I have been asked to use my Catalina 30 to dispose of the ashes of my neighbor by her family. They wish to bring 10 adults plus myself and I believe this is more than I can safely handle on my boat. How do I handle such a delicate situation without offending someone?
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Site the USCG regs on weight
Agree with the previous post. Get a second boat and site the weight limitations of your boat. I'd figure at least 200+ lbs per adult. I'm sure you already have a ton of extra gear onboard already without all the extra people. We only take as many as can fit comfortably in the cockpit - usually no more than 6. Also, we used to do alot of burials at sea with the Navy, so make sure you are sending the ashes DOWN wind. You don't want them blowing back on everyone. That actually happened to us!
Agree with the previous post. Get a second boat and site the weight limitations of your boat. I'd figure at least 200+ lbs per adult. I'm sure you already have a ton of extra gear onboard already without all the extra people. We only take as many as can fit comfortably in the cockpit - usually no more than 6. Also, we used to do alot of burials at sea with the Navy, so make sure you are sending the ashes DOWN wind. You don't want them blowing back on everyone. That actually happened to us!
Lifejacket Requirement by USCG
The USCG REQUIRES that you have a Lifejacket aboard for every person aboard. Tell them that you have X number of Lifejackets aboard the boat. We did the same thing last year and planned on having 2 boats (one power & and one sail). Ashes were in a degradable urn made specifically for disposal at sea. It sunk and desolved in about 20 minutes.
The USCG REQUIRES that you have a Lifejacket aboard for every person aboard. Tell them that you have X number of Lifejackets aboard the boat. We did the same thing last year and planned on having 2 boats (one power & and one sail). Ashes were in a degradable urn made specifically for disposal at sea. It sunk and desolved in about 20 minutes.
Do your homework on the legal
requirements of this. Any permits required? From what agencies? How far from shore do you need to be? Any waterways prohibited?
requirements of this. Any permits required? From what agencies? How far from shore do you need to be? Any waterways prohibited?
I've done this...
We scattered my husband's ashes in the Gulf. Legally, you must be in open water outside the "3 mile limit" (but that doesn't stop a lot of cremains from going into the water closer to shore). No permits required. Cremains can either be in a dissolvable urn or loose. If loose, hold the container close to the water to pour them into the water, and make sure you're upwind of them. Whether a religious ceremony is planned or not, this poem is very fitting for burial at sea: "The Unknown Shore" Sometime at eve when the tide is low, I shall slip my mooring and sail away With no response to the friendly hail Of kindred craft in the busy bay. In the silent hush of the twilight pale When the night stoops down to embrace the day And the voices call in the water’s flow…. Sometime at eve when the tide is low I shall slip my mooring and sail away. Through the purple shadows that darkly trail O’er the ebbing tide of the Unknown Sea, I shall fare me away, with a dip of sail And a ripple of waters to tell the tale Of a lonely voyager, sailing away To Mystic Isles where at anchor lay The craft of those who have gone before O’er the Unknown Sea to the Unknown Shore. A few who have watched me sail away Will miss my craft from the busy bay; Some friendly barks that were anchored near, Some loving souls that my heart held dear, In silent sorrow will drop a tear— But I shall have peacefully furled my sail In moorings sheltered from storm or gale And greeted friends who have gone before O’er the Unknown Sea to the Unknown Shore. - Elizabeth Clark Hardy
We scattered my husband's ashes in the Gulf. Legally, you must be in open water outside the "3 mile limit" (but that doesn't stop a lot of cremains from going into the water closer to shore). No permits required. Cremains can either be in a dissolvable urn or loose. If loose, hold the container close to the water to pour them into the water, and make sure you're upwind of them. Whether a religious ceremony is planned or not, this poem is very fitting for burial at sea: "The Unknown Shore" Sometime at eve when the tide is low, I shall slip my mooring and sail away With no response to the friendly hail Of kindred craft in the busy bay. In the silent hush of the twilight pale When the night stoops down to embrace the day And the voices call in the water’s flow…. Sometime at eve when the tide is low I shall slip my mooring and sail away. Through the purple shadows that darkly trail O’er the ebbing tide of the Unknown Sea, I shall fare me away, with a dip of sail And a ripple of waters to tell the tale Of a lonely voyager, sailing away To Mystic Isles where at anchor lay The craft of those who have gone before O’er the Unknown Sea to the Unknown Shore. A few who have watched me sail away Will miss my craft from the busy bay; Some friendly barks that were anchored near, Some loving souls that my heart held dear, In silent sorrow will drop a tear— But I shall have peacefully furled my sail In moorings sheltered from storm or gale And greeted friends who have gone before O’er the Unknown Sea to the Unknown Shore. - Elizabeth Clark Hardy
Package Deal
Pack everyone on board, go out preferably in heavy seas, and you can have a mass burial at sea.............
Pack everyone on board, go out preferably in heavy seas, and you can have a mass burial at sea.............
Disposal Caution
Although there are regulations about disposal of all articles at sea, one that is always overlooked is the disposal of human ashes at sea. Just let the Coast Guard know when and where. That will avoid an embarrasing situation. A few years ago I had the single occasion of doing so with my brother-in-law's ashes. There were only three of us on the boat, so we didn't have the issue of too many people on board. But what wasn't considered was the wind. Be cautious about where the ashes will fly if it is windy. I happened to be going in a circle at the time and a good deal of the ashes ended up in my dinghy. Fortunately, we made light of the situation and agreed that "Kevin" would be trailing us in the dinghy for the rest of the season. (We still laugh about it. It's a great group boat story.) But a better solution to getting 10 people on a boat would be to ask a powerboat friend to take you out. I have seen that work with other people and it is easier to take a larger group out under power.
Although there are regulations about disposal of all articles at sea, one that is always overlooked is the disposal of human ashes at sea. Just let the Coast Guard know when and where. That will avoid an embarrasing situation. A few years ago I had the single occasion of doing so with my brother-in-law's ashes. There were only three of us on the boat, so we didn't have the issue of too many people on board. But what wasn't considered was the wind. Be cautious about where the ashes will fly if it is windy. I happened to be going in a circle at the time and a good deal of the ashes ended up in my dinghy. Fortunately, we made light of the situation and agreed that "Kevin" would be trailing us in the dinghy for the rest of the season. (We still laugh about it. It's a great group boat story.) But a better solution to getting 10 people on a boat would be to ask a powerboat friend to take you out. I have seen that work with other people and it is easier to take a larger group out under power.
Disposal of Neighbor's Ashes
I wish to thank all who responded to my request. A special thank you to Peggie and I appreciate and intend to recite the poem you provided by Elizabeth Clark Hardy.
I wish to thank all who responded to my request. A special thank you to Peggie and I appreciate and intend to recite the poem you provided by Elizabeth Clark Hardy.
WOW! That's a lot of people
We have a Catalina 30 and it's pretty tight with just the five of us. I couldn't imagine many more than that on board. Sorry about your neighbor.
We have a Catalina 30 and it's pretty tight with just the five of us. I couldn't imagine many more than that on board. Sorry about your neighbor.
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