Member Forum

Boat/US Magazine, Jan, 2000

Risking Lives

Thank you for writing the article, "Lost Skipper Unfazed by Massive Search," published in the November issue. My husband and I followed the Stewarts' saga this summer in our local paper. Mr. Stewart was clearly lacking in the necessary seamanship and sailing skills to undertake such a voyage. As a parent, I cannot comprehend why someone so inexperienced would risk the lives of their children.

Not only did Mr. Stewart risk the lives of his family, he risked other lives as well. While the Coast Guard was searching for the Stewarts, they were using manpower that could have been used elsewhere. I am outraged at Mr. Stewart's blatant indifference to the matter. I feel Mr. Stewart should be charged the total cost of the Coast Guard search and have his boat registration suspended pending the completion of a safe boating course.

Mary Stephan

Columbus, OH

Was He Really 'Lost'?

Concerning "Lost Skipper Unfazed by Massive Search" in the November issue, let me see if I've got this right:

A family with little boating experience but lots of heart works to gain experience by taking on seasoned crew between Florida and Rhode Island. En route they have to stop now and then to fix the boat -- this is unusual?

BOAT/U.S. wouldn't be in business if it weren't for people (like me and Mr. Stewart) who own and fix up old boats. Then, during an optimal weather window, this family has the audacity to set out without official notification "on the adventure of our lives" in a sailboat with only one engine (my God, how reckless!) headed south. On the way to Florida, the family encounters and overcomes numerous mechanical difficulties and a couple of storms. Despite their troubles, this family manages to effect a commendable feat of self-rescue without outside assistance, navigating to within seven miles of a safe harbor ahead of a storm before being forced to accept a tow from the Coast Guard. Oh, you cry, but if they'd just had one more piece of electronic safety gear -- a marine SSB radio, in this case. If only the Stewarts had had the foresight to have a perfectly maintained and perfectly equipped boat. How many neophyte cruises are snared in that trap?

Their ordeal sure sounds like a seagoing adventure worthy of celebration to me.

Rick Kennerly

Annapolis, MD

All Weather Is Local

Regarding the National Weather Service's local forecast question in your last issue: The Great Lakes area where I do most of my boating has some of the fastest changing weather patterns in the Western hemisphere. With this in mind, I feel that the Weather Service does a very good job in keeping boaters advised of local conditions. It's not perfect, but a reasonable person should not expect perfection in weather forecasts.

Richard M. French

Haslett, MI

Waiting for Better Weather

In reference to your article regarding better forecasts, all I can say is, it's about time. As a recreational fisher/boater, I have many occasions of bad forecasts not only ruining plans, but creating very dangerous circumstances due to poor or erroneous information.

Boating in Long Island Sound for the past several years, I have seen some very dangerous conditions occur that have not been forecast. I have been stuck in fog for hours that the weather station doesn't even mention. Only after hours of unbelievable wind and waves are small craft warnings issued.

It is incredible how poorly the height of waves are reported. We don't listen to the reports any longer but rather drive to a point in our car where we can see for ourselves.

I love the water and boating, and consider myself a very safe boater. I would greatly appreciate improved forecasting, not only for a more enjoyable day on the water, but also for a safer one.

John Gorbecki

Peekskill, NY

Don't Call Us...

The article "Is There Safety in Numbers?" in the last issue said, "Only an estimated 2-3% of boating accidents are reported, according to the Coast Guard, so we basically know nothing about 98% of the non-fatal accidents that occur."

If my experience is common, I understand why. In May 1998, our Cal 25 collided with a Beneteau near the finish line of a night race. No one was injured and there just happened to be a qualified marine repairman on the dock when we put the boat into its slip. His rough estimate was $3,500 to $4,000 in damage to the Cal.

I called the Coast Guard the next morning and as soon as they heard that there were no injuries, they wanted to hear no more and told me not to file any reports, even though I gave them the damage estimate and told them that I was under the impression that all accidents causing more than $500 in damage had to be reported. Texas Parks and Wildlife, the department that governs boating in the state, told me roughly the same thing. Corpus Christi Municipal Marina personnel went along with the others.

Just one little accident, but it cost your insurance company almost $4,000 and you were the only ones interested in it. No one else gave a damn.

If I ever have another accident, I'll again try to file the necessary reports, but I have no confidence that anyone will care.