Re: Ouzo Trial

On 16 Apr, 14:12, Ronald Raygun <no.s...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
toad wrote:
On 13 Apr, 10:02, Ronald Raygun <no.s...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
toad wrote:
On 13 Apr, 01:07, alan.fr...@xxxxxxx (Alan Frame) wrote:

Sure, but one lesson I read (I know it's conjecture) from this is that
having safety gear to hand /in the cockpit/ is better than down below
in an emergency.

I don't think that's conjecture, that's just fact.

Don't be so sure. The cockpit is not a good place to store anything,
because it's exposed to the elements (including the risk of getting
trampled on) and can get in the way.

It's pretty rare that I'm the one making these decisions but on my
last two charter trips the EPIRB and handheld have lived tucked in a
canvas pocket in front of the steering position with no ill effects
whatsoever. YMMV but if you can think of a more useful or convenient
place for either I'd like to hear it.

Since I can count the number of times I actually use a VHF *per year*
on the fingers of one hand, I see no benefit to having a handheld
within grabbing distance at all times.

So if you're in an Ouzo-esque situation you don't die. ...but as I
said "YMMV".

Scotland VHF is pretty much optional day to day. In the last 4 weeks
up there I used the VHF twice and one of those was for a radio check
from Seeker.

Also I'm firmly of the opinion that in or around the cockpit is the
best place to stow the dinghy/liferaft if it's possible.

Liferaft yes, dinghy can be difficult (unless you're big enough to
have davits, or unless you're towing it (does that count as "around
the cockpit"?), or unless you deflate it (in which case it might fit
into a large cockpit locker). Lashed semi-deflated on deck is a good
compromise if not towing.

I'd fully go along with that. Too small for davits? I saw a Westerly
25 with Davits the other week.

The smaller the boat, the more competition there is for handy storage
space.

I'm sure it's not beyond the wit of man to think of somewhere.

I'm sure that's right, but there will be competition for it. Nive
times (or more) out of ten you would rather have a flask of hot
soup than a handheld VHF if there's only space for one of the two.

The problem comes if that tenth time is when you've just been sunk by
a ferry.

The one exception IMHO is the handheld. Why on earth would you _not_
want that near the steering position to be used on the common
occasions when you don't need the range of the main VHF and can't be
arsed to leave the steering position.

See above. I find the occasions on which you need to use a VHF
*at all* are far from common.

Hence I used the phrase "YMMV".

.