I must agree with Nemo, Surefire is the brightest, most compact, that I have found. Stream Light also makes a good line of light, and much cheaper!
Lee, You “love” being on a rig?? Did you start hitting the XTC again?!
You just can’t help yourself can you? Just come out and say it boy. Say it Loud!!! Yell it…Scream it!!! <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);]“I miss you LEE!!”</span> Now see…don’t you feel better getting those fee
lings out.
I don’t think so Leeroy, but keep dreaming, you may get proposition 8 passed, I have faith in people like you. Never give up !!! Just keep the pink speedos in the bag while transiting Alabama.
Shellback,
This forum is all about offending people with “traditional ideas”. This year’s causilty rate is over 200% higher than it was 10 years ago and the insurers are predicting another 100% rise over the next five years. The biggest problem is the high number of new mariners, many of which are afraid to ask difficult questions.
The problem, however, is not with the new guys but with those of us who have some level of experience. We know all what the problems are but very few are willing to talk about them for fear of (either themselves or our industry) looking “bad” or (worse still) foolish. So yes we may offend each other from time to time (I personally offeneded the head of the APA just last week!) but if we don’t talk honestly about our problems and don’t ask questions that might spark anger then we are not going to turn around this proffession.
SO… I can’t promise your poll is going to wint he contest but for offending this site’s admin I’m sending you a t-shirt. Keep up the good work!
The other questions:
Surefire’s are great but I’m still a member of the Pelican fan club. Maglights are great as well but are not intrinsically safe or waterproof, so I try to avoid them.
Capt Lee is absolutely right; being informed, knowledgable and confident is more important than what you wear!
Even though no real offense was caused on either side, " all in fun " , I really appreciate the open mindedness that you reiterated and inspire on gcaptain. It makes it a friendly enviroment for all of the contributors to ask questions without being called names or feeling like a jerk for doing so…hats off to you !
I’m a little shocked by the casualty rates…With todays modern techniques, procedures and technologies, I wouldn’t think that would be the case…This type of work has never been considered a very safe work enviroment, based on the nature of the work it’s self…It’s a very interesting point to discuss and is deserving of it’s own thread…
Of course my background is from trucking and I love my mag lights…But I will embrace the ideas that you all have stated here…If there is one thing that I have learned in my life…It’s that having the right tool, for the job, is not to be taken lightly…Even of the tool is information , knowledge, or confidence…
I feel that I am very undeserving of the "coveted " Gcaptain T shirt , since I have not won it on my own merits…But my momma didn’t raise no fool either…lol…
I emailed you my address…Thank you John…
Pelican LED about 40.00
<img width=“189” height=“120” border=“0” alt="" src=“http://www.caseclub.com/FlashLights/Pictures/super_sabrelite_2.jpg” />
http://www.caseclub.com/sabrelite_led.htm
John what about a shirt for me? I can offend with the best of them…
"The problem, however, is not with the new guys but with those of us who have some level of experience. We know all what the problems are but very few are willing to talk about them for fear of (either themselves or our industry) looking “bad” or (worse still) foolish."
John,
I agree, which is one of the reasons I’d like to see the forum evolve to a discussion of real life problems within the industry. The failure of ISM to do the mission for which it was conceived is an example. An outsider looking in would think the shipping industry is a wonderful place to make an excellent living and they just need to jump thru the hoops to get involved. What they don’t know is how tenuous the situation is in both job security and safety. The short cuts being taken to increase profits are going to come to an explosive conclusion, it’s just a matter of time before catastrophic disastor occurs in the US offshore industry and when it occurs there will be companies going bankrupt and many jobs lost. We could use this forum to discuss these issues and perhaps bring to the light of day the real problems regarding training and maintenance.
I would like to know this “SHORT CUT” in the offshore industry regarding training. I’ve been looking for it for years and I can’t seem to find it. The only think that I’ve found is more training requirements. Even the large OSV mariners have had more training than some of more experienced Master Mariners due to the fact that most were licensed before full force of STCW, but after taking most of these requirements myself, above all else, I’ve learned that 80 percent of the training is BS and choose not to advocate a one size fits all training requirement for all mariners based on what I’ve personally witnessed.
Anchorman, you hit the nail on the head. I’m actually an advocate of less training (getting home a few months of the year is still important to me) but that’s more creative. For example, I learned more in one day at the manned model course than I have in my hundred or so days in a simulator. I also don’t like the fact a week spent at school equates to about 25hrs of classroom time (8hrs minus lunch and breaks) while a week spent at work equates to 70+ hrs of work. Another problem is that once the course gets approved by JDCavo and crew the schools rarely change the curiculum. Lots of new ideas and technology has emerged but you wouldn’t know it by attending a training school.
Cheng,
You haven’t offended me yet, keep trying 
Tengineer,
We are looking at ways to foster more of those types of questions. Let me know if you have any good ideas.
<span> </span>
Anchorman,
The fact that the training you have received is considered BS by you tells the tale. It is BS but needed ! Forget that the Masters licensed before you didn’t have to go thru the same training, they were ‘grandfathered’ and you’ll probably be ‘grandfathered’ insofar as future ‘training’ requirements are concerned. So, let’s take a look at the needs of the maritime industry from a safety standpoint. Look at the past casualties and the causes. Is your training relevant and actually designed to prevent further losses or is it just something to establish a minimum standard ? I think you’d agree that at best it is a minimum standard. For example you have, I assume, years of practical experience though not necessarily a formal 4 year education in ship handling and management as a basis. Others without anywhere near your experience but graduated from bum-fuck martime school in Urogrania probaby hold at least equivalant license to yours though they would be hard pressed to flush your toilet. Also in the past in the USA a person who could neither read nor write could obtain a license equivalent to the license you hold now. There was no international standard until STCW came along and it was generally accepted that STCW mandated MINIMAL standards of competance. The USCG resisted STCW for years. You and many others have had to take course that were ridiculous considering your experience but there has to be a standard of some sort. What is needed now is something beyond the minimal. It is rare that I see company demand training that is not required by their regulatory agency. On occasion an insurance company will require more training to prevent loss of property and life but usually they’d prefer to collect the higher premiums.
From my standpoint there’s not a lot more you can require of deck officers. Current, weather and the like hasn’t changed that much in the last few centuries. Most intelligent deck officers can pick up on DP really quick. The problem I see is the engineeing staff and their shoreside support. It was behind the curve already and is getting behind each month.
For best flashlight, I suggest this one. Then get down to biz-niz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D99NHb6B03s
Holy shit that thing is sweet…but I’m not sure I’d want it on a tanker…
CA,
You’re correct. The Surefire lights are expensive. I won’t (can’t) argue that. You can buy a handgun for the price of one of the more expensive ones. They are too bright (even the small ones) to use in the wheelhouse…unless you use a red filter. It’s in other environments - on deck, in a hold, in an anchor locker, in an alley off of Bourbon Street- that they shine (no pun intended).
Hell. the big Maglites are good for light and leverage…against the cranium. But they don’t cast much illumination on things.
The other lights (Pelican and Scorpion) are quality products. I’m just a big Surefire fan. I’ve been in some “situations” when I needed it and it was there.
Surefire: Don’t leave home without it.
Nemo
An REC Coastie told me once “This is a minimum standard, companies determine actual standards by choosing to promote only the best canidate”. He was right 5 years ago but today my company has over half a dozen newbuilds coming out so they’re are forced to promote anyone with a license higher than their title. Now we really are living up to minimum standards.
I asked Santa for a Surefire light for Christmas, and she laughed her ass off at me.
Best video of a Pelican flashlight yet…
.<embed height=“350” width=“425” type=“application/x-shockwave-flash” id=“VideoPlayback” quality=“high” pluginspage=“http://macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer” wmode=“transparent” src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wSBAQ7E6T_8&NR=1]</embed>
I’m sold.
No wonder you engineers need so much training!
Hey you can’t teach some things…