Explorer's Guide Maritime Training

For April 16-20th: NOAA’s Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:21:03 +0000

If your hair stands out or if your downrigger cables are humming and sparking while out on the water, you may have a serious problem—being struck by lightning.
Most fishermen and women like to fish as a cold front approaches. The fish are turned on in a feeding frenzy. The down side to this is your safety. Along an approaching cold front in spring, we get developing thunder storms. Along with strong winds, there is the threat of lightning. Lightening happens when there is a build-up of an electrical charge in the clouds. This static charge needs to be discharge either to other clouds, the ground, or water. These charges are looking for the easiest way to get to other electrically-charged areas. When they find this path, lightning occurs.
What does this have to do with you, your hair, and downrigger cables? That static electrical charge that causing your hair to stand out or your lines to spark may just be the electrical leader the charges in the clouds are looking for. They will follow that down to the water, and possibly to you.
We know sound travels about one mile in five seconds, so when you see lightning, start counting. If there are 30 seconds between the lightning and the thunder, you are about six miles away from that bolt of lightning. Lightning can strike up to ten miles away from its source. You definitely do not want to be any closer than six miles from lightning and should get to a safe shelter immediately.
That one last fish is not worth risking your life. It is best to be safe; fish and boat another day when you are in a thunderstorm with lightning.

Capt. Gary
Explorer’s Guide Maritime Training

Important Information for Employers Looking to Hire

admin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:42:04 +0000

It’s that time of the again—getting the boat ready for another charter season. Along with a new season come new crew members.
As a marine employer, you need to be aware of a recent law change. (We all know the laws are constantly changing, but we still need to be aware of what those changes are.) Per 49 CRF 40.25, you, as the marine employer, are required to conduct history checks on staff regarding any violations of Federal/DOT drug testing regulations. This is not a USCG thing. This is coming from USDOT.
You must get written consent from newly hired crewmembers, giving you permission to contact previous employers that were subject to Federal/DOT chemical regulations. You have 30 days to review the chemical testing history information after the crewmember first begins performing safety sensitive duties.
What are “safety sensitive” duties? USCG indicates it is any part of the operation dealing with control, operation, lifesaving, mooring, or cargo. This means just about any part of your charter business requires safety sensitive duties.
If discovered in the crew member’s history that he or she has failed or refused a Federal/DOT chemical test within the last two years prior to being hired on with your company, you have two options:
A. You can decide NOT to employ this person until he or she undergoes a successful rehabilitation treatment program in accordance with 49 CFR 40.
—OR—
B. If the crewmember has already begun performing safety sensitive work, you must immediately remove him/her from that position.
The key point to take away here is that you may never get inspected to see if you are in compliance. However, if there is an accident, and it is determined the crew member had a history of drug or alcohol abuse and you did not perform the required check, there are serious consequences. Not only are you, as employer, subject to a fine from the USCG, but you could also be deemed negligent, and therefore be denied insurance. The incident furthermore opens you up to law suits from clients.
As a responsible business person, it is good practice to perform drug history checks on your new employees in order to keep you IN business…and OUT of trouble.

Captain Gary

Oct. 18, 2011 The Central Wisconsin Fall Outdoor Show/Lifejackets

admin — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:45:38 +0000

Fall is here and winter is not far away. At the Central Wisconsin Fall Outdoor Show in Wausau last weekend, the question can up about acceptable flotation gear for fall fishing. My first suggestion was the classic survival (immersion or “Gumby”) suit. In fact, we had a little contest (during Packer-Ram game halftime) just to see who could put an immersion suit on the quickest. Needless to say, this captain did not make the top of the list. Check out our photos of the competition below. And thanks to all the good sports who participated.

But the question deserves a serious answer. First, the type three life jackets worn by most people are not the best choice from my point of view. They are designed for quick rescue. If you are alone and in cold water, a quick rescue is not a reality. After the first 10 minutes in the cold water, you will have trouble keeping your head out of the water. With the onset of hypothermia, drowning is close at hand.

The second alternative is self-inflating life jackets. They are designed to auto inflate should you fall overboard or be ejected from the boat. They are built to a high standard and designed to ensure your head is kept out of the water. Even with the onset of hypothermia, there is a chance your face will be kept out of the water. The only problem is, they offer no protection from hypothermia. The cost for these life jackets is around $125, depending on the manufacturer.

This brings up a third alternative. These are the new floating snowmobile suits which include bib and jacket. They provide both floatation and some thermal protection – almost as good as the classic “Gumby” immersion suit. The one drawback, again, is that these suits do not keep your head out of the water. I suggest wearing an inflatable life vest over, never under, the snowmobile jacket for added protection. Another drawback – the cost for both bibs and jacket can be up to $500.

The key to keeping safe while enjoying your fall and winter activities is to be prepared for the “just-in-case” situations. The cost for this protection may sound a little steep, but really, what is your life worth?

Take care and have a safe and enjoyable trip in our great outdoors.

Capt Gary

P.S. One final thought, “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” – William A. Ward

TEACHING POINT: In the pictures below, what does the orange sign with the large exclamation point mean? Answer – it’s a daytime inland distress signal.

Capt. Gary of Explorer's Guide demonstrates putting on an immersion suit.

And the transformation from Capt. Gary to Capt. Gumby is complete.

Barry Klatt of MidWest Outdoors takes up the challenge.

Difficulty zipping up with gigantic hands.

Gumby #2 is a little bit faster.

Another MidWest Outdoors Rep tries his luck.

Maybe if I sit down first...

Gumby #3 - younger and faster.

Ladies didn't want to be outdone.

And the winner is...Ms. Gumby in 32 seconds.

Winding down the summer

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:39:32 +0000

Well, I can tell autumn is here, even without the calendar. Here in Wisconsin, the geese have been flying south, the leaves are starting to turn colors, the kids are back in school, and marinas are busy pulling boats out of the water and getting them ready for winter storage.

For my part, I think the geese have something. Flying south for the winter sounds like a pretty good idea, especially when Wisconsin winter storms dump 12+ inches overnight. (I don’t like shoveling.) So, I’ve been talking with the staff here at Explorer’s Guide about doing a “Destination” Captain’s class – an OUPV class done in a blended format (40 hours online, 16 hours classroom) at a nice warm destination. While the students are in the 2 day, 16 hour classroom instruction, their families can relax and see the sights. In the evening, students regroup with the families for a host of fun-filled activities.

We went looking for opportunities. And this is where we’re going to start on this venture . . .

Explorer’s Guide Maritime Training will offer its first destination USCG-approved OUPV class in conjunction with the International Boating and Safety Summit at the beautiful Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego, CA on March 2-3, 2012. WOO HOO! Prospective students should sign up for this class prior to Jan. 16, 2012 so they have enough time to complete the online portion prior to arriving in San Diego. Call us at (800) 487-6029 or go online at: www.mycaptainsclass.com. We’ll provide more details later.

One final thought . . . “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Have a great day!

Brenda

What’s Happening in Your State? – Florida

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:08:04 +0000

The State of Florida is taking a tougher stance on some ongoing problems with mariners. Boaters should be forewarned to practice no trace boating, especially around seagrass beds in the state’s aquatic preserves. Any mariner caught damaging the delicate ecosystem will be subject to hefty fines.

Abandoned boats on Florida’s waterways are also coming under closer scrutiny by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. As the economy has worsened, and boaters are having difficulty keeping up mounting payments on pleasure craft, many more abandoned boats are littering Florida’s shores. The FWC now requires all boats that are operated, used, or stowed on Florida’s waterways to be titled, registered, and numbered. Only boats that are lawfully stored at a marina and not taken out on the water are exempt.

For more information on these and other newer maritime regulations in Florida, read on. http://www.floridasportsman.com/2011/09/16/new-boating-rules-from-the-fwc/