Mayday call out from Gladstone

[rumy1]

What boat do you consider safe to venture 85km's to Doughlas Shoal (from the North Entrance.) safe ?
I am working on saving up for a 40 ft cat with twin 225's on the rear but I don't think I'll live that long. So maybe I should leave it for the rich guys who can afford them gaint cats for OFFSHORE work.
I have been to Sykes 4 times, Bloomfield once, NW island once, Rockcod Shoals heaps, Masthead a few times also since I have had my boat and I always wait till good weather and have never had a problem.
I certainly don't consider myself an idiot and I can tell you there are plenty of boats out there mainly my size running around.
So maybe we're all idiots and your not hey ?
I enjoy my boat but you can go and buy your Cruisecraft Outsider 18 ft'er and go and park up a creek and see who gets laughed at. I won't hear the laughs because I'll be out at the reef having a good time !

[Tangles]

Old saying, safest thing afloat is a ping pong ball, anything else the ocean needs to be respected,

A bigger boat doesnt mean your safe or immune offshore, you just have a better chance assuming your skipper knows his stuff... as for people who push the boundaries, well that puts others at risk to rescue you because of a bad choice

gets down to common sense; the sea is a cruel girlfriend sometimes;; id rather be with a competent skipper who knows the sea in a smaller boat than some cowboy in a big boat anyday, because that cowboy thinks his offshore rig can handle it because it says so on the brochure...

[Plastic_Magic]

I think venturing out to douglas in anything below 17 foot is ridiculous but anything over is perfectly fine as long as the boat is reliable and has a good skip and all the safety equipment needed. Douglas shoals is one of the safer places to venture for great fishing as you have North West island to go if mother nature decides to give you a fright. As with the fuel capacity not all boats need 300 litres of fuel to go that far.

Cheers Plastic_Magic

[rumy1]

I think venturing out to douglas in anything below 17 foot is ridiculous but anything over is perfectly fine as long as the boat is reliable and has a good skip and all the safety equipment needed. Douglas shoals is one of the safer places to venture for great fishing as you have North West island to go if mother nature decides to give you a fright. As with the fuel capacity not all boats need 300 litres of fuel to go that far.

Good on ya mate .... but like everyone I asked today, they virtually all said the same as you have just said.
Looks like I'm not the idiot here Kerry !!!

Reasons why people venture out further than they used to

1. The boats are more seaworthy these days - average to average - there are exceptions ok !
2. Engines are more reliable, it is rare to have a modern motor breakdown compared to the old ones. (from a fishing magazine)
3. We have pretty accurate weather reports now.
4. We have GSP units and good sonar systems, local charts and internet forums to share our knowledge.
5. We use heaps less fuel so this reduces weight problems for venturing further out.
6. There are alot more boaties and VMR support - weather reports on radio.
7. Much more safety rules and boat safety features .... epirb, log ons, fire extinquishers etc
8. What ever else .........

[Kerry]

Perhaps there a lot more idiots then I thought?

Plastic magic! You ever been to Douglas in a 17 boat? From Gladstone? Is your comment as in "Would do" or "Have done"?

But it would appear it's technology and (over) confidence that is the guiding component?

So a couple of comments and questions

What WAS the actual weather report on the day this vessel sunk?
GPS was never going to do anything constructive was it?
Radio failed due to batteries being drowned but in any case this area is on the verge of VHF coverage as it is.
More safety rules were not going to prevent this incident.

These people were EXTREMELY lucky and this is about the only lucky point in all of this worth remembering.

Regards, Kerry.

[rumy1]

My belief is, if he had a transom door fitted instead of leaving a gapping hole there he probably would not of had any problems. I would not have done what he done and the results speak for themselves.

[Kerry]

Hindsight? Ain't it a wonderfull thing?

[fishing111]

Perhaps there a lot more idiots then I thought?

Plastic magic! You ever been to Douglas in a 17 boat? From Gladstone? Is your comment as in "Would do" or "Have done"?

But it would appear it's technology and (over) confidence that is the guiding component?

So a couple of comments and questions

What WAS the actual weather report on the day this vessel sunk?
GPS was never going to do anything constructive was it?
Radio failed due to batteries being drowned but in any case this area is on the verge of VHF coverage as it is.
More safety rules were not going to prevent this incident.

These people were EXTREMELY lucky and this is about the only lucky point in all of this worth remembering.

Regards, Kerry.

Kerry not all 17 foot boats are the same, i would rather be out in for an eg/ a Ocean Cylinder 17 footer, than a boat a few feet longer, that togeather with someone who knows his shit. To compare a boat by its length alone in regard to its sea-keeping qualities is quite a stupid remark.Its how a boat is fitted out and the person behind wheel that counts, not if someones boat is 3-6 feet longer therfore its a better and safer boat.

[Kerry]

Look if you think this is the place to take or suggest it is ok to run a 17 foot single engine vessel such as this with 4 POB to to this type of place then you honestly have no background on the area, none what so ever.

This is the point of the discussion paul251 along with rumy1 suggesting his 5.4m would be suitable for the job.

Quite frankly this type of thinking is going to eventually be fatal, it's really only a matter of time based on people's attitudes and there ghunho attitude.

And paul you can split hairs all you like with whatever makes/models/styles you like it still does not replace common sense, which many these days want to call "adventure" or something similar.

This vessel should never have been there in the first place and neither should rumy's and it's only hero's who would suggest otherwise. End of story.

This attitude will see more incidents until one day you will have legislation thrown in your face preventing people from their own stupidity and recklessness. That won't be a good day but then it only takes a few idiots to stuff the whole show.

Regards, Kerry.

[fishing111]

Kerry maybe you should re-read my post, I don't think you grasped it. I agree with what a lot of you have said above,but also it needs to be said that there are 17 foot boats and then there are 17 foot boats. Obviously the Haines was not up to the job, but to put a blanket statement out there that 17 foot boats are not safe is stupid, and thats not splitting hairs.

[polky]

Rummy1 Iagree with your thoughts.I own a 5mtr signature 3mths old and have been to Douglas twice, and got home safe. And not by luck but knowing the conditions and 10years of fishing the reefs.When we head out there are 3 boats mine,5.5mtr savage and a 5.2mtr haines hunter,2 people in each boat,and we have fished lamont,fitzroy,patch,shoals,sykes and a few reefs out from 1770.I have fished Douglas twice in my boat and at least a dozen times in other boats ranging from 5 to 6.5mtrs, most times we have been out, parked up on douglas have been boats of 5mtrs and bigger. Now I know Iam not a DH,hero or gungho,Kerry stick with your thoughts but stop your crap of calling people names when they dissagree with you. Fishos be real how many people have been out wide in boats around the 5.5mtr.

[Kerry]

Hey polky you can do whatever you wish but just because you do it does not remove the idiot tag!

Quite frankly there's a lot more idiots than I first thought and appears to be on the increase. Somebody is going to become unstuck in a big way, it's only a matter of when, just make sure it's not you?

But of course we have a few here who think it can not happen to them and that is not a good sign, not a good sign at all.

[Plastic_Magic]

Kerry

I have ventured to Douglas, Habberfeild, Morseby and every time i was safe. Not all 17 foot boats are uncapable. Its not the mater of is the boat good enough its weather the skip, motor,electronics are good enough. Any boat can handle any seas its weather you drive the boat to suit the conditions. I would feel much more safe in my own boat then in a bigger boat with any body else driving. So weather you have got the hint not all can have a big boat. All we want to do is get out there and catch some good fish.

Plastic_Magic

[disorderly]

Kerry

Its not the mater of is the boat good enough its weather the skip, motor,electronics are good enough. Any boat can handle any seas its weather you drive the boat to suit the conditions.

Plastic_Magic

Hmmmm...Not quite sure about that

[Kerry]

...... Not too sure about plastics experience to make such statements either. Quite frankly I find plastic's comments more talk than anything else!