4 fall in during the last month

+1. The police would find a reason to charge you with carrying an offensive weapon. It's the same as defending yourself using 'reasonable force' which is open to interpretation and one that has stuck in my gut ever since I was jumped by two thugs a few years ago. I got arrested because according to the police (who actually witnessed the attack) said I used more than reasonable force to protect myself.
 
As I have no regard for the police or other criminals, I always have a voice recorder, notebook and camera in my car...

If that sounds paranoid let me give the example of a chap who took exception to a true factual comment I made on the Anderson 22 website - he told me he was coming to sort me out with his Met' Police brother, and if I wasn't there ( which I usually wasn't as I'd told him ) they'd sort out my 85 year old parents, giving a countdown to their arrival which ticked off every day.

I made a complaint to the police complaints outfit but funnily enough they said nothing wrong.

For the sake of my parents I deleted the comment but this character and his brother remain Utter Scum.
 
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srah1953 said:
I have found it very slippy when snow and ice on pontoon. I am hoping for suggestions for best footwear to wear or put over existing footwear.
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You can get metal "snow chains" that slip on over shoes. All the grannies in Moscow use them, and my mum bought a set for my grandad a couple of years ago.

Pete
 
davidpbo said:
I don't think chicken wire does give that good a grip. Far better IMHO are some of the metal meshes, in particular the type used on some van ramps.

How come the jetties at Ferry Nab have no escape ladders?

Also the bridges onto the pontoons area lethal when the lake is down and they are wet. I have slipped badly on them as did my wife who seriously hurt herself, snapping a shoulder tendon requiring an operation, sadly we did not think anything of it at the time and properly report.
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Yes, I can't see the reasoning behind the odd ramps. I can't see why they couldn't have ended the floating jetty 6ft from the pier wall (with extra piles at that point) and installed a longer and more gently sloping ramp. I guess, being a council run place they put the onus on the supplier to make it safe. But it's not.


FerryNab.jpg
 
>The last I heard ( and this was years ago so probably more now ) 3 liveaboards had died ( separately ) in the small marina at Emsworth, all during the winter.

I live in Emsworth and that hasn't been in the local paper in the 3 years we have lived here, where did you see that?
 
Wansworth said:
The Wood decking I have in my garden is leathal when wet........maybe finger pontoons should be changed to galvanised Steel grid.Chicheter marina staples wire netting to its ramps to avoid slippage which helps.
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The marina we berth at (James Watt Dock Marina) uses a decking material that is, I gather, recycled GRP. It is a lattice with an incredibly non-slip surface, and of course, it drains through readily. I haven't been on it in snow, but in all other conditions it is very grippy, and I'd imagien the safest possible material.

Mind, I wouldn't like to fall on it with bare knees!
 
I slipped and fell into the water between bathing platform and pontoon a couple of weeks ago. First time falling in for 13 years of owning a boat. split the skin on my shin down to the bone. I did say a few choice words.
 
Wansworth said:
The Wood decking I have in my garden is leathal when wet........maybe finger pontoons should be changed to galvanised Steel grid.Chicheter marina staples wire netting to its ramps to avoid slippage which helps.
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I refinished my decking with a 'non-slip' stain last year, think it was Cuprinol, off the shelf stuff anyway. It has some miniscule beads that stop you slipping when wet, seems to work. Obviously not going to help with ice but certainly keeps the green stuff from growing.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
The marina we berth at (James Watt Dock Marina) uses a decking material that is, I gather, recycled GRP. It is a lattice with an incredibly non-slip surface, and of course, it drains through readily. I haven't been on it in snow, but in all other conditions it is very grippy, and I'd imagien the safest possible material.

Mind, I wouldn't like to fall on it with bare knees!
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Bit like slide tackling on astro turf ... you only did it once ;-)
 
Worth remembering, if you unfortunately fall in, that many boats have swim ladders that are deployable from the water. I think but I'm not sure that this used to be some kind of regulatory requirement, maybe in CE but I'm not sure about that. Anyway, lots of motorboats have the ladder in a kind of drawer slot in the edge of the swim platform so you can slide it out. The Pershing 62 next to me has an electric or hydraulic deployed ladder with a waterproof electric switch just above the waterline, so if I fall in I'm swimming right over to that boat. Anyway, worth taking note around you of which boats have deploy-from-water ladders
 
To be fair, at Ferry Nab if you can swim 20 yds towards the pier you are in 3ft of water and can stand up. If you are at either end of the "marina" there is either the main slip or the dinghy slip.
 
Seajet said:
Let's face it, in the UK going over the side at a mooring or off a pontoon at this time of year and for quite a few months to come is unlikely to have a happy ending.

Possibly a relatively discreet ' cool looking ' dark blue lifejacket would be more acceptable to wear in the pub ?

A tip I was told in aircraft accident training; always put an arm out towards the safety exit as you go in.

Personally I always everywhere carry a bright waterproof LED torch, and would carry a short sharp serrated knife if stupid police rules let me !

Back to the topic of going over the side of pontoons, not so long ago there were waterproof jackets with buoyancy inside, must have been worth a go and probably good insulation too ?

Meanwhile don't forget the Top Tip re LED torches, they're so useful and cost buttons nowadays.
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I have two floater coats, they are warm. I cant speak for availability in the UK. They are still available here in Canada and I think on line.
Mustang floater coats approved as personal floatation device. (not life jacket will not roll you face up) Quite popular with those who work on or around the water. In N America
 
Perhaps the Uk laws have changed.

When I used to dive there it was legal for me to by a longer serrated dive knife. I could only carry it if I was going diving. I think there might have been a bit of a reaction if I had it strapped to my leg in Tesco. I also used to carry without concern about legality a Swiss army knife. Carrying something similar with a serrated blade would be quite ok. Unless you were forget you had it in your pocket when boarding a flight.
 
Uricanejack said:
I have two floater coats, they are warm. I cant speak for availability in the UK. They are still available here in Canada and I think on line.
Mustang floater coats approved as personal floatation device. (not life jacket will not roll you face up) Quite popular with those who work on or around the water. In N America
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Both Fladen and Ki Elements supply an integral, "Always on" inflation lifejacket within a warm sleeved jacket. Fladen one is high vis orange and more industrial, the Ki Elements one is Grey/Blue and looks more like a very ordinary sailing jacket.

I've got a Fladen float coat (inherent foam with thermal lining) that I tend to wear whenever near the water fishing.
 
Lakesailor said:
To be fair, at Ferry Nab if you can swim 20 yds towards the pier you are in 3ft of water and can stand up. If you are at either end of the "marina" there is either the main slip or the dinghy slip.
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Its only that depth if the lake is low. It can be another 4 ft or more higher, it is also mud and thick weed on the bottom. To get to ramps from the centre you have to duck under the pontoons. All fine in reasonable conditions, but maybe not on your own at night in winter as happened to a friend.

There should be ladders as appropriate. Certainly by the mast lift and hammerheads, the cost would not be overly significant.
 
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