For Ron Rogers:  pilot by profession, long since retired, and diver by
passion.  Diving is what got me in to boating in the first place.  I
have three sets of full dive gear on board as well as a compressor to
charge the tanks.

For Jeffrey Siegel:  Waiting out the weather was not an option.  The
weather had settled in to a stabilized pattern that could have lasted
for weeks, although we could have found smooth seas by back tracking
200 miles toward Hawaii.  I did have a safety line of about 30' tied
to my BC.  Having crew help haul me back to the boat when I surfaced
helped save my energy level.
I also have since considered a hack saw, particularly one that is
structured more like a knife with a handle on one end, sort of like
the sheet rock knife that Kevin mentioned.  Again this falls into the
category of 'needs investigation'.  I wonder if the sharper points of
a saw would get hung up in the line or if they would allow a smooth
sawing motion.  I also have two underwater cameras, but it never
occurred to me to take a picture.  I probably had tunnel vision on
getting the boat free.

Phil Eslinger

I supose I've got to put my two cents in. I run a dive boat and although
I've never been entangled no way shape or form like Phill. let me say first
an outstanding effort.Now for my two cents. Not a fan of serated knives very
hard to sharpen and keep them sharp. I would sugest a good carbon steel
knive for lighter stuff up to aroung 1/2 max. netting cuts quite nicely with
it although you'll need to keep it clean and oiled. But you can shave with
it when you sharpen it and it'll hold an edge. Cheap and if you lose it no
problem replacing. Have a sheaf even if home made so you don't cut yourself
before you get there you can add a line to it but it can get in the way.
Heavier lines a hack saw especially when the shaft is tightly wrapped. Easy
to replace blades many varietys of saws although i'm partial to a stanley as
it has a tappered frame. Always attached to the boat as Phil was in really
rough seas surface supply air can be a real hassle so I'd sugest tanks,
probally smaller ones 72's or less. A line attached to the bc can be a help
when the person tries to get back on the boat as he can shed the gear and
once on the boat recover it. Helmets, still have a cave diving one long out
of production with a small mounted light on it. Most important establish a
time you'll be back so if you wind up entangled someone on the boat can come
help. Just a few thoughts although my first and last one is AN OUTSTANDING
JOB, my hats off to you. Bill Allen

i've been searching for software that would let me use my phone (win mobile)
as webcam and directly FTP images to my server.  Until now, I coudlnt' find
anything... seems like all webcam mobile software allow you to use the phone
as a webcam hooked to a laptop but didn't allow direct FTP. Looks like like
the version of Ateksoft WebCam Plus finally fills that niche...

i'm still playing with it but i've been able to upload some images to my
server... tehy just released it, no documentation yet.  but it installed
and seems to work.

interesting capability... i'm already running a webcam at the helm of my
boat or the 70 footer i captain,  but being to use a mobile phone opens
other possibilities, and even for those who dont' want a full cam, just
something occasional while cruising to share things with others.

http://www.ateksoft.com/webcamplus.html

havent' registered yet, but probably will.. $25  via Paypal (it's a small
company in poland so using paypal is a good idea to make sure your CC nr
doens't end up in the wrogn hands...) . the evaluation version times out
after a few minutes and needs to be restarted.

pascal
miami, fl
hatteras 53MY
live HelmCam @ www.sandbarhopper.com