We all have an ending....
We have two escape hatches in our 1978 Hatteras large enough to exit, but I have been researching fire hoods that are designed to provide a short period of air for emergency fire escape. It's not the smoke that kills so quickly when you attempt to exit a fire area but the temperature that can be hundreds of degrees higher at 5-ft than at floor level. Fire hoods can be purchased for less than $35.00.
How old is that reg.? My 1989 boat in no way meets it.
OK, so, prepping for that 3AM moonless walk on water, we all have a ditch bag and PFDs in the cabin or on the foredeck?
There is an endless supply of "what if" in boating/yachting/trawlering.While our boat does have adequate avenues of escape from both cabins, I never thought about having PFD's located nearby. Guess I will re-think that. Thanks
Love the loose weight comments, like we are all one size only some are fat.
Next time someone speaks of needing help changing battery's I will suggest to them lifting weight and getting in shape and not being a skinny man.
Hi Scott, what do you think about those fold-up helm chairs? I have a pilothouse which is rather tight, but it's interesting to think that I could reduce the depth of the PH and still have proper seating. I'm losing about 2ft because of the need to walk behind the helm chairs.
Interesting idea. Next time I hit the gym I'll suggest they buy some 8D's instead of the big Eleikos!
Art,
Don't do what I did and use too much Ranger candy (Ibuprofen).
Over did working on the boat then a 1500 mile/ in 36 hours IronButt motorcycle ride too much Motrin = bleeding ulcer. Not fun.
Pain sucks take care of your self.
How old is that reg.? My 1989 boat in no way meets it.
As I
travel by my self on many occasion and some distance from home where cell service or any activation short of the big red button on the radio or on the SPOT, my wife has concerns. To elevate some of her stress I verbally promised to ware one of the new inflatable vest, never use the toe rail space that serves as our side deck, to access the anchor or bow if alone. To make that promise good I created a folding ladder that will fit within the anchor locker in the bow. From that I can unfold and hook to the escape hatch which I fit through fine in full clothing.
I would like to add a second concern and how I addressed it. Falling over board and retrieving ones self. During the above discussion the question of "Okay you did good, now in addressing the anchor, you fall overboard. What preparations have you made for that big boy?" the wife asked.
I had installed one of those folding down three step swim ladders on the boarding step. Fine except during a boating trip I witnessed another boat where the adult male was swimming about and time to climb out he used his similar step. Wow, there was not a handy hand hold to grasp so that the struggle as he made like a seal or sea lion getting on the float or dock made me take a hint. I placed a shackle in the aluminum canopy of the aft cover and tied a knotted line that drops down to the water level.
Now a standard rule, when anchoring, the swim ladder is dropped and the line is released to hang ready.
Cheers,
Al-Marben Pocket CRUISER
Well the good news is my Cherubini has a 24" x 24" hatch. The bad news is that I'm going to have to store a ladder. My upper body strength isn't what it was 40 years ago.
Ted
2) Every boat should have a workable way of getting aboard from the water. A swim ladder usually works but it has to be deployable from the water and as you mention, just the ladder may not be enough. You have to be able to actually get onto the boat and you should test this feature.
Sean won't build one for the forward hatch? You could use one of those telescoping swim platform ladders and latch it out of the way when not needed?