From The Salvage Company That Rescued That Cat This Week

[menzies]

By way of PSA:

1) Please make sure your dedicated chart plotters in particular are running the most up to date charts! We just had a large catamaran who’s charts showed them a recommended route between Guana and Fowl Cays at the eastern end of Elizabeth Harbor! Only a combination of relative calm, luck and rapid response saved this boat. This time.

This is the third such instance in almost as many years that charts have sent a boat through there in poor lighting conditions. Not all of the boats that ventured in there have come out of it intact.

Pleas. Update. Charts.

2) FOAM RUBBER - as found in just about any seating cushion or mattress is one of THE most effective materials to quickly slow down the influx of water - Short of actual underwater epoxy, it is Second. To. None. It’s what we salvors reach for first!

Just as stopping yourself from bleeding out is your number one priority if injured; Slowing down the incoming water should be attempted as soon as it is safe to do so.

Foam. Rubber.


3) Professional help is probably closer than you realize. In this instance, Valiant Marine heard of the distress call and were underway within THREE MINUTES. We were on scene within fifteen.

Preparedness and Speed is our ethos. Thus our motto: “We Stand Ready. “

We have the fastest dedicated response vessel in the region. Fully filed, we can sprint at 38 knots and fast cruise at 35 knots.

We can deliver a full suite of equipment and personnel pretty much anywhere, in nearly any weather conditions, up to 300 miles out from GeorgeTown. We have a network of watermen and equipment pre-staged throughout the Bahamas.

We prefer you have our contact and never need to call us; than need to call us and not be able to reach us when you need to the most.

 

[twistedtree]

The chart recommendation is typically a good one, but one that now might backfire on Garmin owners.


I think most people would agree that by far the best charts for the Bahamas are the Explorer charts, and many of the big name chart suppliers have incorporated the Expolorer chart info into their chart offerings.


Garmin charts included the Explorer chart data, but recently removed it as part of their switch over to Navionics charting data, which does not include Explorer chart data. So for the Bahamas, the Garmin upgrade is a definite down-grade.


It would be interesting to hear from Garmin owners with both pre and post Navioncis charts whether that passage is shown.

 

[menzies]

I just upgraded to two Garmin 86XX three months go. They have the Blue Chart G3 on there, not Navionics. "Dotted lines" are overlaid, but it is not clear if it is Navionics or Explorer. I have all three sets of Explorer charts (Near, Far, whereveryouare!), so will have a look next time underway to see if they match.

 

[cardude01]

It was my understanding after calling Garmin that the G3 charts were not Explorer-based. I have G2 on my plotter currently so I decided not to update.

 

[Shrew]

My takeway from this cautionary tale is:

1) Consider using paper charts in conjunction with electronic charts.

2) Plot your courses manually, not using the pre-defined routes (which, it is my understanding, they were doing).

3) Zoom In regularly when plotting an electronic course.

4) Make sure navigation software is up to date (It is also my understanding that they were using an older version of Navionics which had a pre-defined course going through there, however it has since been removed and the shoal added to the graphics around 2012-ish. (see #1).

 

[MurrayM]

Alarm not set for shallow water on depth sounder?

 

[twistedtree]

Alarm not set for shallow water on depth sounder?

It would sound constantly in the Bahamas.

 

[menzies]

With a reef you can go from depth to coral head in the blink of an eye

 

[diver dave]

For some good practice, shoot mcleans town, devils backbone and sweetings channels. Depth info and charts will be of zero use

 

[menzies]

We are off to Spanish Wells next week, we are going to go out to the east of Devil's Backbone though. Seems a lot of people use a pilot to go through there.

 

[diver dave]

Yes, most all transients do; and with good reason. I am 5 for 6 thru there[emoji51]

 

[gunho1]

We are off to Spanish Wells next week, we are going to go out to the east of Devil's Backbone though. Seems a lot of people use a pilot to go through there.

We used Woody Perry (Little Woody); 242-333-4433

 

[cardude01]

Foam rubber was mentioned as a good way to stop up a big hole in your hull. Would that be memory type foam or something else?

 

[Blind Owl]

Foam rubber was mentioned as a good way to stop up a big hole in your hull. Would that be memory type foam or something else?

Closed cell foam, at any rate.

 

[Bigsfish]

Menzies

Ive been thru that area about 50 plus times (maybe more) I draw five feet and never had a problem but I read the water and avoid the heads. I use a Garmin chart plotter and it’s been excellent.

Back in the 1950s I took a guide (Pinder) who before going thru prayed on the aft deck for five minutes. I admit I was frightened but watching him take the boat I never used a pilot again, it’s a scam if you can read the water. Saying that next time I’ll damage a prop.

 

[menzies]

Menzies

Ive been thru that area about 50 plus times (maybe more) I draw five feet and never had a problem but I read the water and avoid the heads. I use a Garmin chart plotter and it’s been excellent.

Back in the 1950s I took a guide (Pinder) who before going thru prayed on the aft deck for five minutes. I admit I was frightened but watching him take the boat I never used a pilot again, it’s a scam if you can read the water. Saying that next time I’ll damage a prop.

So let me get this straight.

You went between Guana and Fowl Cays entering Elizabeth Harbour, Exuma, about 50 times and never had a problem?

I call major BULL ****.

http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/those-planning-bahamas-trip-44165.html

 

[Bigsfish]

Sorry. I thought you were speaking of the passage from Spanish Wells to Harbor Island. Sorry to upset you. Really.

 

[Bigsfish]

And this is why I made the mistake (or you did):

You posted. : We are off to Spanish Wells next week, we are going to go out to the east of Devil's Backbone though. Seems a lot of people use a pilot to go through there. POST #10

 

[menzies]

And this is why I made the mistake (or you did):

You posted. : We are off to Spanish Wells next week, we are going to go out to the east of Devil's Backbone though. Seems a lot of people use a pilot to go through there. POST #10

From my OP. You may want to be clear that you were not responding to the OP.

We just had a large catamaran who’s charts showed them a recommended route between Guana and Fowl Cays at the eastern end of Elizabeth Harbor! Only a combination of relative calm, luck and rapid response saved this boat. This time.

This is the third such instance in almost as many years that charts have sent a boat through there in poor lighting conditions. Not all of the boats that ventured in there have come out of it intact.

Maybe quote the actual numbered post you are responding to next time, by not doing so we are going to assume you are replying to the original post.

 

[Bigsfish]

Menzies

After thinking about this for quite a while I now realize that I was wrong and your right and I should never reply to your last question but go back many posts or pages to answer the original question and not the most recent. You can be sure it won’t happen again. Have a good trip.

 

[menzies]

Menzies

After thinking about this for quite a while I now realize that I was wrong and your right and I should never reply to your last question but go back many posts or pages to answer the original question and not the most recent. You can be sure it won’t happen again. Have a good trip.

And I apologize for the BS comment. I could/should have phrased that better!

 

[Bigsfish]

Apology accepted.

 

[foggysail]

My takeway from this cautionary tale is:

1) Consider using paper charts in conjunction with electronic charts.

2) Plot your courses manually, not using the pre-defined routes (which, it is my understanding, they were doing).

3) Zoom In regularly when plotting an electronic course.

4) Make sure navigation software is up to date (It is also my understanding that they were using an older version of Navionics which had a pre-defined course going through there, however it has since been removed and the shoal added to the graphics around 2012-ish. (see #1).

I ALWAYS do my navigation using paper charts. My chart plotters (Garmin & Ipad) are there to confirm my progress. Back in the day of Loran, mine failed on a night trip heading to Wood's Hole where it falsely indicated where I was. When we could see the beach, I headed to a lighted buoy and and my paper charts to determine my location.

 

[diver dave]

This will be obvious to any experienced Bahamas anchorer (is that a word)?
But, many of the best(secure) spots have complex entrances. Literally coral head by coral head maneuvering. Even by eye, what can get u is a momentary cloud pass at a bad time.

 

[Shrew]

I ALWAYS do my navigation using paper charts. My chart plotters (Garmin & Ipad) are there to confirm my progress.

So do I. It makes things much easier for me to envision the 'bigger picture'. A Chart plotter either has a narrow view of detail, or a very undetailed image of a larger view. A chart allows me to see larger areas with detail and makes route planning significantly easier.

It allows me to see and somewhat 'memorize' the course better. I at least know the key markers and turns.

It also allows me to deal with electronic failures without stress. I learned on paper charts before modern electronics were readily available (or at least affordable) to the recreational consumer.

 

[psneeld]

For those newer to boating....



Paper vs electronic?..... They can be exactly the same depending on how you use them.


Comfort with one or the other varies by person, but neither is better or necessary.

 

[foggysail]

For those newer to boating....



Paper vs electronic?..... They can be exactly the same depending on how you use them.


Comfort with one or the other varies by person, but neither is better or necessary.

OK, I am not a big fan of electronic navigation other than to check one's progress. You must have greater familiarity then I using a plotter on an electronic device for navigation. I see electronics OK if going buoy to buoy, I never cruise that way. My chart plotter is constructed of one piece of plastic (no moving parts) that uses lat,long chart lines on paper.