How Much Luck Do You Have Left?

How much luck do you have left? Trust me, it's a valid question? This topic came up during a conversation with a friend of mine when he said "every day you spend on the water, you use up some of your luck." That gives rise to another question. How much luck does any one of us really have in the first place?

Let's assume that we each start out with a certain amount of luck, and we go through life using it up as we go along. It stands to reason that every time we do something careless or reckless, and survive it, we used up a little of the luck that we have remaining. This theory is no different than when a statistician applies the "Law of Averages" to what we do.

If we are all granted a finite amount of luck, it follows that at some point, a careless or reckless act might end up in disaster when our "Luck Runs Out" (I know you've all heard that expression). I bring this up because there are a handful of things that boaters do to "Push Their Luck" on a regular basis. Lets talk about a few of those things.

Based on insurance company, U.S. Coast Guard, and other law enforcement findings, there are some recurring "acts" and "omissions" that have resulted in harm to mariners. The following are a few of them:

1. Venturing out in questionable weather because you have to get your boat back to a destination by a specific time (if the weather gets bad enough, you might not get back at all).
2. Failing to check the expiration date on your emergency flares (those flares won't attract assistance if you can't ignite them).
3. Using a hand held radio as our primary means of communication instead of a 25-watt VHF marine radio (the Coast Guard can't hear your MAYDAY call if your radio signal is not strong enough to reach them).
4. Slacking off on engine and other mechanical maintenance (fuel filters, belts, etc. keep you running and get you home).
5. Going offshore without an EPIRB (an "Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon" can help a search and rescue team find you).

These are only a few of the things that can lead to disaster. I am sure that most readers can add to the above list based on things that they have observed or experiences that they have had themselves.

The bottom line to all of this is the question that we started with. How much luck do you have left? If you do use up a little luck every time you get underway, when will your luck run out? That point is moot if we don't take any chances. A little prevention can go a long way.

If you are on your boat and answer a distress call, you should "construct a picture of the scene in your mind" so you can prepare yourself for what's ahead. You can also construct a picture in your mind regarding your own potential problems, based on what you may have ignored or overlooked. It is a good way to drive the point home about safety. By the way, Best of Luck!

Until next time, I wish you clear skies, fair winds, and calm seas!