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