The night before I take my boat offshore fishing, I find it hard to sleep. Of course, I’m excited about the adventure ahead, but my dreams are disturbed by the possibility of something going wrong. Every boating horror story and worst-case scenario plays through my mind as I toss and turn all night. To ease my mind and protect my friends and family from discomfort and harm, I take every safety precaution before I leave the dock. As I lie awake in bed, I don’t count sheep to fall asleep. Instead, I picture my entire arsenal of safety gear to ease my mind.
Essential Safety Gear
According to U.S. Coast Guard regulations, boats between 16 and 40 feet are required to carry a Type II life jacket for each crew member, a throwable floatation device, visual distress signals and signal whistle. Some states have other requirements. While these items are a good starting point for managing emergencies, I carry a long list of safety gear to get out of a bad situation quickly. This link offers a quick check list of required safety equipment.
I fish offshore in a small center console with a single engine. My recurring nightmares involve a breakdown, fire, sinking or injury. When I fish alone, I worry I might fall overboard and become lost at sea. Fishing 40 or more miles offshore, I know help is hours away. Inshore and nearshore anglers can find a list of appropriate safety gear at this link, but offshore anglers require extra precautions.
In an emergency, my priorities are communicating with rescue services, stemming or fixing a mechanical failure or treating an injury and surviving the time interval until I’m rescued. For example, I pack enough food and water to stay on the water for up to 12 hours beyond my expected return. I always leave a float plan with my starting point, destination, expected stops and time of return.
In addition to registering my personal locator beacon with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, I pay for a membership to a tow service and a subscription for my satellite tracking device. Knock on wood, I’ve never had to use any of my emergency gear, but I’m glad I have it when I’m trying to sleep the night before the trip.
Life Jackets
The most important safety device is a properly fitting life jacket. If worst comes to worst and I have to leave the boat, a lifejacket keeps me afloat until rescue arrives. Even if I’m unconscious when I enter the water, a good life vest turns me face up with my airways above surface.
Everyone is familiar with the boxy, bulky and bright orange Type II life vests that are cheap and effective but not very comfortable. Type II life jackets meet Coast Guard requirements for small, private boats, but serious offshore anglers pack a Type I offshore life vest that offers more floatation and a more secure fit for longer periods in the water. An offshore life vest has pockets and clips for signal lights, VHF and personal locator. When I’m fishing by myself, I wear a Mustang Survival Hydrostatic HIT Inflatable Life Jacket. If I fall overboard, I know the life vest will inflate and turn me face up in the water. Kids under 13 are required to wear a life jacket. Do the kid a favor and purchase a comfortable and cool life vest that doesn’t restrict movement. Even pets should wear a life vest. In the event a pet goes overboard the floatation keeps them above water until I grab the handle and pull the critter aboard.
First Aid Kit
Flying hooks, sharp knives and pointy teeth present many opportunities for injury. When choosing a first aid kit for offshore fishing, consider the time it will take to get an injured person to a hospital.
For me, a typical run to shore is three to four hours. It could take twice as long for rescue services to reach me. My first aid kit is designed to treat an injury until I return to shore. I have a pre-made first aid kit like the Orion Offshore Emergency Medical Kit for offshore fishing that includes gauze, Ace bandages, disinfectant, tape and a tourniquet. I have a CPR kit and an emergency blanket. To treat a broken bone, the kit includes splints, wraps and cold compresses. There are tubes of antiseptic and other ointments along with pain relievers and anti-diarrheal tablets. The kit is housed in a waterproof case, and I regularly inspect and replace the contents. Even though I’ve completed courses in CPR and first aid, I appreciate the guidebook included with the kit. I recently added a device designed to quickly and painlessly remove a hook from the skin, one of the most common offshore injuries.
Emergency Locator
Emergency locator beacons and satellite trackers are the biggest advancements in offshore fishing safety gear. The small devices are designed to communicate with rescue services through a dedicated network of satellites. I just push a button and help is on the way. Emergency Position Indicating Beacons (EPIRB) are about the size of a shoe box. They are water activated and send a satellite signal directly to rescue services. The satellites use GPS and triangulation for the most accurate location data. The latest EPIRBs include Automatic Identifying System network that alerts nearby boats of an emergency and my location. An EPIRB is almost indestructible and it floats with the antenna pointing towards the sky. EPIRBS are required equipment for ships and large offshore fishing boats.
On my small boat I carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) and a satellite tracker. The PLB acts like a mini EPIRB, as soon as I hit the button the PLB sends a signal through the same satellite network. My PLB fits in my pocket, but it doesn’t float. To transmit the signal, I hold the unit so the antenna has an unobstructed view of the sky.
A PLB and EPIRB do not require a subscription, but I have to register the devices with NOAA. When rescue services receive my signal they know my name, address, phone number, boat description, alternative contact and other information that helps with rescue. Once the unit is activated, it is difficult to cancel the call and the devices don’t allow me to communicate with rescuers.
For ultimate peace of mind, I have a inReach Mini 2 Satellite Communicator. The tracker fits in my pocket and requires a view of the sky to transmit the signal. Just like the PLB, I hit a SOS button to send a signal to rescue services. With a subscription to the service, the tracker allows me to send messages to people on land and in other boats. Using a smartphone app, I type messages and send information through the tracker.
The tracker allows people on land to monitor my location and path. If my boat breaks down and I’m outside radio range, I can message a person back home to call my tow service, share my location and the nature of my emergency. To get the most out of my satellite tracker, I pay a monthly subscription for messaging and tracking. When I’m fishing alone. I keep a PLB in my left pants pocket and a satellite tracker in my right pocket. Both are attached to a clip and short cord tied to my belt loop.
Even though the Coast Guard doesn’t require small boats to carry these devices, offshore anglers have the responsibility to prepare for the worst-case scenario. EPIRB, PLB and satellite messenger improve my chances for a smooth and quick rescue.
Communication Devices
Even though I have an onboard VHF radio, I carry a handheld VHF for backup. The VHF radio on my boat has a greater range than a handheld VHF, but if my batteries die, the boat radio is worthless. My VHF is waterproof, and it floats. To send an emergency message to nearby boats and ships, the handheld VHF includes AIS network connection. When I’m fishing alone, I keep the VHF clipped to my inflatable life jacket.
A satellite phone is the ultimate in offshore fishing communication. Anglers who regularly fish over 50 miles from shore should carry one. The phone connects to other sat phones and land lines. It also acts as an emergency locator beacon. Sat phones are expensive and require a monthly subscription, but the ability to call anyone from anywhere is worth the cost.
The Coast Guard requires small boaters to have three daytime and three nighttime signal flares or a signal light and distress flag. I carry all four signaling devices. The Orion Alert Locate Blue Water Signal Kit includes aerial and handheld flares that are visible for miles. Each season I check the expiration date on the flares. Even with modern satellite locators and VHF radios, a visual and audible signal alerts other boats and planes of my position. I learned this lesson when I helped search for a boater who lost boat power in the Gulf Stream at sunset. He was able to call rescue services on his VHF before he drifted out of radio range. It was dark by the time the Coast Guard scrambled planes, helicopters and boats. The drifter didn’t have flares or a signal strobe. He was lucky a Coast Guard pilot spotted him flashing his nav light as his boat drifted towards Europe.
The final Coast Guard requirement is a audible signal. I keep a pealess signal whistle clipped to my life jacket and a handheld air horn in my console box. Fishing in the fog or at night, I have had to use the whistle and horn to alert boats of my position.
Weather Gear
Weather conditions change fast in the open ocean and offshore fishing trips last all day so I prepare for any possible weather and water state. In the summer, I wear a baseball cap, neck gaiter, long sleeve shirt, long pants, shoes and sun gloves. On a cold day, I layer with heat trapping inner layers and wind and water shedding outer layer. To create my personal weather zone between my clothes and skin, I choose the best quality design and materials for comfort, durability and versatility. In the event I go overboard, I pack a complete change of clothes. I don’t just dress for the forecast, I dress for the worst possible conditions. Even in summer, I pack a rain suit and sweatshirt in case I’m caught on the water overnight.
Other Essential Items
The Coast Guard requires boats between 16 and 26 feet long to carry a B-I fire extinguisher. Boats between 27 and 40 feet need B-II fire extinguisher or two B-1s. I store the fire extinguisher in easy reach and away from the motor or the console where fires are most likely to start. Inspect the fire extinguisher’s charge every six months.
I also carry a handheld GPS. If my boat loses battery power, the onboard electronics stop working. A handheld GPS allows me to monitor my position and other navigation information while I wait for rescue. The AAA batteries on a handheld GPS last longer and are easier to maintain than a smartphone battery. I even pack a small compass in case I am separated from the boat.
I store the compass, handheld GPS, handheld VHF and personal locator beacon in a small waterproof bag that is in easy reach. I keep the satellite tracker on my console.
Additional Safety Considerations
I never have enough safety equipment, and I always take every precaution. Not only do I want to avoid a mishap, but I would hate to be stuck 40 miles offshore in a little boat wishing I had charged my handheld VHF, serviced the battery in my PLB or alerted someone on shore where I was going and when I would return.
Due diligence before I leave the dock is the best prevention. First, I keep up with regular maintenance on the motor and electrical systems. I change my deep-cycle batteries according to the manufacturer’s recommended life cycle. The day before an offshore fishing trip, I check a half dozen weather apps and network with other anglers planning to fish the area. While I’m on the water, I observe weather patterns, evaluate sea states, know my limits and never hesitate to turn back.
One of the most valuable safety precautions is purchasing a plan with a tow service. If I have a problem, the service comes to the rescue. Not only will they tow my boat to the launch ramp but they can drop gas, charge a battery, pump out water and provide other services. Without the plan, calling a tow service could cost thousands of dollars.
For larger offshore boats, I recommend a life raft. A life raft is expensive and bulky, but in an emergency offshore a life raft could save me from floating in the ocean for hours or days.
Last but not least, I consider my anchor a safety device. Sure, I use the anchor to position my boat for fishing, but if my motor loses power, an anchor keeps my boat from drifting into danger. I carry two anchors, chains and 200 feet of rope.
Safety Gear Is Just a Start
The list of safety gear required by the Coast Guard and state agencies is insufficient to prepare for offshore fishing. In addition to floatation devices, flares and fire extinguishers, I carry equipment to deal with emergencies and communicate with people on land. To prepare for the worst, I imagine the worst possible scenario and prepare a solution. Fishing is dangerous. And offshore anglers are hours from medical or mechanical services. Preparation is the best prevention. When the shit hits the fan, I’m ready to duck.
Learning From Others’ Mistakes
I’ve learned some valuable lessons from other people’s misfortune. One of my friends was 50 miles offshore in a 21 foot boat anchored on a wreck and catching tog. When he tried to start his engine the battery was dead. Luckily he devised a pull cord and pull started his 150-horsepower motor. Now I carry a portable battery charger to jump a dead battery.
Another friend was 80 miles away when his propellers were fouled by a inch-thick rope. Out of radio range of the Coast Guard and his tow service, he communicated with his wife via satellite messenger to send the tow service to the rescue. The day after my friend shared this story, I bought a satellite tracker.
One of the craziest stories occurred when a friend had a mechanical failure that fried his electronics. Even though he couldn’t receive signal on his VHF, he continued to broadcast a distress message. The weather turned ugly and the sun set before a Navy ship rescued him. Now I check and charge my handheld VHF and satellite tracker before each trip.
I have a half dozen stories about anglers in an emergency grabbing the satellite tracker or VHF only to find the battery dead or the unit inoperable. I rarely use my safety gear, so it’s easy to forget about maintenance. Every six months, I schedule a day to review this list of safety gear maintenance and pull out my safety gear and make sure it works properly.
The list goes on and on. With each disaster, I try to learn a lesson and take action to prevent a repeat on my boat.
