Harness & Safetylines...

Alistairr

Alistairr

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Does anyone on a Mobo, when alone use a safety line, while up front on the deck of their boat?
If so, how do you attach it too your rails?

I was just thinking the new boat has a walkaround, but the side deck is pretty narrow, and theres not many handrails to hold onto at the start. I will be doing a bit of single handed sailing with this boat, and wondered what would happen if i was to every slip off, while seeing to the fenders!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

Ali.
 
Al, my advice would be to fit some fender baskets on the foredeck rails so that no-one has to traverse the side decks with fenders in one hand, this will improve things greatly even when you aren't single-handed. I find that the foredeck itself isn't the risk area on a small mobo - its the side decks 6-8ft between cockpit and foredeck and here, if you managed to rig a line on and did fall overboard the length of the line might just ensure you ended up close to the prop.

IMHO the risk of going overboard unconcious is low on a mobo as there is no boom to help with that task as on a raggie. Consequently if you fall off single-handed and the boat is stopped (which it would be surely if you are as far away from the helm as on the foredeck), then a short swim to the stern is the order of the day.

If you are crewed and underway and you lose the crew off the sidedeck then not having a line on is probably safer IMHO than being tethered and potentially drawn into the prop by the safety device!

AFAIK the main purpose on a raggie of a safety line is that it should be short enough to stop you going over the side in the first place, movement is then facilitated by the jackstays to which the line is clipped.
 
Hello Alistairr, I always wear a lifejacket when tending fenders and insist that others on board do same. Also, boat is stopped. When on my own and doing fenders, I hang a chunk of knotted rope off the stern, so that if I do go in the oggin, then all I have to do is make for the rope, then the ladder and back onboard - always remembering to remove the rope before getting underway again. All this of course assuming that I was able i.e. uninjured, to get back on board at all, which takes me back to your question really......Better to be dangled off the side of a stopped boat than in the drink!? Probably. Interesting question this.

Looking forward to seeing your new boat too. Wont be this weekend as we are having a monster garden party at home.
 
Yes, i had thought that falling off while attached to a safetyline would be potentually very dangerous, If the boat was in gear.

But as i say if i am boating single handed, i certainly wouldn't be on the foredeck with the boat still in gear.

There is a large fender locker on the bow, so no need to carry fenders round, but i may add a couple of fender baskets anyway.

Thanks for the info.

Ali.
 
good point, but no, hardly any mobos have jackstays - lines for clipping on as you walk round the boat. Partly cos not often out on deck orgainsing sails in rough sea, also cos not too much faff to stop/start boat unlike raggie, and thirdly if you were clipped on and fell off, chances are you wd be whipped to the back of the boat for a nice dangle while the props liquidise yer legs, so much better get chucked clear for MOB retrieval - or turn the thing off and swim back to stationary boat yerself

Single handed make sure you are out of gear for foredeck work, consider just hauling fenders so they just need to be kicked over the rails again and make sure that if you were in the water there is some means of getting the ladder out by you when in the water.
 
There are no jackstays, but i found this and wondered if i attached it to the grabrail on the side, i could be harnessed to the boat when walking down the very narrow side deck?
550082.gif


I believe that when others are on board i would not necessarily need use it as my wife is quite capable of Executing a good MOB retrieval, And i believe that if you are going to go overboard, its better to clear the boat.

Cheers

Ali.
 
Desperate Chandlershoppers ...

junk, imho, i'm afraid. It won't last very long for starters if left out in the weather and anyway, I wdn't use it on a boat like yours, nor probly on any mobo - i want to be on the boat OR if i'm going in i want to be free and clear of the props - i don't want to be halfway between. Also, the design seems to be such that you (or someone) has to lift you UP again to get you free, which you cant do if lower down in the water.

It's a chandlery thing innit? Buy one of those "hot knife" things for cutting and finishing nylon ropes, much better.
 
I would recommend using a safety line, with the proviso that your boar is not in gear, from the following experience:
Many years ago when Fireball racing as a crew in Chichester Harbour in a F6 we capsized and the boat drifted away down wind on its side faster than I could swim.
Given that you are unlikely to go for an unexpected swim in a flat calm sea and any Mobo especially a Flybrige boat will drift in a F4 faster than that Fireball in a F6; I don't believe most of us would be able to just swim around to the back and climb on.

IMHO unless you are tied on all you will see is your boat drifting away from you to become a Marie Celeste. Given that there is no one to call Mayday and your head in an sort of sea will be pretty near invisible you will be in real trouble.
 
Re: Desperate Chandlershoppers ...

Personally I've never bothered with safetylines except when "on the other side".
I do a lot of local singlehanding and have to admit that I rarely wear a lifejacket when I'm in the estuary. It goes on though if I venture across The Bar.
Have to admit to leaving the helm when still in gear as well - usually to put out or pull in the fenders. With our boat, access all the way around the wheelhouse is both safe and immediate. Not very clever if I was to have a "bit of a turn" though, so I must stop that habit.
Hope you have great fun with the new toy.
 
Re: Desperate Chandlershoppers ...

Yes, what you do, i believe is fine, but as you say your boat has and i quote:
[ QUOTE ]
With our boat, access all the way around the wheelhouse is both safe and immediate.

[/ QUOTE ]
The only reason i brought this up is that, i feel the access to our side deck is awkward and the side deck itself is narrow.
Never felt unsafe on the current boat as access was easy through the windscreen.
 
Re: Desperate Chandlershoppers ...

[ QUOTE ]
Got one of those hot rope knifes things, but mines gas. Its brill. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Bet a wave still puts it out though so not much use singlehanding /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Dinghy (or worse a cat) on its side will drift like nothing elsedue to loads of windage and light weight and nothing in the water to hold it, but the weight of a mobo would mean that it takes some getting going to drift at speed.

Also single-handing on the foredeck is a no-speed activity in my book, so unlikely to get thrown far from the side unlike dinghy crew who come off at speed.

Final factor is that your avg mobo seems to weathercock away from the wind leaving the useful bit platform/ladder/sterndrive (for stepping on) etc nearest you in any case, unlike dinghy on its side where the mast and sail will be the nearest to you as it drifts downwind....
 
Alistairr

If i remember your a getting S23 or 25.
i had S23 and used to single hand on inland waterway all the time...ok its not the same as sea but you can still fall over board. but did single hand cruising in company at sea.
i always found the port walkway to be wide enough for easy walking. usually left the starboard fenders wedged in and could push them off with boat hook.
so no real need to walk outside the cabin.
and the little bathing platform at the back made it very easy to moor without having to jump off the side decks from any height. get the bum in and step off with both bow and stern ropes.

BTW.......thought delivery was supposed to be today?????

anyway.........enjoy........after your wet weekend! i'm moving Still Dunno to Brundle Bay on Saturday in the sunshine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Doug
 
Hi Doug,

No, we have bought a S24, so the side deck is slightly narrower than yours, and the bowrail does not come all the way down the side of the boat, it start quite far forward.

At the weekend, i was told delivery would be either Wednesday or Friday, and it now Friday /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif 2.30pm i believe!

Hoping they may arrive early so as i can play (singlehanded) all afternoon with her.

Cheers

Alistair.
 
Excellent!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I've just noticed that, and written a welcome note, Also seen the Pics, the boat looks fantastic, it was the boat Mrs and I really like at the London boat show.

Tell as many people about the group as possible. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I do not know any MoBo'r that uses jacklines and a tether for coastal boating, and I suspect that the risk from not doing so is extremely small.

I do not know the equivalent UK statistics for drownings off pleasure boats but I assume that adjusted for the different boat populations they are probably not much different to here in New Zealand.

Here, in the period 1984 to 2003, there were only 2 drownings off recreational decked (ie non open) power boats whereas there were 16 off coastal (ie not offshore) keelboats (excluding trailor sailors). Those are from all causes (eg sinking), not just falling overboard. Obviously there were many, many more total drownings off recreational boats, there being approximately 225 off other recreational boat types in the same period. So the drowings off decked powerboats comprised less than 1/2% of all drownings from recreational boating accidents. The vast majority of the rest were from undecked boats which again, I suspect are from sinkings, overturning, etc rather than simple falling out (not off /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) of them.

As long as one has adequate handholds for moving around a decked power boat, I think the risk of an adult going overboard is extremely low and, certainly here, the statistics support that view. But obviously a personal decision.

John
 
Al, I do a lot of single handed stuff on Soli. With pre planing you should not need to go on the bow at all! I rig the bow line so its secured behind the helm seat - ok this limits the side you can moor up on but with practsie you should eb able to moor up in either direction. The stern line is permantly attatched but secured and then I fender the stern quarter and also mid ships. I can reach out from the cockpit to secure the fender midship. This fenfer is slightly larger than the regular fenders to conteract the fact of not having a bow fender at all. Now I tend to come in slightly stern first so I can then put the stern line over the cleat from the back. Then, turn the helm to the pontoon and in tickover the boat will "drive" forward using the stern line to spring you on. You can then step off taking the bow line with you and secure off. No problem! If you are being blown off, then just keep the engine in gear and it will hold you against the pontoon while you step off. The key to every thing is pre plan and also do not take the power off when springing onto the pontoon, you'll loose the spring effect and most likley end up scraping some gelcoat- and that would never do /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Good luck - oh just remembered, you don't have tide on the Loch - even easier! In fact I'd "seek out" berths where you tend to be blown off, it's easier to steer backwards into the wind and it also acts as a break. If you are coming into your beth, it may be worth considering coming in stern first and putting a fender on the head of the pontoon. Remember, once you have one line ashore then you can do anything. If you want to discuss it give me a ring.
 
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