Whether the latest boater logged on prior to being smashed by waves remains contested with the Narooma Marine Rescue unit saying they have no records of that particular vessel logging on that morning.

Spectacular near-miss accident on Narooma bar | Photos

Boat capsizes on rough Narooma bar crossing

Unit Commander John Young said on opening the base at 6am the radio operator reports to Terrey Hills radio base that Narooma is operational and will take over local radio communications.

“The main purpose of the boating public logging on with us is to give us an idea where to find them if they were to meet with an unfortunate event,” Mr Young said. “It is a big ocean out there.”

Marine Rescue maintains a listening watch on VHF Channel 16 and 27 MgH channel 88. It broadcasts a weather broadcast 0615 and weather broadcasts are repeated at 0715, 0815, 1015, 1215 and 1615, 365 days per year.

Also, also at approximately 0655 every week day a live weather broadcast is carried out on ABC South Coast Radio. All broadcasts contain the information from the Bureau of meteorology, local observations from our base and Montague Island Automatic weather station.

All members are volunteers and if a boat requires assistance it takes approximately 15 minutes to muster a crew from their golf game, painting the kitchen etc. then launch the rescue vessel.

"Our response time can not improve until we can have crews on standby at or near the rescue vessel so plans have been started to hopefully rectify this problem, this howevever this is a long term project," Commander Young said.

"Roads & Maritme Services have two great slogans for the boating public. Tthey are: 'If in doubt don't go out' and 'You're the skipper you're responsible.'

"Safe boating and don't forget to log on, it is easy!"

Marine Rescue Bermagui busy

MARINE Rescue Bermagui may be a small unit in a small town but statistics show that it is one of the busiest Units on the NSW coast.

This provides plenty of sea time for crew, constant practice of varied skills and in different weather conditions when assisting different types of vessels.

Recently, the crew towed in a brand new and expensive 19 metre yacht, which had lost steering in fairly heavy weather. Getting the vessel into harbour, rafting it up and berthing it presented plenty of challenges for the crew and especially for trainee Leading Crew Peter Taylor who was on the helm.

In addition, many of the very grateful skippers make a generous donation to marine rescue funds which helps to cover diesel and boat running costs.

On the other hand, marine rescue members were dismayed to find that someone had cut and stolen the spliced safety ropes from the rescue vessel BG30.

This means that the volunteer crew had nothing to attach their personal safety lines onto when moving from the relative safety of the cockpit and working on the side decks and foredeck of the vessel.

Unit Commander Alec Percival said if someone was so desperate for rope they should ask the crew, who might have some and might even splice it for you.