LAUNCHING THE FREE FALL LIFE BOAT

Once a year we launch the Free Falling Life Boat. I was lucky enough to be board for it and the captain was excited to film it. We had 4 cameras rolling for this epic event.
JOE FRANTA'S SLOP CHEST (my store): slopchestsailorstore.com/
INSTAGRAM: / franta.joe
MY RV CHANNEL / @joefrantarv
#lifeatsea #lifeboat #epic #merchantmarine

Пікірлер: 240

  • @baska-
    @baska-8 ай бұрын

    I see a Joe Franta video, I click it. It's simple as that.

  • @TravelingWithLex
    @TravelingWithLex8 ай бұрын

    Joe, I really love your channel. I like your authentic style, good writing, and compelling sense of storytelling. I've introduced my dad to it. At 96, he's not really much into KZread, but he was a Merchant Mariner in World War II. Radio operator. Slightly more danger involved. He loves watching your posts - especially the one about Merchant Mariner Academy. Thank you.

  • @tonyshield5368
    @tonyshield53688 ай бұрын

    I've drilled in davit lifeboats, always wanted to do a free-fall - but this was great to watch. Thanks to Captain, you and the crew for bringing it to us.

  • @penguin44ca

    @penguin44ca

    8 ай бұрын

    Better than dead

  • @bakerbill4274

    @bakerbill4274

    8 ай бұрын

    @@penguin44ca that drop has injured or killed many

  • @jeffjohnsisland5551

    @jeffjohnsisland5551

    8 ай бұрын

    My understanding is lifeboat drills with davit launched boats are hazardous, to many accidents where the hooks failed. I would rather ride a free fall than a davit launched.

  • @bakerbill4274

    @bakerbill4274

    8 ай бұрын

    @jeffjohnsisland5551 all lifeboat drills are hazardous, but failed hooks are not that big of a problem on davit launched boats. I've witnessed three serious accidents (crushed hand, crushed skull, severed thumb) in 23 years, all happened during initial release or stowage of the boat.

  • @larryaelterman199

    @larryaelterman199

    3 ай бұрын

    I worked on three different Sedco submersibles in the North Atlantic in the early 80's. The davit lifeboats can easily slam into the rig or get swept under the main deck which would be horrifying in a big storm.

  • @TheRange7
    @TheRange78 ай бұрын

    That's incredible footage Joe. Thanks for sharing. I hope you and your crew mates never have to use this life boat except for your testing purposes. Sail safely Joe and crew. Chicago, checking in.

  • @johnvsymons
    @johnvsymons8 ай бұрын

    This was fascinating and informative! The scene of the lifeboat "popping out of the water" after being launched actually surprised me. I never knew how sturdy and well constructed these boats are. It's good to know you have these boats on board. Hopefully, you will never need them. 🙏

  • @zlatanmorrison8182
    @zlatanmorrison81828 ай бұрын

    This was excellent to watch, I did not realize the free fall boats were powered and can get about under their own steam - interesting stuff.

  • @Unknown_Ooh

    @Unknown_Ooh

    3 ай бұрын

    Huh? What do you think happens after you launch? 😂

  • @LuciferRatzinger187
    @LuciferRatzinger18723 күн бұрын

    💯💪Let's Go Joe!

  • @grav-x1430
    @grav-x14308 ай бұрын

    I was lucky enough to witness such a drill aboard a vessel my dad captained at that time, was super bummed that i was not allowed to occupie a seat. I was to young and thus not tall enough being a higher risk for potential injury. Was super cool to witness though :D Great video again Joe!

  • @Decietfulz
    @DecietfulzАй бұрын

    You're videos help alot with me still thinking about becoming a merchant marine. Thank you Joe!

  • @a-fl-man640
    @a-fl-man6408 ай бұрын

    now that's pretty cool. nice views of the operation. a slick little machine if you have a bad situation.

  • @rupertthedrone4717
    @rupertthedrone47178 ай бұрын

    Best video I've seen on launching a freefall lifeboat! I work on ferries and only get to use and see davit launched, I can imagine how annoying it can be to haul a freefall back up! your vids are helping me get through my last trip until Christmas that little bit easier, thank you! Fair winds and following seas

  • @lukeklammer9438
    @lukeklammer94388 ай бұрын

    Great video and a perspective most would never see. Keep up the awesome content.

  • @acidreign8551
    @acidreign85518 ай бұрын

    Total crazy pants man!! But, if your out in the middle of the ocean and it all goes really bad and it is hop in, strap up, and take that helly ride and hope you land right when you splash in, it is better than the alternative. No question about that. Thanks for the look into that man. Good vibes and calm seas to you and all your shipmates, be safe out there!! 🙏

  • @justmylife4421
    @justmylife44216 күн бұрын

    I would love to try that. Heck that’s be a cool boat to own.

  • @ErikO2409
    @ErikO24098 ай бұрын

    That video of the life boat doing a front flip is actually insane!!!

  • @truckermre
    @truckermre8 ай бұрын

    Over 100k!!! You’re killing it dude!!! Well deserved!!

  • @314Thethirdeye08
    @314Thethirdeye083 ай бұрын

    Love these videos… could watch so many more!

  • @mic3643
    @mic36438 ай бұрын

    Wow! Thanks for sharing! I always wondered how those would launch. Glad everything checked out and went well.

  • @bennetts-revenge_2
    @bennetts-revenge_28 ай бұрын

    Wow that was fascinating! My heart was in my throat when the boat went down! Thank you for sharing!

  • @Sushi2735
    @Sushi27358 ай бұрын

    Not one who’s easily impressed, I am completely awestruck by these lifeboats! It is so wonderful to know you have a chance to safely escape. Obviously not for the faint of heart, I’m sure you don’t have many women and children to freak out!! 😅😅😅😅😅

  • @stevewilson9638
    @stevewilson96388 ай бұрын

    Great Job Joe!! I spent several years on the Sea! This takes me back!

  • @andrewlangridge8619
    @andrewlangridge86198 ай бұрын

    Great stuff as always Joe it brings back happy memories of many davit and lifeboat drills in my time as a deckhand, thanks for putting it out

  • @rockcityprepper9134
    @rockcityprepper913410 күн бұрын

    Dig it. I worked in Wilmington. Live in Maryland. Eastern shore. Great content. Dig it.

  • @martinmoessmer9527
    @martinmoessmer95278 ай бұрын

    Thanks for another brilliant production/ presentation. Really enjoy watching Joe. Stay upright.

  • @Nightstick
    @Nightstick8 ай бұрын

    Nice job capturing the launch from every angle!

  • @bruschi8148
    @bruschi81488 ай бұрын

    Thats was great!! Thanks Joe

  • @petermasters9460
    @petermasters94608 ай бұрын

    Crikey... that was really interesting. Thank you Joe and best wishes from the UK.

  • @alannewman85
    @alannewman858 ай бұрын

    Nicely done. Glad to see you’ve clearly thought about the load distribution when launching.

  • @mwarnas
    @mwarnas8 ай бұрын

    I wonder if people will check out after that fade to black at 1:16 because that feels like the end of it. Glad I saw this, always wanted to know the full procedure including the reset. Seeing it go upside down was scary! Thanks, Joe!

  • @xraincityguyx
    @xraincityguyx8 ай бұрын

    That was fun!! Love your channel and commentary!!😀

  • @GrumpyForester
    @GrumpyForester8 ай бұрын

    Thank you for another excellent video. With all those different angles of the Free Falling Life Boat hitting the water, that looked it would be an interesting adventure to ride...

  • @Malongo10
    @Malongo108 ай бұрын

    Another interesting video. I watch scores of KZread channels, and you have the best broadcast voice of all-by far. In addition, your commentary is simple and to the point, but still has emotional weight. Keep it up.

  • @jeffjohnsisland5551
    @jeffjohnsisland55518 ай бұрын

    Great video, always like watching free fall launches. The shot looking forward from inside the lifeboat was great. Thanks for posting the video. I wish you had vid of the people inside during the launch, usually peoples reactions are nice to watch.

  • @mikeyo4406
    @mikeyo44068 ай бұрын

    Nicely done! Great editing 🎉 u deserve more views! Keep at it

  • @dannycrooks8462
    @dannycrooks84628 ай бұрын

    Brilliant another video

  • @DconBlueZ
    @DconBlueZ8 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the video, always enjoy watching!

  • @Richard-om7vd
    @Richard-om7vd7 ай бұрын

    Excellent as always.

  • @SimplyDigitalMedia
    @SimplyDigitalMedia8 ай бұрын

    Great video, thanks for sharing!

  • @jeffvandenberg8422
    @jeffvandenberg84228 ай бұрын

    Love these videos ❤. Be safe. Stay well.

  • @anthonyroberts7987
    @anthonyroberts79878 ай бұрын

    Thanks! What a great video! I've watched crews on the Columbia checking their lifeboats but have yet to see a freefall! Thank you for this awesome glimpse into your life onboard.

  • @JoeFranta

    @JoeFranta

    8 ай бұрын

    Wow thank you Anthony! Glad to have you aboard for the drop!

  • @HB-C_U_L8R
    @HB-C_U_L8R8 ай бұрын

    I did this during offshore training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. They had one of these lifeboats on a free fall davit that they loaded my entire class in to and dropped about 30ft (9m) in a big water tank. Honestly the closest that I can come to describing it as like a roller coaster with a hard landing.

  • @Shipspotting_Vietnam
    @Shipspotting_Vietnam8 ай бұрын

    it is great if we can see inside the lifeboat when it falls down! Great video, Joe!

  • @mikecoston7670
    @mikecoston76706 ай бұрын

    gotta love that lifeboat ride.

  • @delawaresurf5422
    @delawaresurf54227 ай бұрын

    Now that’s one cool fire and lifeboat drill. We only had David lifeboats in my time 40 yrs ago

  • @philipgrapatin1406
    @philipgrapatin14062 ай бұрын

    Joe your videos are AWESOME!!!! I always wondered what life was like on a ship. I'm impressed with everyone's manners and professionalism. Thank you for sharing!!

  • @kweb406
    @kweb4068 ай бұрын

    Great video Joe this video should get a million views

  • @tommyteesdale1854
    @tommyteesdale18548 ай бұрын

    Cool Joe thanks for making this video it’s awesome to see 👊👍

  • @richardholland8612
    @richardholland86128 ай бұрын

    Great info! Keep up the good work!.

  • @u4ia420
    @u4ia4207 ай бұрын

    Appreciate the fantastic content... Truly interesting.

  • @rlic9206
    @rlic92065 ай бұрын

    Nicely done videos. Congratulations!

  • @sherryvanrijn5453
    @sherryvanrijn54538 ай бұрын

    That was so cool! Thank you!

  • @nancyrautmann1636
    @nancyrautmann16368 ай бұрын

    That was cool Joe!!! Thank you

  • @TimeFlys000
    @TimeFlys0008 ай бұрын

    Great Show!🚢⚓️

  • @lynnedouglas4065
    @lynnedouglas40658 ай бұрын

    Fantastic vlog🙃

  • @user-pp3ui7pt4s
    @user-pp3ui7pt4s7 ай бұрын

    Great stuff. You are a classy guy.

  • @jerplane400
    @jerplane4008 ай бұрын

    Awesome video!!!!

  • @valentino698
    @valentino6988 ай бұрын

    Hi Joe! Very good job, thank you for all of your videos. I subscribed and turn on the notification to be always in update with your contents. I will follow a course in Genoa, Italy, provided by the italian merchant navy academy, to become deck officer. I've always wanted to work into a ship! But I have to improve my english and other skills. Have a nice day 😊

  • @ShawnDunca-bc2ru
    @ShawnDunca-bc2ru8 ай бұрын

    Totally awesome

  • @wuhan827
    @wuhan8278 ай бұрын

    Really love doing these kinds of drills, as a 3rd Engineer i always check weekly together with the 3rd mate both lifeboat and rescue boat, i've only ridden it on freefall during on shore training, onboard ships we usually just lower it with the lifeboat davit. Would love to try it one day.

  • @flatbedtruckingsamrides.9355
    @flatbedtruckingsamrides.93558 ай бұрын

    As a tumble through the sky Pitts Pilot, that green boat launch tumble was epic and would have loved to have riden in it!

  • @HandyMan657
    @HandyMan6578 ай бұрын

    That looked like a blast, hopefully, you never need to use one. Fair winds

  • @mayhewfisher62
    @mayhewfisher627 ай бұрын

    great opening!!

  • @cammy2100
    @cammy21008 ай бұрын

    Great video Joe. Times have certainly changed lol

  • @elcastorgrande
    @elcastorgrande8 ай бұрын

    Great video.

  • @Wayne-gb5pu
    @Wayne-gb5pu7 ай бұрын

    Jacob's Ladder...Mr.Franta...LOL

  • @snowpatrol685
    @snowpatrol6858 ай бұрын

    that is soooo cool !! great video !!

  • @stevenwilson7853
    @stevenwilson78538 ай бұрын

    That’s was a very cool video ty to you and the crew

  • @miketarbox1190
    @miketarbox11908 ай бұрын

    Love the fact that the Skipper pulled the plunger. Lead from the front!

  • @billrockwell6916
    @billrockwell69167 ай бұрын

    Awesome video

  • @slgordon3
    @slgordon38 ай бұрын

    This was interesting and informative, thanks for the video!

  • @LSavannahPortographyDirectory
    @LSavannahPortographyDirectory8 ай бұрын

    That must feel like a roller coaster ride for only a couple seconds but imagine how much higher to fall into the water if the ship is much much bigger. Come to think of it this is education for any sailor out there that wants to be on a massive vessel and go travel the open seas.

  • @pre10801
    @pre108018 ай бұрын

    Well done AB!

  • @timvalentine7196
    @timvalentine71968 ай бұрын

    This was a great video iv always wondered about those orange boats and why they point strait down.. now I know! Keep the vids coming brother

  • @jf5336
    @jf53368 ай бұрын

    That was really cool to watch. Thanks for the explanation, it was very helpful.

  • @jimward7881
    @jimward78818 ай бұрын

    Great video

  • @catwood
    @catwood8 ай бұрын

    Fun video

  • @uTube486
    @uTube4868 ай бұрын

    Just too cool...too cool. Also cool to see a large vessel with a USA home port.

  • @wirecutter59
    @wirecutter598 ай бұрын

    I'm impressed.

  • @rafaelhubbard66
    @rafaelhubbard668 ай бұрын

    That was epic, great storytelling man

  • @AdeJohnson
    @AdeJohnson8 ай бұрын

    Thanks Joe!

  • @brbertram
    @brbertram8 ай бұрын

    These videos are so well edited!

  • @braddobson2060
    @braddobson20608 ай бұрын

    Very good

  • @sneaks01
    @sneaks018 ай бұрын

    Awesome video man!! 😊

  • @jefferyholland
    @jefferyholland8 ай бұрын

    Would be a helluva ride. One I'm sure that most folks would never want to go on.

  • @craigpickthorne3508
    @craigpickthorne35088 ай бұрын

    Great stuff Joe!

  • @JoeFranta

    @JoeFranta

    8 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much Craig!

  • @me-un4jl
    @me-un4jl6 ай бұрын

    Nice video! Subscribed. I'm sure you get it a lot, but there are some heavy Jake Sully / Avatar vibes in your narration. haha Love it!

  • @h-self3584
    @h-self35848 ай бұрын

    dear Joe, congratulations for 100.000 subscribers 😊 greetings from Germany.

  • @sergioviatsky9483
    @sergioviatsky94838 ай бұрын

    Very nice video! You know how to do it in an interesting way and much better than others. Thanks bro!

  • @tomwilliams8675
    @tomwilliams86758 ай бұрын

    Thanks Joe, you answered all my questions about how they put it back on board. The old girl sure could have used a good wax and polish job before putting her away😁

  • @bakerbill4274

    @bakerbill4274

    8 ай бұрын

    I think you just made every Mariner spit beer out his nose with that comment🤣🤣🤣

  • @tomwilliams8675

    @tomwilliams8675

    8 ай бұрын

    @@bakerbill4274 It was meant to 🤣👍

  • @alanbierhoff6831
    @alanbierhoff68318 ай бұрын

    That was too cool!

  • @bretts7694
    @bretts76948 ай бұрын

    That was awesome!

  • @joergengeerds360
    @joergengeerds3608 ай бұрын

    Would have loved to see more of the boat interior, how the crew fits in there, how the passengers are strapped in, how the impact looks and feels from the inside etc etc

  • @lethiapage4767

    @lethiapage4767

    7 ай бұрын

    The boat tour is in another video. I think part 1 of this video.

  • @Willthethrill478
    @Willthethrill4785 ай бұрын

    Joe, exceptional editing. That’s why your vids are a cut above others.

  • @defel1
    @defel18 ай бұрын

    That was fun. Thanks.

  • @rlic9206
    @rlic92065 ай бұрын

    That is one heck of a drop from a ship.

  • @danielnewman3210
    @danielnewman32108 ай бұрын

    That was cool!

  • @Theiliteritesbian
    @Theiliteritesbian2 ай бұрын

    Like and subscribed for sure

  • @opus2006
    @opus20068 ай бұрын

    Another great video, and hope you never have to take a seat in it for all the wrong reasons. Is it an annual check? Wouldn't like to leave the motor untested for that long. Happy sailing!

  • @LuciferRatzinger187
    @LuciferRatzinger18723 күн бұрын

    I want to get on the free fall life boat!

  • @JLUY-gd5ql
    @JLUY-gd5ql8 ай бұрын

    That's epic