Can You Buy Safety?

[peikenberry]

Excellent article. I hope it gets wide distribution.

[svbeatrix]

Good article. Thanks

[svbeatrix]

Thanks for writing this. It's great.

[fallisbase]

As a newcomer to this site, I have been reluctant to respond, but I must on this topic. my qualifications: I was corporate safety officer for a large company with 1600 workers for 6 years. During that time I did not have to bury any of them.

I agree with many of the postings, the best piece of safety gear is: R E S P E C T. Respect for the power of the sea and respect for your abilities. If you do not have these don't even think about leaving the dock, you are an accident looking for a place.

Safety gear is for the rare time that you are presented with a "no win" situation. If you are not willing to go to sea without the gear, you are not ready.

[peikenberry]

Hear hear! Fallisbase. Having spent my whole life in boating safety I couldn't agree more.

[seamountie]

What the electronic companies are selling is not so much safety, as instant empowerment. You don't have to take months of courses followed by years of going out with others. Just buy a gps, a chart plotter and radar! And if you still mess up you can call for help with epirb and your dsc radio.

When you are taking your courses and learning from others over a period of time, you are also acquiring wisdom, and learning the unwritten code of behavior called courtesy and honor.

If you can't be bothered to take the time to learn the law & lore of the sea...stay home, buy a video game.

[SailorGregS]

I took the courses from the Power Squadron, how do they compare?

[WouldaShoulda]

[QUOTE=SailorGregS;457672]I took the courses from the Power Squadron, how do they compare?[/QUOTE]

They are among the most thorough for classroom knowledge that I am aware of and a good starting point!!

I also did basic keelboat thru an ASA sailing course to get a practical, on the water experience as well.

[johnshasteen]

Here's what I've learned from enduring two Force 10 storms and lots of lesser storms over the last 50 years:
You can never be over prepared or have enough sea sense.
Your boat is different and your storm will be different than anything you've read about or been told.
The very thing you rely on the most will fail.
You will be what gets you through the storm.

[St Anna]

I certainly have minimal experience compared to john, but have found that people rely on gear( stuff) to give them confidence. These people will ask for a radio check every week. The trouble is that you have to get your mind around being as self sufficient as well as having the necessary gear. If no one can hear you, a radio is useless.

Anyway, what do you have to look forward to, an old persons home?