| Accidents can strike when you least expect them, | | | | or swamped in a bar, then the air tanks are in the |
| and more often than not, about the only real | | | | worst possible place - under the floor. This is just |
| defence you have in such circumstances is to be fully | | | | about the perfect way of ensuring that the boat will |
| prepared for almost any eventuality. | | | | float, upside down ! |
| Is that unrealistic ? I think not, remember, we are | | | | Small open skiffs and runabouts, dinghies and the like, |
| talking here about one's own life, or more particularly | | | | have an advantage, because the thwarts fitted to |
| I suppose, the lives of family and friends. I don't think | | | | these boats are usually packed with foam, and even |
| we should become paranoid or overly concerned or | | | | if they cannot be self-righted, these small boats are |
| prepared for every eventuality, to such an extent | | | | usually low enough in the water to scramble back on |
| that it starts to override the pleasure one is deriving | | | | board. |
| from the act of going boating, butnevertheless, it | | | | The question of stability is another basic safety |
| certainly pays to be mindful of situations that can | | | | requirement and be assured, each boat is different. |
| occur, and have your boat and crew drilled in | | | | Some boats are a lot less stable than others - often |
| readiness for those situations.Basic safety needs do | | | | to an alarming extent. The |
| not necessarily relate to items you can buy or install | | | | 4.0 m Hook'em, for example, is easily the most stable |
| on your boat. | | | | 4.0 mfishing boat on the market and quite easily |
| Basic safety needs can be as simple as having a | | | | copes with three or four big blokes standing on the |
| good boat to begin with, a mate to accompany you, | | | | gunwale. If you did this in most 4.0 metre aluminium |
| and the boat fitted-out properly.It is impossible to | | | | boats, the lot of you would end up in the drink! So |
| ignore the question of experience. An experienced | | | | stability is relative to the boat's type and model, and |
| small boat fisherman has an obvious advantage over | | | | it pays to shop very carefully for a boat which is |
| a person going fishing in a small boat for the first | | | | stable at rest and underway. Back on the straight |
| time. And the more experience one has, the less | | | | and level ... the fact unfortunately remains true that |
| likelihood there is of anything occurring that would | | | | it's a lot easier to tip a boat over on your own, than |
| take you by surprise. As your experience quotient | | | | it is if you've got a mate with you. Even if you go to |
| develops, it stands to reason that you'll be enjoying | | | | snare a fish in the net, the very act of leaning over |
| your boating more and minimising any potential risk | | | | on your own without any counter-balance, means it is |
| factors. | | | | obviously a lot easier to turn the boat over than if |
| A Safe Boat | | | | you'refishing with a mate who instinctively, leans the |
| It's so obvious, it almost seems facetious to mention | | | | other way while you snare the fish.Most of us don't |
| that the basic safety requirement is a safe boat! The | | | | even think about it, but if you do fish on your own, |
| safest boats have sufficient foam flotation to | | | | make very sure the fuel tank is located opposite |
| support the weight of the crew, the motor and gear | | | | your seating position. If it happens that you lean over |
| should the boat be swamped or for some reason or | | | | to fish and the fuel tank is on your side of the boat, |
| other fill up with water.I'm not impressed with air | | | | there is an excellent chance that a roll movement will |
| tanks, and although many manufacturers in Australia | | | | develop, having sufficient momentum to tip both you, |
| diligently build their boats with a series of air | | | | fuel tank and net into the briny. |
| compartments sealed in under the floor, these are | | | | Tragically, it happens over and over again, in |
| rarely of any real value. | | | | perfectly calm waterways all around this great |
| If the worst does occur, and the boat is barrel-rolled | | | | country of ours. |