From: jfh@cs.brown.edu (John F. Hughes)
Subject: Flares/out of gas (was snow goose)
Organization: Brown University Department of Computer Science
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 14:35:56 GMT

In article <1992Aug13.200942.1225@webo.dg.com> fishman@tracker.rtp.dg.com (Mike Fishman) writes:
>In article <118@cherise.UUCP> bobp@sandr.com (Robert Parkinson) writes:
>>In article <10AUG199211103878@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> ecf_stbo@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu (Desert Stork: Delivers election in swaddling clothes...) writes:
>>
>>Or is it reasonable to fire one off if one is, say, aground? Doesn't
>>seem reasonable to me. 
>>
>>Also, on the maydays, people really should learn not to call a mayday
>>just because they're out of fuel. That's really common here on
>>the bay.
>
>You are 2 miles offshore, no radio and you are out of gas.
>WHAT EXACTLY WOULD YOU DO, if not fire off a flare (or two).. 

To give the glib answer, I would hoist my sails. 

But let's suppose you don't have any. Then I'd switch to my reserve tank.
What?  I got two miles offshore without enough fuel to get back or a reserve
tank to help out? 

Ah...then I'd say to myself "Boy, am I total dinkus...an A-1 idiot...a turkey 
of the first feather. I'm gonna have to pay for my stupidity now..." I'd look
around to see if there were other boats around, and if so, I'd wave an oar or
flag overhead, or something like that, to try to attract attention. Failing
this, I'd get on the VHS and say "This is THE BETTY-LOVE VII, calling Wedgewood
Marina or any other marina." When I made contact, I'd ask the Marina to send
someone out to help out with a gallon or two of fuel, and I'd have my wallet
ready when they came alongside. Failing this, I'd call the CG and ask *them* to
contact a local marina for me, which is what they'd offer to do anyhow.

Ah...I came out with inadequate fuel and no radio? Then I'm probably so daft
that I'm not aware that I'm daft, so skip the part about talking to myself.
I'd probably consider that it'll take me 4 hours to paddle to shore, but that 
if the wind/current is right, it'll only take an hour or so. When I get close
to shore, I can anchor and *swim* ashore if necessary. No anchor? Boy, I really
*am* stupid. Tell me, did I remember to put my pants on this morning? Yes?
Thank heavens.

>Or, alternatively.. exactly what is the proceedure for calling for help
>(VHS or CB) when you are on the bay, w/o Loran, and out of gas. I could 
>believe that a mayday is a little extreme, but I don't know any alternative.

Signalling nearby boats, calling the CG on the radio to ask them to send
commercial aid, waiting a while to drift somewhere closer to other boats,
hoisting a small sail on an oar...rowing....

>
>PS, i am routinely on the bays in Liong Island, without a chart or loran, 
>only 6gal of fuel and NO RADIO.. 

Then you should be damned sure that you take enough fuel. If you are set adrift
in a small boat by pirates, and all they leave you is a dribble of fuel and
some flares, then you have some excuse for being out of gas. Otherwise, it's
your own fault. And your flares, lovely though they are, are not really very
likely to attract attention. 

>If I run out of gas, and no boats are within sight, I figure I have few if any
>choices:
>
>1: Anchor the boat and start swimming

Bad plan if you're two miles out.

>2: Hope some helpful soul flots by before i dehydrate or starve

That gives you something like 3 days. In Long Island Sound, it'd be a miracle
if you saw no other boat for 3 days.

>3: Fire off my flares, handhelds, parashoots (sp) and anything else that will
>smoke, burn or make noise....
>
>I have a real problem hoping that I can hail someone by waving a flag
>or hollering..

I have a real problem with someone who doesn't think about this *before* he 
goes out. 

But to address your concern, I once got dismasted South of Biscayne Bay. I 
managed to flag down a passing boat in about 10 minutes. The Bay was not busy, 
but folks tend to look at the other boats around them, and seeing someone
waving frantically tends to grab your attention, even half a mile away.


I seem to have taken another "nasty pill" with breakfast this morning. Oh,
well. In a better mood, I could have written this more politely, but the
content would have been about the same.

-John