Steaming lights for boats under power are only required for boats over 12 metres (and less than 20 m) - possibly 7 m in Canada, as an exception. Provided you have a white stern and foreword red and green - plus a 360 degree white for anchoring, you should be good by the colregs.
He sortta did... something about the normal safety kit/bag whatever. In Canada, it includes a heaving line/man over board line, flashlight and bailing can/float (the bailing can comes with a sealing lid to make a float).... the thing everyone throws in their boat to keep it legal even if they want to carry some of their own bits to cover the same areas, the CG sees the kit and ignores everything else. I think Clark was trying to get at the stuff beyond legal requirements. Sponge is nice. I think we normally have an absorbent cloth. Our son likes to sit in the dinghy just to be on his own (he's 24 so not a kid) and often washes dishes in the ocean before rinsing in fresh. SO there is a cloth there most often anyway.
Hi Clarke, I've got reflective tape on my canoe paddle, cut 1" diameter dots, the motion shows up if they catch someones lights. Put the dots on the bow and stern also. Life jackets are a personal choice. In your cruising area you're unlikely to suffer cold water shock so perhaps not as important. In the UK the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) often provide lockers at dinghy docks to put your life jackets in which i think is sensible.
Some great points, but you’re right I’m going to challenge you about personal floatation. There is absolutely no excuses for not wearing a PFD, especially in a small dingy, if you are travelling by yourself who is going to throw you that cushion? If you fall and hit your head how are you going to keep your head above water? Having spent time with SAR up here in the Pacific Northwest the number of fatalities that could have been prevented by the individual wearing a PFD is staggering. Even in situations where there is another person on board the dinghy pulling someone out of the water who is not wearing a life jacket out of the water and into the boat is a difficult task to put it mildly, especially if the individual is unconscious or suffering from an injury. To me it is one of the easiest and most responsible steps we can take to ensure safety while underway.
The safest thing would be to stay on land. One could argue going on a boat should be avoided. We all make our own decisions unless you support the nanny state.
Okay, I wasn’t expecting such an exaggerated comment. However, it’s true that any type of activity comes with potential risks, so it doesn’t hurt to take extra precautions. It’s important to consider the bigger picture, such as the safety of the rescue team who may be putting their own lives at risk to help others. We should always think about the impact our actions or inactions have on the larger community. @@Clarks-Adventure
@@Clarks-Adventure"the nanny state."?? Really? THIS is more important than your personal reasons: "... the safety of the rescue team who may be putting their own lives at risk to help others." We all live in a COMMUNITY! What we do will affect other people no matter HOW independent you think you are.
I am a Mantus dealer in Hawaii. Not only is that a cute little anchor but it's stainless steel and super easy to throw!!! My favorite 'toy' that always sets too.
Excellent information from a very experienced source! Thank you. I am going to put reflective tape on my cushions. I never thought of the idea of holding it up to catch a searching light. Excellent!
For a RIB (inflatable) I bring the pump (it's old and leaky), and I have a long rope (like 20meters) to tie it up somehow to whatever, and a spare fuel tank. And if I haven't used it for a while, I run the engine for 5 minutes nearby (in order to discover bad fuel for instance) before I go any distance (away from the boat) with it. And yes, I have an anchor the same size as you show, and even 10m of chain, as the weight of the chain will pull the dingy/RIB suitably away from the dock while we're on land. ........ And yeah, mobile phones. ....... And before we enter the dingy I put most of our stuff in a water teight bag (whatever will float if loast overboard). And the "captain" generally wears a VHF and a PLB (if we're more than swimable meters "off shore"). We're in the cold Scandinavia thouhg.
In the book “Survive the Savage Sea”, the Robertson Family abandons their sailboat. Fortunately, they carried two dinghies- an inflatable and a hard dinghy. They climbed aboard their inflatable dinghy, but that soon sank. They all moved into the hard dinghy and eventually survived. I recommend the book.
It's probably already been said but I keep an emergency water bottle that's ALWAYS on the boat. It's good for washing up if you get your hands into something nasty and as a backup water supply when you forget to bring something to drink and your trip lasts longer than originally planned.
Context is also important if you are using your Dinghy to get to the dock and back in Luperon or Oriental then a water bottle isn't necessary. If you are in an out of the way anchorage with no one around or going farther afield and exploring then absolutely maybe a couple of bottles of water.
Different subject, I trail a floating line while under way attached to my sea anchor. The anchor is stuffed into a 6"x4' PVC tube as a deployment device. The longer the trailing is the more chance you have to grab and hold it. The sea anchor will stop the boat. I built this in 1987 because I sail alone. I would like to see your version and demonstration.
Pearls of wisdom Clark, Ta. As to kill cords, here in the UK we had an entire family overboard from their small boat. Fatalities and life changing injuries as the boat motored circular at speed. Kill cords, like life jackets, are useless unless worn.
I was thinking a light on a pole that slips into a standing flagpole type of mount. Put it up under way and it sits along side the oar when not needed.
Someone may have mentioned this, but a first aid kit might be an idea. Of course, as you said we can load all sorts of things then the dinghy is overloaded or simply out of room. Great video!
Great list, Clark and Emily. I think you pretty much covered what needs to be considered for the dingy. Now, with all that in the dingy, what would you never leave in the dingy when you go to shore for fear of it being stolen. I know this is very dependant on where you are, but generally as a long term cruiser in a populated area, what do you consider safe and what would you never leave behind?
Great video matey! Carry pretty much everything you mentioned, apart for the nav light (gonna get that sorted for sure). For floatation device I carry a bodyboard. One thing I would add would be a hand bailer, just in case the bilge pump fails.
Clark, do you know if you can retrofit a deadman to an older (1969) two stroke? The lighting is becoming a problem for me. I have a white stern light but I don't have the other two lights for the bow. My boat is a 14 ft car top so I have to have something that is detachable. I think I found the solution at Bass Pro. The have a removable light where I can mount the socket in the front seat of my boat. I can run it off of the battery I carry for my trolling motor. Keep the good stuff coming.
21 of 29 people who died in water last year were not wearing life jackets in New Zealand. If you do not wear life jackets, do not tell others, you just sound like a fool, because people listen to you, promote life jackets, they save lives.
hi clark thanks for video. slight off topic i got a mantus anchor for the mother ship like you. it came with the nastiest grease for the fasteners ! do you reapply or use this stuff at all ? how many years have you had it? sv blondie
Yes, I know of Hollies accident, was following her when it happened (now she isn't really posting, she's busy ?) and YES, LIGHTS ! One on your head, GREEN in front and RED in back. Extremely important to have this ready because in an emergency at night you'll have no extra time to set it up. And, my suggestion isn't legal so don't listen to me except for one thing HAVE A LIGHT , PLEASE
How long of a rode do you use for your dinghy? We use the painter which is maybe 20 feet and use a spiral anchor (think dog line anchor) which requires manual insertion but holds way beyond it's weight. We only use it while ashore. But you are talking bout being able to "drop" anchor in which case rode length is much more important. We're in BC, so life jackets are not a hindrance.... my Yf and son insist anyway ;) Danforth style anchors for small boats often have an open loop stock and don't work well but I found tying a loop or stopper to keep the rode to the end of the stock makes it work quite well. The open loop is "supposed" to make it so that pulling the wrong way disengages it but in reality it makes it never engage at all :/ Anyway thanks for the tips.... shoes is my biggest problem but I am beginning to think one of those reach the ground grabbers from standing up or a stool might help. First time I got sick in a boat was from heat and bending over to dig clams, not movement (we were in a dead flat anchorage).
yes and no. Even as an coastal sailor, I find too many places with no signal. A handheld VHF or even FRS walky might get you farther..... Oh, and no zombie scrolling!
I am getting rather peed off with inflatable dinghies. My last (pvc) one literally fell to pieces four months after arriving in Grenada. I found a second hand replacement with Hypalon tubes but a pvc floor (why oh why! 🤦♂️). So, I'm considering a hard dinghy - probably nesting or folding as storage space is limited on my 36 foor sloop. Any recommendations?
@@Clarks-Adventure cool, I'll check that series out. I'm planning on heading over to Columbia for hurricane season this year so that might be a good time for a new dinghy project 👍
As a daylight signaling device you can't beat a mirror. A simple 3 bt 5 inch mirror can be seen for miles. Takes up almost no space, no batteries or switches to corrode. Yep you need the sun but for the investment in pennies and space you just can't beat it.
Mirror aiming is tricky (still good) but reflective tape is designed to work very well even off axis. It works even with no user input if applied in the right place.
Off Topic: Clark I have an uninstalled Bank Manager for 36 volts system. It came with three resistors that I don't know what to do with. I am switching to a 48 volt system. What do I do? Add another identical resistor, no resistors? Please help. I subscribed (a long time ago), I "like", I comment, and I pay monthly. Thanks again.
That means you have had it a while as we no longer do the resistor thing. In some situations they got hot when not installed properly. Three ways to go. -We have a new 36/48v contactor coming. Within a month of being available. -You can buy someone else's contactor. -you can choose to do the resistor thing by adding one more identical resistor AND properly mounting them on an adequate heat sink. It's up to you to verify they can't get hot and if they do that heat can't cause a problem.
@@Clarks-Adventure Thank you. I will wait (how will I know when available) for the new Contactor. I did purchase with my Bank Manager the Contactor you recommended. I will purchase this better one when you get it. In the mean time, I would like to "bench test" my 48 volt system by adding a fourth resistor per the above. I am very familiar with heat dissipation and can provide a more than adequate heat sink (but want the better set up you are suggesting for my install). Where do the (I assume in series) resistors go in the circuit? Please dumb it down and spoon feed so I get it right and do not let the magic smoke out of my Bank Manager. Thank you.
They go in series and in series with the coil fuse. You will just have to periodically check the sell page to see when the 48v option comes up. There is no waiting list, sorry
@@Clarks-Adventure OK. No Worries. Its been a while since I looked at it. I am assuming here when you write "coil fuse" you mean the coil in the contactor. Correct?
![LIGHTNING Hits Boats. Here's How to Deal With It [Capable Cruising Guides]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PurMG7KHdW4/mqdefault.jpg)
Steaming lights for boats under power are only required for boats over 12 metres (and less than 20 m) - possibly 7 m in Canada, as an exception. Provided you have a white stern and foreword red and green - plus a 360 degree white for anchoring, you should be good by the colregs.
Clark,
Nicely done! I'd perhaps add a bailer of some sort and a sponge. 😃👍
Yes I missed that
He sortta did... something about the normal safety kit/bag whatever. In Canada, it includes a heaving line/man over board line, flashlight and bailing can/float (the bailing can comes with a sealing lid to make a float).... the thing everyone throws in their boat to keep it legal even if they want to carry some of their own bits to cover the same areas, the CG sees the kit and ignores everything else. I think Clark was trying to get at the stuff beyond legal requirements. Sponge is nice. I think we normally have an absorbent cloth. Our son likes to sit in the dinghy just to be on his own (he's 24 so not a kid) and often washes dishes in the ocean before rinsing in fresh. SO there is a cloth there most often anyway.
No I just forgot.
We have a bilge pump in this dinghy so we just don't bail any more.
Thanks for the reminder about the sponge. I’d forgotten that trick.
Hi Clarke,
I've got reflective tape on my canoe paddle, cut 1" diameter dots, the motion shows up if they catch someones lights.
Put the dots on the bow and stern also.
Life jackets are a personal choice.
In your cruising area you're unlikely to suffer cold water shock so perhaps not as important.
In the UK the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) often provide lockers at dinghy docks to put your life jackets in which i think is sensible.
Some great points, but you’re right I’m going to challenge you about personal floatation. There is absolutely no excuses for not wearing a PFD, especially in a small dingy, if you are travelling by yourself who is going to throw you that cushion? If you fall and hit your head how are you going to keep your head above water? Having spent time with SAR up here in the Pacific Northwest the number of fatalities that could have been prevented by the individual wearing a PFD is staggering. Even in situations where there is another person on board the dinghy pulling someone out of the water who is not wearing a life jacket out of the water and into the boat is a difficult task to put it mildly, especially if the individual is unconscious or suffering from an injury. To me it is one of the easiest and most responsible steps we can take to ensure safety while underway.
The safest thing would be to stay on land. One could argue going on a boat should be avoided.
We all make our own decisions unless you support the nanny state.
Okay, I wasn’t expecting such an exaggerated comment. However, it’s true that any type of activity comes with potential risks, so it doesn’t hurt to take extra precautions. It’s important to consider the bigger picture, such as the safety of the rescue team who may be putting their own lives at risk to help others. We should always think about the impact our actions or inactions have on the larger community. @@Clarks-Adventure
@@Clarks-Adventure"the nanny state."?? Really? THIS is more important than your personal reasons: "... the safety of the rescue team who may be putting their own lives at risk to help others."
We all live in a COMMUNITY! What we do will affect other people no matter HOW independent you think you are.
I am a Mantus dealer in Hawaii.
Not only is that a cute little anchor but it's stainless steel and super easy to throw!!! My favorite 'toy' that always sets too.
Excellent information from a very experienced source! Thank you. I am going to put reflective tape on my cushions. I never thought of the idea of holding it up to catch a searching light. Excellent!
For a RIB (inflatable) I bring the pump (it's old and leaky), and I have a long rope (like 20meters) to tie it up somehow to whatever, and a spare fuel tank. And if I haven't used it for a while, I run the engine for 5 minutes nearby (in order to discover bad fuel for instance) before I go any distance (away from the boat) with it. And yes, I have an anchor the same size as you show, and even 10m of chain, as the weight of the chain will pull the dingy/RIB suitably away from the dock while we're on land. ........ And yeah, mobile phones. ....... And before we enter the dingy I put most of our stuff in a water teight bag (whatever will float if loast overboard). And the "captain" generally wears a VHF and a PLB (if we're more than swimable meters "off shore"). We're in the cold Scandinavia thouhg.
Great video, as always. Seems I can't help myself, I tend to save your videos to my boat list, even though I know I could find em again, lol.
In the book “Survive the Savage Sea”, the Robertson Family abandons their sailboat. Fortunately, they carried two dinghies- an inflatable and a hard dinghy. They climbed aboard their inflatable dinghy, but that soon sank. They all moved into the hard dinghy and eventually survived. I recommend the book.
Another great video. I love that dinghy and motor combo.
Thanks Paul
I have a nice light bailer that pumps both on the upstroke and downstroke. Super practical. And, as it is an inflatable I bring a foot pump.
Yep. Both important. We have a bilge pump and a hard dinghy so I forgot those.
Thanks for being open and honest about how you float. Love it.
I heard someone blow a whistle and found myself here. Another great video thank you. 😀
It's probably already been said but I keep an emergency water bottle that's ALWAYS on the boat. It's good for washing up if you get your hands into something nasty and as a backup water supply when you forget to bring something to drink and your trip lasts longer than originally planned.
Yep good idea
Context is also important if you are using your Dinghy to get to the dock and back in Luperon or Oriental then a water bottle isn't necessary. If you are in an out of the way anchorage with no one around or going farther afield and exploring then absolutely maybe a couple of bottles of water.
Different subject, I trail a floating line while under way attached to my sea anchor. The anchor is stuffed into a 6"x4' PVC tube as a deployment device. The longer the trailing is the more chance you have to grab and hold it. The sea anchor will stop the boat. I built this in 1987 because I sail alone. I would like to see your version and demonstration.
Very interesting and clever idea
Thanks for the information. Simple yet noteworthy.
Pearls of wisdom Clark, Ta. As to kill cords, here in the UK we had an entire family overboard from their small boat. Fatalities and life changing injuries as the boat motored circular at speed. Kill cords, like life jackets, are useless unless worn.
Yep
Another project to play with is a small all around light pinned to your hat as a steaming light. You could market them.
I was thinking a light on a pole that slips into a standing flagpole type of mount. Put it up under way and it sits along side the oar when not needed.
Someone may have mentioned this, but a first aid kit might be an idea. Of course, as you said we can load all sorts of things then the dinghy is overloaded or simply out of room. Great video!
Good idea
The bonded fabric foul weather gear for times I leave in fair weather return in worse. For a second person also.
We also have a scoop to bail rain or swell water. It's an old water jug with the bottom cut off.
I really should have mentioned this. Forgot as we have a binge pump
Great list, Clark and Emily. I think you pretty much covered what needs to be considered for the dingy. Now, with all that in the dingy, what would you never leave in the dingy when you go to shore for fear of it being stolen. I know this is very dependant on where you are, but generally as a long term cruiser in a populated area, what do you consider safe and what would you never leave behind?
Generally I worry about that kind of thing more in the US then out here
Interesting. Thanks!
Another great episode
A small patch kit? For inflatable dingy.
Love your channel. I am learning a lot! Thanks
Nice of you to say
A bailer can come in use. And, uf ut us an inflatable, I always carry a pump in the dinghy.
Yes you need some way for sure. The solar electric pump on this dinghy proves to be plenty reliable
Great video matey! Carry pretty much everything you mentioned, apart for the nav light (gonna get that sorted for sure). For floatation device I carry a bodyboard. One thing I would add would be a hand bailer, just in case the bilge pump fails.
Yes I should have listed the bailer
I always carry extra drinking water permanently in the boat. If you get stuck out there for a while in the sun your going to need water.
Good plan
thanks for your suggestions , i will add only something to bail water out of your boat
Yes. I forgot that as we have a bilge pump
Thanks
Clark, do you know if you can retrofit a deadman to an older (1969) two stroke? The lighting is becoming a problem for me. I have a white stern light but I don't have the other two lights for the bow. My boat is a 14 ft car top so I have to have something that is detachable. I think I found the solution at Bass Pro. The have a removable light where I can mount the socket in the front seat of my boat. I can run it off of the battery I carry for my trolling motor. Keep the good stuff coming.
Also I put a Apple Airtag on my Dingy and motor remove the speaker ( many youtube videos on that).
If you Dingy has a drain plug carry a small bung and extra plug.
6:55 Yeah and nobody wears a pretty black shirt but otherwise really good tips for even a well seasoned sailor 😊
Spare starter pull rope with handle?
21 of 29 people who died in water last year were not wearing life jackets in New Zealand. If you do not wear life jackets, do not tell others, you just sound like a fool, because people listen to you, promote life jackets, they save lives.
Any recommendations for a padlock that won't rust to use on a tender?
I use brass sesamee locks. They have worked well for me
Does the Mantus anchor disassemble as easily as it assembled?
Yep, you just pull the pin and push forward.
I have mine zip tied to stay assembled and stowed in a float bag... Just because I really don't want to lose it...
hi clark thanks for video. slight off topic i got a mantus anchor for the mother ship like you. it came with the nastiest grease for the fasteners ! do you reapply or use this stuff at all ? how many years have you had it? sv blondie
We have had it for about 4-5 years. My understanding is the grease is just for assembly.
We have noticed our bolts are showing some rust.
When wondering about in the dinghy, do you monitor the yachts position to make sure it's not dragging, and if so how?
If I didn't trust the anchor I likely wouldn't wander far.
Yes, I know of Hollies accident, was following her when it happened (now she isn't really posting, she's busy ?) and YES, LIGHTS ! One on your head, GREEN in front and RED in back. Extremely important to have this ready because in an emergency at night you'll have no extra time to set it up. And, my suggestion isn't legal so don't listen to me except for one thing HAVE A LIGHT , PLEASE
We both had our boats in the same little harbor near Tampa before we sailed out.
Will that sea anchor really stop the boat? In high winds? I once put out a sea anchor when the sea was wild, and we still drifted leeward at 4 knots.
That isn't a sea anchor.
How long of a rode do you use for your dinghy? We use the painter which is maybe 20 feet and use a spiral anchor (think dog line anchor) which requires manual insertion but holds way beyond it's weight. We only use it while ashore. But you are talking bout being able to "drop" anchor in which case rode length is much more important. We're in BC, so life jackets are not a hindrance.... my Yf and son insist anyway ;) Danforth style anchors for small boats often have an open loop stock and don't work well but I found tying a loop or stopper to keep the rode to the end of the stock makes it work quite well. The open loop is "supposed" to make it so that pulling the wrong way disengages it but in reality it makes it never engage at all :/ Anyway thanks for the tips.... shoes is my biggest problem but I am beginning to think one of those reach the ground grabbers from standing up or a stool might help. First time I got sick in a boat was from heat and bending over to dig clams, not movement (we were in a dead flat anchorage).
I use 50 feet of painter. All of it for anchoring. Leave the anchor in the boat and grab the middle to tie to a dock or whatever.
As to a painter/anchor rode….preferred type and diameter? Thanks and great tips!
@@hankgibson8848Go back an episode ... he gives everything except the length :)
There is a video on dinghy painter that we put a link to right in this video. Check it again.
Thanks len
Cell phone😁
yes and no. Even as an coastal sailor, I find too many places with no signal. A handheld VHF or even FRS walky might get you farther..... Oh, and no zombie scrolling!
I am getting rather peed off with inflatable dinghies. My last (pvc) one literally fell to pieces four months after arriving in Grenada. I found a second hand replacement with Hypalon tubes but a pvc floor (why oh why! 🤦♂️).
So, I'm considering a hard dinghy - probably nesting or folding as storage space is limited on my 36 foor sloop. Any recommendations?
We have a show us your dinghy series.
Emily built a nester we really like.
It all comes down to your requirements. There is no one best dinghy.
I've observed that the longer someone has been cruising the more likely they have a hard dinghy.
@@Clarks-Adventure cool, I'll check that series out. I'm planning on heading over to Columbia for hurricane season this year so that might be a good time for a new dinghy project 👍
nesting over folding, folding tend to be less robust. I am currently converting an 8ft to nesting.
Clark, you showed a really nice puck light that came in a Mantus box.
I looked and it isn't shown on the Mantus site.
Who sent it?
Yes it is. Look again more carefully.
Navigation light
@@Clarks-Adventure And there it is!
Thanks Clark/Emily.
As a daylight signaling device you can't beat a mirror. A simple 3 bt 5 inch mirror can be seen for miles. Takes up almost no space, no batteries or switches to corrode. Yep you need the sun but for the investment in pennies and space you just can't beat it.
Cool
Mirror aiming is tricky (still good) but reflective tape is designed to work very well even off axis. It works even with no user input if applied in the right place.
Off Topic: Clark I have an uninstalled Bank Manager for 36 volts system. It came with three resistors that I don't know what to do with. I am switching to a 48 volt system. What do I do? Add another identical resistor, no resistors? Please help. I subscribed (a long time ago), I "like", I comment, and I pay monthly. Thanks again.
That means you have had it a while as we no longer do the resistor thing. In some situations they got hot when not installed properly.
Three ways to go.
-We have a new 36/48v contactor coming. Within a month of being available.
-You can buy someone else's contactor.
-you can choose to do the resistor thing by adding one more identical resistor AND properly mounting them on an adequate heat sink. It's up to you to verify they can't get hot and if they do that heat can't cause a problem.
@@Clarks-Adventure Thank you. I will wait (how will I know when available) for the new Contactor. I did purchase with my Bank Manager the Contactor you recommended. I will purchase this better one when you get it.
In the mean time, I would like to "bench test" my 48 volt system by adding a fourth resistor per the above. I am very familiar with heat dissipation and can provide a more than adequate heat sink (but want the better set up you are suggesting for my install).
Where do the (I assume in series) resistors go in the circuit? Please dumb it down and spoon feed so I get it right and do not let the magic smoke out of my Bank Manager. Thank you.
They go in series and in series with the coil fuse.
You will just have to periodically check the sell page to see when the 48v option comes up. There is no waiting list, sorry
@@Clarks-Adventure OK. No Worries. Its been a while since I looked at it. I am assuming here when you write "coil fuse" you mean the coil in the contactor. Correct?
Yes
Oil
Bailer?
Yep. I forgot since we have a bilge pump
The boat needs a first aid kit
Good call
Bucket
Yep. I forgot that since we have a bilge pump in this dinghy
Under 40' I don't think you need the steaming light.
Really?
Spare bung and a bailer
Yes bailer. But I chain my plug to the dinghy, hard to lose.
I am totally deaf to that whistle. Honestly didn't hear anything from it. Thanks for the video
Lucky for people needing help you aren't the only person around.
@@Clarks-AdventureNo joke
No fire extinguisher and no life jackets. No thanks.
Cool dinghy light, but $144???? Get real.
Yeah. And I've just found that it won't charge up during the day and burn white all night. Having second thoughts.
Love the anchor a lot though