Lesson Learnt!!!

[Cod301gmh]

Hi all,

I would like to take this opportunity to share my experience of a very valuable lesson that I learnt on Sunday while fishing on my own boat out of Penarth.

I live in the Midlands and my boat (Raider 16 - Clarence) is moored in Penarth Marina, as I live a good 2 1/2hr drive from the boat I have to always ensure that I bring all of my safety equipment with me. I was really looking forward to a bit of codding and had spent most of the week planning and discussing tactics with my brother and after reading the reports on the forum only made me more excited.

We arrived at the marina for 7:30 and quickly started to load the boat. However, in all the excitment we forgot to pack the auxillary engine into the car!!! I made a decision that I am totally ashamed of - I thought that we have had no problems with the Evinrude 75, it sounds perfect. I allowed my excitment to get the better of me, so decided to go out.

I could not have asked for a better day the boat purred along to the various marks and never gave any indication to what laid ahead. The fishing was good caught lots of conger, thornies, doggies, whiting but NO cod.

It was about 5:30 when we called it day. Packed our things, upt anchor and headed for the barrage. The engine was purring along when all of a sudden it started to die. At first i thought we had run out of fuel - checked the tank and it was still 1/2 full. Concerned - tried to fire again nothing. Panic - changed the tanks, fired the engine - Nothing. It was clear that it would not start, so dropped the anchor and called for a tow.

Thanks Kaptain Kod for coming over to see us and i would like to thank the chap who towed us in, who would not even allow me to give him some money to get himself and his crew a drink.

So for anyone contemplating going to sea without being fully prepared, do not let the excitment get the better of you. Always make sure you have your back-up and safety equipment, because you are not only putting your own life at risk but you are also putting the lives of the people who try to help you at risk.

Gareth

[Omahayank]

GR8 advice on ANY water.

Here, more fishermen die every year in boating accidents than hunters w/gun accidents. People are too casual or unaware about the dangers of boating, where w/guns it seems more obvious.

Good Luck and stay SAFE

[Norfolkboy]

Safety should always come first, especially when out at sea, but understand the eagerness to get out fishing! Good to hear you guys managed to get back in safe and well done on the fish caught.

[Charter Skipper]

Definatly pays to be prepared,but excitement is great for overriding common sense......Glad you made it back ok,sounds like you had a goood few fish...

[pingu]

well done on getting back safely and forthe warning to iothers

sounded a good trip otherwise

[baitmaster]

great advice safety is paramount especially at sea

tightlines
kevin

[keana]

Glad you got back ok Gareth. The channel is a treacherous place as I have almost found to my cost. Excellent advice though. Its difficult to overcome the adrenelin rush that you get simply with the thought of fishing or moreso, a beautiful day on the Briney with fishing rod in hand knowing there are lots of fish about.

I came back in on the 2.15 lock and another small boat came in being towed so you wern`t alone that day mate.

[Kaptin Kod]

Hello Gareth, thourght we'd pop over on our way back in to make sure you were ok, sorry we could,nt tow you in but we did hear there was a larger boat heading for you to give a tow. The Warrior isn't ideally kitted out for towing and I wasn't to confident about the best way to do it anyway. Glad you got back in though and you will find that there is quite a lot of helpfull skippers out there, we had to scrounge a tow off the Niki Lou one weekend, and we had the aux but not strong enough in the run out there.


Whats the odds on it being a forum member ?.

Paul