Sapphire SY108

codender....why do you think the Collision regs have rules about the correct lights and daylight symbols?? And it is the reason why all those fishing boats that run around looking like christmas trees are such a danger. Proper lights, proper manning and lookout would help stop this kind of collision. As you say though..... Pelagic type beacons won't matter if there's nobody in the wheelhouse to see them and alter course

Aye Trawldoor and Codender,the last line of your comments is the definitive answer....on the other vessel,if there isnae anybody on watch(sometimes),they're asleep on watch(often happens)or simply don't see you(no paying attention/distracted),then it isnae going to make a jot of difference supposing you're lit up like Blackpool,flashing like an ambulance or flying all the cones and black balls in creation,none of these things are going to save you.As for more crew?...I'm no saying the one man band is a safe way to go to sea,did it myself for years and I wouldnae recommend it,but accidents still happen with 2-3-4-5 and more crew aboard,so it's no going to cut them down at a stroke taking more men aboard,although it should in theory improve the risk.Best advice? get off the Bostrom Viking chair,open a window and let some fresh air in,and most important of all look round about ye lol

all very well slagging off someone who's trying to do his best, try owning a boat with the cost of everything and try find a drug free crew nowadays  gordon and see if you wouldn't go out on your own

NOT once have I slagged anyone off and I know what it takes to run a boat, Been there done it, But its my opinion that sailin a boat of that size single handed is crazy doesn't matter what the circumstances are, At the end of the day alot of rules are not applied in the fishing industry but if you think working a boat of this standard is good working practice then thats up to you, I only said my opinion and every thing else I said I meant as well coz I,ve been there and seen it, As I said I dont know Kenny or have ever heard of him, Its not for me to pass a judgement on him, As for what codender and Trawldoor both said you can put as many lights up on a fishing boat as you like but if theres no one in the other wheelhouse theres no point,
so I'm not on Slagging anyone off, I'm only voicing my opinion on SAFETY at SEA which I think is an important issue

well well well   :you guys seem to know it all, working a boat that is rigged up for single handed for over a year on & off does not come in to it when another vessel runs right into your fish room on a fine night when you are just finishing taking your bag aboard,point your finger say what you wish but it was not the sapphire that hit anything

the SAPPHIRE mebey didn,t hit anything, but at the end of the day ,she will probably be found responsible for 50% of the cause of collision, ie. not keeping a proper lookout......
that type of boat was never meant to be worked single handed..........
whose going to be in the wheelhouse while the boat is towing along and the one man aboard is picking prawns in an enclosed area????
there are reasons why the man was doing what he thought was best,
and im not condeming him, only giving my opinion,,,,,,,as a skipper of 35 years,on vessels of 10mtrs. to 18mtrs.

When i was sitting my ticket the examiner asked what size of boat and how many crew- under 10 and single handed i replied he starts to give me the lecture i bravely (or stupidly) put up the hand and stopped him, then asked why Ellen Mcarthur was seen as a heroine for sailing round the world single handed admitting that on the channel leg she did cat nap at the wheel at whatever speed , so was i wrong for working single handed at 1.9 kts home every night by 6pm ?
He said that i was doing it commercially my reply was that she made more money from that trip than i ever would from the fishing.
               My point ? Single handed with a good working practice is as good as a crew of hash heads, you can never
elininate all the risks but certainly minimise to an acceptable level
              Only my opinion i hasten to add
          and he passed me  

I agree with that Ian.You'll never eliminate every single risk no matter how safe your working practices are or how many crew you have aboard,as you say,you can only hope to keep them at a safe level.I know that only too well..I did the one man band caper for 20 odd years,but I still say,and always will,that the best two weapons you have are your eyes and your wits..keep yer eyes open and yer wits about ye and you'll no go too far wrong!

theres a big difference to an under 10mtr. boat being worked singlehanded, to a 16 mtr type.
men have been going singlehanded to the creels since time began.
theyve also been going on 10 mtr,prawn boats for a lot of years now too,with a lot of tragedys,which will happen reguardless of how many aboard.
on your 10mtr. boat 200 to 300 gross will get you by ok,,
on a 16 mtr. boat it needs at least 4 times more.
a hell of a lot of work for one man to get through and keep a good lookout at the same time....
as has already been said, the SAPPHIRE didnt hit another boat, BUT.. if there had been 2 men aboard and 1 of them in the wheelhouse he could of taken evasive action,,,

If your aunty had balls shed be your uncle,it happend leave the men in peace to deal with it.The amout of sea lawyers on here is unreal.