Recently, our friend Bob Mueller was able to utilize his GPSMAP 741xs in a very demanding situation. Bob is not only a contributor for GPS Tracklog but he is also an active member of the United States Power Squadrons. He serves as an ABC3 instructor, a Vessel Safety Examiner and a Squadron Emergency Response Assistance Team Leader (SERAT). The following is a recap in which Bob used our GPSMAP 741xs in an urgent situation.
I am the Squadron
Emergency Response Assistance Team Leader for Berea Power
Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadrons. That means that I
volunteer to help government agencies (USCG, et al) with Search and Rescue and
other missions on Lake Erie. Last weekend, I heard a mayday call come over
the VHF radio from a 47' Beneteau Sailboat that was in distress. A
thru-hull fitting had failed and they were taking on water fast. They
gave their Lat/Lon over the radio. It was a piece of cake to enter the Lat/Lon
on the touch screen of the GPSMAP 741xs.
I can see where the touch screen would make me faster to respond, and
probably reduce error when entering waypoints in a hurried situation such as
that.
I was not the closest asset to the sinking boat, so I did not respond to assist. ODNR had an asset that was much closer than I was, so they responded. The 741xs indicated my distance to the distressed vessel, which allowed me to know that I was not the nearest.
Although this situation didn't warrant any further action, we are proud to be part of such a worthwhile cause. Thanks to Bob, the United States Power Squadrons and any other organizations that put the safety and well-being of others before their own.