Are overweight people a liability on a boat.

[Nostrodamus]

The say that the population of the UK is or is fast becoming grossly obese.
You probably stand more chance of being run over by a obese person in one of those chariot things speeding along the pavement than you do of being hit by a car.
When it comes to sailing though does someone who is well overweight become a liability. On one hand I have seen people really struggle when moving about a boat or find it almost impossible to get in or out a dingy. On the other hand I have friends who are overweight a still make excellent sailors but usually have someone else aboard to do some of the more nimbler work.
Would you refuse to take someone sailing on safety grounds if they were just too big for their own good?

 

[Capt Popeye]

Got a Lifejacket for their size/ weight ?

Could you pull/ assist them back onboard if fallen overboard?

Could they pull you back on board?

Certainly a H&S management issue! but, hey, they are friends!

 

[Talulah]

The heads become an issue. Assuming they can shoe horn themselves in. (I had one client who was like the biggest of the biggest Americans you see on Jerry Springer.) The heads door was a real issue.
Anyway, assuming they get throuogh the first hurdle be prepared for blockages.

 

[photodog]

We make good emergency rations if stranded at sea.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

If they can shuffle from one side to the other then they are legal moveable ballast when racing.

 

[JesseLoynes]

As a dinghy instructor, I once had to tow a chap across the lake back to the slipway in the water. He was 20+ stone, and there was no way he could pull himself into a dinghy, or I could get him into the safety boat. We had a bouyancy aid that fit him, and the lake was relatively small and only 5-6ft deep. I certainly wouldn't have been happy teaching him to dinghy sail on the coast.

But size doesn't necessarily make that much difference. It might be a bit more difficult should they go overboard, but I have friends who can fall over on flat pavement, they would be far more of a liability!

 

[aslabend]

What about old people? Or the disabled? Is it me or is there something kind of fascist about this thread?
I worry about really thin people getting hypothermia quicker than "normal" people.

 

[Capt Popeye]

What about old people? Or the disabled? Is it me or is there something kind of fascist about this thread?
I worry about really thin people getting hypothermia quicker than "normal" people.

I would have thought that 'old people and those with disabilities' would find even more trouble dealing with a grossly overweight peson?

 

[Lakesailor]

It hadn't occurred to me. Perhaps this is why people are buying ever-bigger yachts (with plenty of beam).

 

[Nostrodamus]

What about old people? Or the disabled? Is it me or is there something kind of fascist about this thread?
I worry about really thin people getting hypothermia quicker than "normal" people.

It was just in a discussion. Someone had to go into the marina from anchor for the night as the friend they were picking up could not get in or out of the dingy from the boat. this can be hazardous at the best of times but if they had fallen in whilst at anchor could they have got him back on.. I don't know.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

It was just in a discussion. Someone had to go into the marina from anchor for the night as the friend they were picking up could not get in or out of the dingy from the boat. this can be hazardous at the best of times but if they had fallen in whilst at anchor could they have got him back on.. I don't know.

Take out the phrase overweight, which implies fat, and replace it with large and baby and the question becomes less emotive. If I'm in the water and injured the problem the others have is that I'm 14 stone, not that I'm 15% bmi or whatever. I've struggled to get through doorways on some boats when wearing an LJ and a few layers and that's with a 46" chest.

On the other hand my size means that I'm able to provide a reasonable degree of strength and can put 14 stone plus in your windward rail. I do find some boats small though because so much had been crammed in.

 

[Nostrodamus]

I think sometimes we have to say it like it is and stop being politically correct to stop hurting someone's feelings.
Take for instance the word with an n and an i and a g and a e and a r in it... yes... horrific I know but ginger people do exist.

 

[[70521]]

They are less dense.

 

[Nostrodamus]

They are less dense.

Nothing against ginger people. They are always fun to watch burning in the sun. That is why they are all in Scotland..

 

[Bilgediver]

We make good emergency rations if stranded at sea.

And for racing in gales the best mobile ballast when hiking out!!!!!!!!! Can be much in demand when racing in winds over F5

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Nothing against ginger people. They are always fun to watch burning in the sun. That is why they are all in Scotland..

Coming to a place near you. The ginger gene is dominant, hence the number of gingers are increasing according to my son who learned this in 3rd year Biology.

The fat people in Britain are like the sea of litter claims, I don't sea that many fat people in Britain, so it's a non issue. I think these stories are derived from flawed statistics of which there is a lot about.

 

[Tricia]

Bit emotive but.....I'm fat and could and have fallen over a flat pavement. I do fit in our heads tho.

The main problem, for me, isn't the getting in and out of the dinghy on my own boat, it's getting in and out of the dinghy on other peoples boats and I would say that is due to being clumsy as oppose to overweight. I also worry that when people offer to help me on board I will end up pulling them into the sea with me, again not because I'm fat, because I am just clumsy enough to do that.

 

[Champagne Murphy]

The say that the population of the UK is or is fast becoming grossly obese.
You probably stand more chance of being run over by a obese person in one of those chariot things speeding along the pavement than you do of being hit by a car.
When it comes to sailing though does someone who is well overweight become a liability. On one hand I have seen people really struggle when moving about a boat or find it almost impossible to get in or out a dingy. On the other hand I have friends who are overweight a still make excellent sailors but usually have someone else aboard to do some of the more nimbler work.
Would you refuse to take someone sailing on safety grounds if they were just too big for their own good?

Just had a conversation with a pal who has a regular (overwieght) crew member who he values very highly. He must do, he's just taken a jigsaw to the boat to increase the size of the heads for him!

 

[Garold]

You have me looking in the mirror wondering if i am in the category you are talking about.

And I conclude..... definitely.

Guess it's lucky that we have our own boat so I can't be refused a sail.

Cheers

Garold

 

[Marakei]

Sailing is disasterous for weight, at least at the sedate cruising level.

It makes you think, 'I've been out on the fresh air all day, I deserve double cheeseburger and chips and three pints', ignoring that you have moved around very little and stuff like winching is toning rather than aerobic.

I'm surprised I still fit down a companionway after a week of this sort of thing and would not be quick to judge others.

There is a problem if a person is so obese their movement is restricted, but maybe getting on the water is what they need in starting to change that, so I wouldn't say no to them provided I thought the risk was maneagable.