Safety
We take the time before every trip to educate everyone on the procedures we follow to keep everyone safe on our boat. We understand that not everyone is a expert in water safety and we will take the time and demonstrate our procedures to you as many times as it takes until you are comfortable with the simple safety steps. Our boat is a oceanic learning classroom. We do all of this in a fun way.
We have learned and improved the best way to communicate with our guests and that is why we have developed procedures, not rules. As mentioned in the above paragraph, we explain to you and your kids how we do things on our boat. These things include: How to hold on with three parts of your body touching something at all times, how to walk around without falling, how to avoid slips, trips and falls, how to hold your pole, how to flush the toilet, how to bait your hook and the list continues, but you get the picture. You will understand why we do things differently on our boat after you meet us. We want you to have the best fishing experience to date! If you have any specific questions on how or why we do the things we do, don’t be afraid to ask…the only thing that bites on our boat is the fish!
We maintain our vessel to the highest USCG standards. There is nothing that we are not willing to do, to be ready for a safe fishing trip. We know our boat and there is no hesitation in inspecting the High Cotton to make sure she is running at her best. She is sound in her performance and her equipment is always ready to do what we ask her to do. When you see our boat for the first time, you will not only notice a comfortable uled routine maintenance and all of boats safety equipment is routinely checked to make sure that we are ready to go out to sea at a moments notice.
Life Jackets
We have more than enough life jackets on board for everyone, regardless of their age, height or weight. During the pre-departure safety meeting Captain Chris will go over the location of all safety devices.
Here are a few things to remember concerning life jacket safety.
- There must be at least one life jacket for each person aboard
- In Alabama children under the age of 8 are required to wear a life jacket
- Life jackets must be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard in order to meet requirements
- Life jackets are grouped into categories called “Types”. A life jacket will be a Type I, II, III or V
- These life jackets must be readily accessible and not in an out-of-reach location or in original packaging
- Any boat 16’ and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must carry a throwable PFD called a Type IV
- Throwable devices must be immediately available for use such as in the cockpit or near the helm of the boat
First Aid
We also have a First Aid station on board the High Cotton. Our crew is certified in CPR and First Aid and they will be available to help if the need arises.
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
This radio is used to alert search and rescue services in the event of an emergency. It does this by transmitting a coded message on the 406 MHz distress frequency via satellite and earth stations to the nearest rescue co-ordination center. EPIRBs also have built-in GPS which enables the rescue services to accurately locate you to +/- 50 feet of your exact location.
Charter Boat Safety Fire Extinguisher
We have a well maintained fire extinguisher permanently mounted on our boat for your up most safety. In case of a fire at sea, our over sized extinguisher will discharge and extinguish the flames. Captain Chris will go over the locations of all fire extinguishers during the pre-departure safety meeting.
Live Weather Radar Safety
We do our best to navigate around the occasional summer shower that might pop up, but for safety reasons we have a weather radar to allow us to see those rain showers in real time. This helps us choose which direction we need to head, in order to have the safest route during your fishing experience. We have the ability to see inclement weather way before it gets to our area or causes a safety hazard. By having this tool while at sea we are able to add another level to our safety procedures to give you the best chance of catching that big fish!
While on board you should always strive to have three points of contact with the boat. This means, you should have both feet planted and holding on with at least one hand. Or, if you are moving about, hold on with both hands to something firm like a grab rail or stanchion and take one step at a time. If seated, have your feet touching the floor, or holding on with both hands. Having three points of contact assures that your body is positioned in such a way that the majority of your body is in contact with the boat, and you won’t be set off-balance easily.
