This was several years ago, It was jammed with people all fishing, not a life jacket in sight. We all looked at each other, and said "Oh my God". They all just waved (with one hand the other was fishing), as we steamed past. 

They often turn the engine off (saves $1 fuel). And their service cycles are..........

But they get home. Always. Either Merc 2 S or Yam 4S 30-40 Hp.

Alan

I know of two incidents over near a decade. One was not a banana boat (chinese guys in a decent fishing boat). Went out in ridiculous conditions from where I am. I was here at the time and recall the weather. They tipped up, and dead luck they survived - one swam to a rocky shore, one drifted away with upturned boat. And found at dark. Total stupidity. My kiwi charter mate has the boat now - was using for charters pre covid. And one banana boat came to grief during a nearby island crossing - short hop. Not sure of details but some kids drowned I think.

I can't help think that because most have access to CG, they take less responsibility than if they thought they were on their own once they left shore.

I have a back up steering system in my boat in Vtu. I had it fail once at the Fad - 20 k out. Managed to pull the steering box apart and sort enough steering to get home. So I figured I needed to plug that gap. Made a tiller system that bolts to the steering yoke of the motor. It stays in the boat all the time.

I have had the steering fail on my identical rig in NZ too. This time the internal cable separated with no warning. Managed to get home sitting on the transom cradling the motor at idle. LUCKILY I was only about 1k offshore and a rare day with surf about 0.5m. Could have been 40k out, or coming home over a 2m surf.

But I have not made a similar steering tiller for that boat. Why not? I have no explanation - so I better do one when I get back. It works very well.

The Fads are in about 800m of water.

Regards

Alan

I have an interest in bathymetry datasets / information and would like to have a look at the structure available to you.  Can you give me the GPS coordinates of where you launch from?

That doesn't sound flash. But these blokes (and me ) would not be 20k out in 25 knt. I have come home in 20 knt, but I sure never went out in it, and I doubt these guys would. But the seas I do go out in and think 'should I be here', there is always a few of these blokes already there - fishing in the dark.

Alan

If they go out in the dark & have no gps or whatever ... how do they manage to find the fad/s ?????

Bazza, I would say one or two have a hand held GPS. The rest follow. But they have eyes like cats for seeing in the dark.

Alan

Here is a pic of a Fad. Courtesy of Japanese Govt.

Also here is a pic I like.  Same file. We were off fishing and shot past these poor souls paddling to a near island to tend their garden. My conscience got me and I doubled back and offered them the help of a Merc 90. They were so grateful and wanted to know what time we come back. They would wait with some stuff from the garden.  I politely declined. We had no idea and I don't want to take their food.

Alan

I will take a pic of a few spots tomorrow - where the fads usually are. They show mounds. The current Fad I fish is known as 366. The GPS spot I give you will be close to that - a mound at 366m, from around 800m. My sounder (600w 50 Khz) can find bottom at 500m easy. It finds fish at 3-400m. I use it for bottom fishing at that depth. It can never find any bottom at 366. The charter guys with their 1 Kw say it is 800m. The surrounding area on the chart is 800m. There is another spot where we had a Fad - I will try and mark. We called it 393 - because the chart says there is a mound at 393m. Same story. There is a mark close in at 79m - a pinnacle. Would be a great bottom fishing spot. Have spent hrs looking for it - my sounder can't find it. How can a lump disappear? Then I am told everyone else has looked for it. I will mark another area - a ridge that comes up from around 600m to 150m. About 2km long, 1 Km wide.  Has to be primo bottom and game fish spot. Spent hrs going over it, sounder found nothing. So one day I am over it and dropping my elec reel rod with 1 kg lead sinker. My kiwi charter mate comes cruising by and is perplexed enough with charter on board to double back and ask what am I doing? Looking for bottom. Good luck.

I gave up when elec reel said somewhere between 4-500m.

Basically I think many of the 'mounds' were sonar aberrations on early gear on single passes. Some of the compilation data  dates back to WW2. The holes seem accurate. If you find a depression it seems correct.

I have gone 20 k out looking for a spot on the chart - only to find it is not there. I think they must have recorded a lot of thermocline aberrations or similar.

Regards

Alan  

GPS Fad marks

366; 17 34 876,  168 04 094

393; 17 29 200, 168 02 000

I have taken a screen pic off my GPS for the 366 marks I have - you can see it moves. A lot.

Screen is fuzzy - pulled GPS apart, thinking was mould on the back of glass. Nope, inside LCD. I put my polaroids over the camera - it helps.

My location is approx 17 34 342, 168 15 031 if you want to google.

Here is a pic of the bathy area - I have marked 393, 366 - those lumps are not there. The contour line is 1000m. Just to the rt of 366 you will see the mound I described - where I dropped my elec reel on with 1kg lead. Never found bottom. How can they make this stuff up? i have marked my location , approx, with an X

Regards

Alan