How Many EPIRBS and Liferafts Ever Save Lives ?

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Does nothing? or does very little - and that the money / effort better spent elsewhere. . . .

IMO too many sailors are under the false belief that a life raft is a dependable get out of jail free card - especially when used with an EPIRB. Not to say that I have anything against anyone having either (or both) - in many respects very sensible.....as long as folk know the limitations of there "Safety" equipment / gadgets - the main one being that nothing cures stupid....no matter the size of the cheque(s) written.

+1 for a practical perspective on the discussion and a great summation. I have seen too many "stupid" or just plain naive folks taking to the cruising life. Many in boats I wouldn't take out of sight of land or far enough out that I wouldn't feel comfortable swimming back to shore.

No amount of do-hickeys at around a $grand each is going to make you a better sailor/cruiser. Only experience and a healthy amount of common sense and the good sense to not go where there be dragons waiting.

The "herding instant" is alive and well in the cruising world. Groups of boats will head out into questionable or definitely adverse conditions because the think their EPIRB, SARTS, whatever will save their butts and/or all their "buddy boats" will come to their rescue. The perverse part of that is that generally in most situations everybody makes it to the next place even when they had a horrible time doing it. It brings up the old saying "perception is 9/10's of reality."