Silver Cloud Marina Offers A Lesson On Sea Safety

No aspect of boating safety was left uncovered at a Sea Safety Class at the Silver Cloud Marina in Forked River on Saturday, June 25.

Joseph Richter of Sea Safety Internaional, Inc., instructed slip owners and interested community members about safety on the seas beginning with how to use a fire extinguisher to demonstrating how to inflate a life raft at sea.

Marina owner Dawn Giombetti said the seminar held at the marina's pool was part of their annual safety weekend. The Coast Guard, she said, would be at the marina on Sunday to conduct voluntary inspections of water craft to make sure boats are sea worthy and have all the nescessary equipment on board.

Richter gave a comprehensiive course on emergency readiness, demonstrating safety devices that all boaters should keep on hand including PLB's which transmit signals to the international satellite system.

Richter continued to make clear that the types of devices needed were contingent upon how far out to sea particular boaters planned to be.

Some at the marina, Giombetti said, only cruise the waters of the Barnegat Bay while others head to Block Island or Cape Cod for overnight trips.

Giombetti said she was interested in seeing the life raft inflated in the pool.

"We have one of those in our boat, but we never use, thank goodness," she said.

Giombetti said she and her husband Dave have been boating with their sons Dylan, 20, and Dennis, 22, since they were babies.

The course was offered for free to slip owners and community members.

"We like to offer some social activities and some educational activities that are safety oriented," she said. "So many people just buy a boat and head out to the bay."

Richter said the most important thing he wanted the group of about 20 to take away after the seminar was learning how to use the safety equipment that all boaters should have on board.

Speaking of communication devices he said cell phones may work well for those staying closer to shore but for those heading far out into the ocean a PLB (personal locator beacon) or EPIRB, (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) was important to have.

Both devices are designed to float to the surface of the water and transmit signals to international satelites, letting rescuers know someone at sea is in danger and needs assistance.

Each device is registered by the owner who lists emergency contact phone numbers.

Newer models are equipped with GPS units which can transmit signals in two to 15 minutes.

Richter also demonstrated a "ditch bag" which boaters would use if they are forced to abandon ship.

The bag is floatable and should be filled with items anyone would need if they are lost at sea, including flares, medicines, an extra pair of glasses, sunscreeen,  first aid kit and of course water.

"You can never have enough water," Richter said as he passed around pouches of potable water with a five year expiration date.

Richter also said having extra of any essential item is important.

"Redundancy is good; have more than one set of batteries, life vests, whistles, flairs," he said. "A mirror is inexpensive and can be used to signal."

He also showed a can of orange smoke which is used as a daytime distress symbol. The cans float and open in the water shooting up an orange plume.

Letting people know your travel plans is also important.

"Tim went on an overnight to Block Island and it was good to know why his boat wasn't in the slip. It's not like him to not be in his slip at night," Giombetti said.

Richter also displayed thermal suits, one for hypothermia and one made of neoprene which also was a floatation device.

The seminar culminated in the inflating of a life raft, which inflated to full size with a roof in eight to 10 seconds.