower sites located onshore.

Cell phones are OK for boating close to shore but don't work once they are out of range of land-based cell towers.

"A lot of folks are using them, but I would not," said Davenport. "VHF is the maritime communication device, via the Coast Guard, via other vessels and so on."

Higher end VHF marine radios also work in tandem with GPS navigational gear to transmit exact locations to rescuers via VHF radio, much like an EPIRB operates with satellites.

"It digitizes the information and transmits your present position or location via the VHF to surrounding vessels, Coast Guard, and whoever's out there listening," said Davenport.

There is even a subscription-based emergency beacon called a spot satellite messenger that sends out alerts or allows someone at home to track a boater's location on a personal computer, even during routine recreational trips.

That technology costs less than $200, not including the subscription costs. Davenport considers its effectiveness and reliability secondary to the EPIRB, though.

Experts say the best safety protection isn't something you can buy at West Marine or any other marine story. It's basic common sense. There's no substitute for knowing the capabilities of your vessel, your own skills, the conditions at sea and making decisions based on what could happen if things go wrong.

A "float plan" left with friends and relatives costs nothing but helps immensely when boaters turn up missing.

Wilkins said he and his wife can't wait to start exploring the coastal and offshore waters. But as new boaters, they're not going to rush into anything.

"You just want to make sure that if you do ever, heaven forbid, get in a situation that you've maximized the opportunity of survival," Wilkins said.

Many people who are new to boating take safety courses before venturing out. Wilkins is taking that a step further.

"We've hired a captain that's going to train us for a few weeks," he said.

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