What should you do if your boat capsizes or swamps?

Question

Thanks for all your smart *** answers...not, please answer with the right answer

Answer 1

Pinch myself and wake up. I couldn't afford the oars to paddle up shitts creek let alone a boat

Answer 2

I have not yet read the answers of my fellow mariners, I can say this. More people should ask this question on land. So good for you.

The majority of "swimmers" ask this question after it happens to them.

1. Let someone on land know who is going, what your route is and when you should return. This way if you dont return they can notify authorities of your original plans

2.Have proper safety equipment for the waters you are in. A small lake in summer may just be a life jacket for all aboard. A cold weather fishing trip in Massachusetts will require wet/survival suits, epirbs etc.

3. Life rafts are necessary for open water passages. ie Cal. to Hawaii.

4. Most Captains have a ditch bag. This is a water tight bag with all the things you wish you had if you capsized. Before the boat leaves the shore let everyone know where it is and what is in it. Also be sure they do not move it or fiddle with it unless the boat is sinking.

Bon voyage!

Answer 3

This depends on the size and type of boat. Sailboats can usually be righted, once you remove the sails, and then bailed out. Don't let the sails get away from you though, once uprighted, you'll want them back on the boat. Smaller boats, if you can get them right side up, even if they almost full of water, will still have some bouyancy. If the gunwales are above the water, once righted, you can start bailing the water out until it's hig enough to get into. Once in the righted boat, keep removing water until you can make headway for shore.

Answer 4

Get on top of the capsized boat if you can, and make sure you keep your life jacket on...Someone would surely come by eventually...I've just asked a question about getting a radio...I'm definitely not going out there without some form of communication...

Answer 5

This is why it is so important to wear your "PFD" (life vest) at ALL TIMES !

Stay with the boat ! it won't usually sink if its a small boat, (I bought a "Boston Whaler" for exactly this reason, it's closed cell floatation throughout the Hull makes it unsinkable, even when cut in half).

Try to get out of the water and into, or on top of the boat.

On my (brightly colored) PFD I carry AT ALL TIMES,

Small strobe light attached to PFD
small signal mirror
small pocket launcher flare
Knife 6" w/ sheath (very sharp, to slice through tangled rope)
Loud whistle (I use a storm whistle)
very small 1 AAA water proof solitare flashlight
small waterproof 2-way VHF marine hand held radio with channel 16 (distress) that comes on instantly when the unit is turned on ($58 from overton's.com)
all of this is either in a pocket, or teathered to the vest because, you never know when you'll end up in the water, boats are funny like that, and it's the LAST thing that people expect (to be thrown into the water). This whole set up cost only a few hundred dollars, and is MINIMAL SURVIVAL EQUIPT. for inshore waters, where fast rescue is expected. Is my life worth a few hundred $ ? YOU BETCHA ! If you spend any time in a situation like you described, you're going to go through a LOT of equipt. FAST !

Answer 6

you could no longer shop risk-free from lightening. Nor are you able to maintain risk-free from wind or waves that exceed the layout skill of your boat. Rain would not contemporary a threat as long as your bilge pumps are sensible. in the event that they fail, and in case you panic and forget approximately to bail water, then the rain gets you, too. in case you capsize stay with THE BOAT. you could no longer swim to shore, you do no longer even understand the place shore is. considering you wisely filed a flow plan till now you left, help will arrive as quickly because it may gain this appropriate. protection equipment required via regulation: A PFD for all people on board, plus a throwable PFD. a minimum of one hearth extinguisher (or greater, in step with length of vessel). a seen signalling device. An auditory signalling device. between nightfall and daybreak, navigation lights furnishings and anchor lights furnishings. probably another stuff i've got forgotten approximately. protection equipment required via good subject-loose experience: Compass and charts. Radio. GPS navigation. Reserve gas. a lot of ingesting water. First help equipment. Anchor and a lot of rode. option skill of propulsion. equipment.

Answer 7

Hopefully in rough weather you have your life jackets on....Stay with the boat...its much easier to spot from the air...if you are going way offshore an Epirb is a sensible must....close to shore...a handheld,waterproof vhf radio is a good bet

Answer 8

justanotherengine covers it well.......if you aren't as organized as all that,( and you should be, at least to the PFD, whistle and light) at a minimum, STAY WITH THE BOAT...almost all boats have flotation in them and its rare they'll actually sink...and a swamped boat is a MUCH bigger target for someone to see rather than a head and a widely waving arm in choppy water!

Answer 9

Make sure you have a roll of Life Savers with you before you leave the dock. Or you could hope a big plane crashes nearby, cuz their seats can be used as a flotation device. (I have often wondered why they do that, wouldn't you rather have a parachute?)

Answer 10

Hang onto the boat and be thankful that you wore your lifevest.