Horseshoe Lifebelts

[KAM]

Most of us carry one or two. Has anyone used theirs in anger. Is there something better such as a life saving torpedo float. I tried using one of mine as a practice a few years ago. It was so badly made the grab lines round the circumference just tore off.

 

[[2574]]

I concluded that horseshoe rings have long since been superseded by better equipment. I’ve removed them from the boat. We wear a life jacket, simple as that.

 

[[70521]]

Most of us carry one or two. Has anyone used theirs in anger. Is there something better such as a life saving torpedo float. I tried using one of mine as a practice a few years ago. It was so badly made the grab lines round the circumference just tore off.

What did you do to it? There purpose in life is to be seen and support a casualty in the water, you do not try and get inside it unless you are a four year old child.

 

[KAM]

I carry mine in case I need to help someone else in the water not me or the crew.

 

[PetiteFleur]

But they do get badly affected by UV damage if left uncovered when not in use. This happened to mine a couple of years ago so I replaced with new but made covers for them which are fitted when not on board. Made with velcro fastening so easy to remove and fit. Should last as long as I have the boat.

 

[Rappey]

Mine are like sacraficial anodes for the birds to peck. Without them the birds shred the sprayhood windows, hatch and boom covers and the outer layer of halyards.?

 

[Kukri]

I have two very faded and tatty ones. They came with the boat and I can’t really imagine using them in earnest, because I would use the Jonbuoy.

I suppose I ought to buy new ones.

 

[thinwater]

I concluded that horseshoe rings have long since been superseded by better equipment. I’ve removed them from the boat. We wear a life jacket, simple as that.

A throwable device is also required, at least in the US. A life jacket does not replace the need.

A throwable not attached to the boat can provide flotation (perhaps your inflatable didn't work--they do fail) and leave a trail of bread crumbs. But they should NOT all be attached, because you will probably be out of range and going a way by the time you get it in the water. You will just pull it away.

An attached sling like the Lifesling or similar models, can really help make contact and pull the MOB near, if not also hoist aboard.

The main advantage of the "torpedo" style is for lifeguards--you can push the torpedo in front of you, so the panicked non-swimmer doesn't climb you like a tree, which can be quite challenging. Defensive Block. I doubt it has any advantages unless you are going to be entering the water.

 

[Kukri]

I have not found them easy to throw in a hurry. They hang up in the carrier and then they are attached to drogues and lights and one of the two has a danbuoy as well. The chances of getting this lot over the side in a coherent manner and getting it more than a metre from the boat’s side seem to me to be slight.

 

[[2574]]

A throwable device is also required, at least in the US. A life jacket does not replace the need.

I tried throwing the horseshoe, in anything more than the gentlest of breezes it is hopeless as it has high windage and is very light.

 

[Plum]

I have not found them easy to throw in a hurry. They hang up in the carrier and then they are attached to drogues and lights and one of the two has a danbuoy as well. The chances of getting this lot over the side in a coherent manner and getting it more than a metre from the boat’s side seem to me to be slight.

Yes, very difficult to throw more than a few metres and impossible in strong wind. They are useful to drop into the water if you are very close to the person or towed on a long line to encircle. By far the best for throwing to someone in the water is one of these (an example of the type) https://crewsaver.com/uk/yak/9230/yak-products/rescue-safety/750/ThrowBag as used by the rescue services.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[thinwater]

Yes, throwable is a misnomer. In USCG parlance, it really just means something with handles and a certain amount of flotation that you can drop in the water.

I find it amusing that some complain that something is useless because it is in poor condition because it has been in the sun for 10 years. You know the answer to that one!

 

[[70521]]

Throw... you just dump it over the side.

You do not wish to cause more injury to the casualty.

 

[geem]

We long since ditched life-rings. We have cockpit beanbags full of polystyrene beads. They have grab handles on them and reflective tape so they can be seen at night. They can be in the water quicker than any other safety device seeing as we are normally sat on them.
In addition we have a life sling.

 

[Kukri]

We long since ditched life-rings. We have cockpit beanbags full of polystyrene beads. They have grab handles on them and reflective tape so they can be seen at night. They can be in the water quicker than any other safety device seeing as we are normally sat on them.
In addition we have a life sling.

In the 1950s I was a very little boy sailing with my parents. My father’s boat was innocent of safety equipment, and indeed of electricity, though she did have a coal fired galley range, supplied by Simpson Lawrence, surmounted by a copper kettle. She did have a dark green cockpit cushion stuffed with kapok with a solid grab rope well stitched to it.

You could throw it quite effectively and it would not brain the MOB in the way that a solid life ring would.

We seem to have gone backwards.

 

[Kukri]

Yes, throwable is a misnomer. In USCG parlance, it really just means something with handles and a certain amount of flotation that you can drop in the water.

I find it amusing that some complain that something is useless because it is in poor condition because it has been in the sun for 10 years. You know the answer to that one!

“I should have painted it?”

 

[BobnLesley]

A throwable device is also required, at least in the US...

I don't know if it still applies, but a few years ago a French friend's yacht failed its annual inspection due to it only being fitted with one horseshoe buoy when its size/number of berths required two; as a single handed sailor he resented the cost of one never mind the the second.

 

[mikegunn]

When my horseshoe lifebuoy succumbed to UV damage a couple of years ago I replaced it with a rigid, orange plastic lifering. The RNLI carry them on their lifeboats, so good enough for me.
Mike

 

[KAM]

As per above comments by geem and kukri I also have some cockpit cushions bought years ago which have handles on and a label saying US coast guard approved throwable device. They do seem to be more accessible and throwable than the horseshoe bouys. Might just ditch the horseshoes.

 

[Kukri]

When my horseshoe lifebuoy succumbed to UV damage a couple of years ago I replaced it with a rigid, orange plastic lifering. The RNLI carry them on their lifeboats, so good enough for me.
Mike

I fished one out of the North Sea somewhere near the Sandettie LV - presumably thrown in by a drunken ferry passenger - it had been in long enough to lose the name but was otherwise fine.