Special to the Sun
Most of us remember the bungling Gilligan character from the 1960s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island, who claimed to be a mighty sailing man under the command of a skipper that was supposedly brave and sure.
Education, planning and preparation may have been better than being mighty, brave and sure.
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The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary urges boaters not to be a “Gilligan” on the water. Be prepared for bad weather by checking the weather forecast before getting underway and monitoring weather forecasts while underway. Always file a float plan. The filing of a Float Plan with friends or relatives enables these people to inform the Coast Guard when you don’t arrive where you are supposed to. When properly completed the float plan contains information to make a potential search faster and easier. In the case of the SS Minnow no one knew they were overdue for several weeks.
Equip your vessel with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB.) Had the Minnow been equipped with an EPIRB, the crew and passengers would have been located and rescued with minimum delay. Don’t rely on cell phones, they have limited offshore range. The Coast Guard also recommends all boaters equip their vessel with a VHF marine radio, but remember VHF marine radios also have limited offshore range. Consider the limitations of your vessel – is it appropriate for the intended voyage?
With the traditional boating season here, both inexperienced and seasoned boaters should take advantage of boater education classes and free vessel safety checks offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadron. Visit www.safetyseal.net for more information. Education, planning and preparation are the key to a safe boating experience.
Although we have made a light of the voyage of the Minnow, safe boating and seamanship is no joke. For more information about safe boating, check out the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
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