Scuba Shack's Boat Get Wet Sinks in Key Largo

[VooDooGasMan]

Reef that is why it would be nice to know if the leak was on bottom or the hatch, the young captain tried to make it to shore and did not contact CG himself, so either a very fast sinking from throttle going forward or it was sinking and the captain had know Idea what water can do when in boat, always abandon ship when sinking cause it will swallow you whole.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

After looking at the photos of the boat, I have to wonder where the life preservers were stowed. Looks like the only possible place was in the berth near the head, below the cabin. That's a tough place to be when the boat is going down at the stern and then capsizes.

I believe it's already been reported that there is no head on this boat.

 

[Reef_Haven]

Sorry, No head. Still if this photo is accurate, they had forward stowage and someone had to get the life preservers out.

 

[Wookie]

Sorry, No head. Still if this photo is accurate, they had forward stowage and someone had to get the life preservers out.

Holy crap. On an inspected vessel, the life jackets would never be allowed to be stored down below, or behind a lockable door. They must float free if the vessel goes down. I often see them (on smaller boats) bungeed to the overhead or stowed in float-able boxes under the benches.

Those deck hatches are Freeman hatches. Even if the gasket were completely removed, they won't leak too fast. For any other operators in the Keys, I have approximately 200 feet of Freeman deck hatch gasket from the manufacturer. If you need some, you have only to ask. I bought 20 feet last year, but somehow the decimal got misplaced. There is never a good reason to run with leaky deck scuttles.

 

[Reef_Haven]

That is not an actual photo of GET WET. It is the same type and size boat. I've seen preservers bungeed overhead as well, but looking at the actual photo of GET WET you can see they aren't bungeed above. That's why I wondered where they are stowed.I have seen preservers stowed below on other boats, and it has always concerned me a bit.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Agree wookie I have divers whine of preservers laying around and it is an Inflatable, even on other boats I have had the preservers are my cushion for dive gear, like it serves as a tank holder laying down or in between several all loose, also a long line on a life ring not atached to boat in case need hang together.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Reef what is the red thing on top, portable life boat.

 

[mike_s]

Holy crap. On an inspected vessel, the life jackets would never be allowed to be stored down below, or behind a lockable door. They must float free if the vessel goes down. I often see them (on smaller boats) bungeed to the overhead or stowed in float-able boxes under the benches.

I've heard they have to float free, but also I've seen MANY dive boats that store them in the front hatch (or head) area, in the v-berth, etc.


is there a boat size requirement on where they are required to be stored?

like "under 25 ft", they have to have X amount here and Y amount there?

Reef what is the red thing on top, portable life boat.

Yes. They are on top because it's a good place to store them and to float free.


they often have a net in them to throw items in. Survivors hang on the ropes on the outside of it.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

It appears to be from mikes pic on the dock a hard foam one when I zoomed in, girl in suit looked as safe when I zoomed in.

 

[Wookie]

I've heard they have to float free, but also I've seen MANY dive boats that store them in the front hatch (or head) area, in the v-berth, etc.


is there a boat size requirement on where they are required to be stored?

like "under 25 ft", they have to have X amount here and Y amount there?




Yes. They are on top because it's a good place to store them and to float free.


they often have a net in them to throw items in. Survivors hang on the ropes on the outside of it.

The U.S. Coast Guard recommends that small passenger vessel operators review the distribution of life jackets onboard their vessels to ensure compliance with federal life jacket storage requirements.

Stowage of life jackets

• Life jackets must be stored in convenient places distributed throughout accommodation spaces.
• Each stowage container for life jackets must not be capable of being locked. If practicable, the container must be designed to allow the life jackets to float free.
• Each life jacket kept in a stowage container must be readily available.
• Each life jacket stowed overhead must be supported in a manner that allows quick release for distribution.
• If life jackets are stowed more than 2.13 meters or 7 feet above the deck, a means for quick release must be provided and must be capable of operation by a person standing on the deck.
• Each child size life jacket must be stowed in a location that is appropriately marked and separated from adult life jackets so the child size life jackets are not mistaken for adult life jackets.
• The stowage locations of the personal flotation devices carried in addition to life jackets must be separate from the life jackets, and such as not to be easily confused with that of the life jackets.

Frank's Note: I would not consider the below deck cabin on that type of vessel to be "Throughout the accommodation space". The actual regulations are found in 46 CFR 117.78.