Did I go too far

[Monza]

Except that they didn't put them on when the storm hit?
Easy to be an armchair critic, but that's not exactly all reasonable precautions.

cheers,
Owen

my point exactly - reasonable precautions in good weather can quickly become insufficient in a small boat when the s%!t hits the fan - read the story at

http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.a...E14787,00.html

[Grand_Marlin]

It is like playing Russian Roulette ....

One day....

Cheers

Pete

[Dicko]

Front page in Townsville paper today - a 4.5m tinny with father and son head out 10 miles in calm water with good forecasts to fish shoals south of Townsville in the company of another boat. Thunderstorm hits and both boats try to head back to shore. One boat makes it but father and son's boat is swamped and overturned. They spend the next 6 hours clinging to their overturned hull waiting for help which fortunately comes after the other boat raises the alarm. This happened despite all reasonable safety precautions - they were with another boat and had all safety gear - unfortunately they were seperated in the storm, and all lifejackets and the epirb were lost when the boat overturned and they didn't have time to get to them.

Both were extremely lucky to survive

Their main saving grace was being in the company of another boat, from what I read they lost sight of each other during the trip home, then the other boat back reported them as missing within a couple of hours. All in all a good outcome.

If they didn't have the benefit of someone promptly reporting them as missing, and then being able to give a good indication of their last known position & path home, it could have been much worse.

[creeks4me]

Well a couple of mixed apinions here, I do carry an epirb a vhf radio,moblie phone,also i do always when in a slight chop or rough weather wear my motor lanyard,as for going as far as i did i may not do it again with only my boat but i would do it with another one. I have been caught out closer to the coast by a storm with big and I mean big rain, At the time I was in a 4m tinny and you had to have ya wits about you. If when I do do it again it will be on the neap tides just so the rips aren't as violent,and a up to date forcast.Thanks to all and yes I was mad to go as far as I did. I've been in a few larger boats but there is somthing about the old tiller steer,feels like u have bit more control,anyway thanks for all the opions.

[SNAPPERCOFFIN]

mate - I wouldnt do it, but then again Im not you and you are probably a much better skipper than me

Doesn't matter how good of a skipper you are if you don't have the boat underneath you to do the job.

[SeaHunt]

How many fish did you drive over to get there?

If I can get there in an hour or so I'll go. So it just depends on the conditions, 4.75 metre tinny.

[creeks4me]

Even the big rigs come unstuck! and more than often they the most common to be unprepared. Not enough s/gear,epirbs tucked away,not enough fuel and the list goes on. Common sence prevales and I honestly think a bit of common sence went out the window here ,and I know I won't do it again alone.

[Grand_Marlin]

Creeks,

You havent done anything wrong and you are obviously well prepared.

BUT

Taking a small boat way offshore is taking a very big risk.

Your worst enemy is an unforseen weather change... and as any boatie knows, are very common.

It is good that you carry all the correct and good quality safety gear, but I would rather have confidence in my boat getting me home, than I would in having to even contemplate getting the safety gear out.

No one (including me) is trying to tell you what you can and cant do, but I think you know in your own mind that what you are doing is very risky.

You may never ever have a problem, but then again you may be a statistic next time you try.

Ask yourself:
1) What is the roughest conditoins I may encounter?
2) Is my boat capable of handling these conditions?

If going offshore, it is quite probable that somewhere you will encounter a 25 - 30 knot blow, with higher gusts and seas to a possible 3 metres.
These conditions can be generated within a half an hour from flat seas.

In a half an hour, you are going to be nowhere near home, and still have a long tiresome and dangerous trip ahead of you.

If you survive such a trip, I guarantee you will never attempt it again !!

I suppose it is you that has to weigh up the risks involved.

Always respect the sea.

Cheers

Pete