Horseshoe lifebuoy

thinwater said:
Investigate the Lifesling and similar European models. The concept of towing it past the swimmer, and then having something to hoist them aboard, is VERY effect.
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I believe this technique is/was called the 'Seattle Sling', and was developed by a club somewhere in the Pacific NW following a comprehensive set of trials, aimed specifically for 'couples'.
It was (is?) so well thought of that it was (is?) published, with diagrams, on the inside rear cover of the RORC Racing Yearbooks.
 
I have both a horse shoe, with danbouy and light on one quarter and a “life sling” with long floating line on the other quarter. Both are probably >20 yrs old and tatty … I am inclined to replace them this winter. Thoughts on the nearer (but expensive) self inflating option and simple throw lines would be interesting.
 
I suspect that the carriage of a life buoy is a bit negated these days when most people wear a life jacket. Not so in the past. But some authorities require the carriage and yes it does make your boat look like a proper boat. ie owner is serious about safety. if OP has bought a new one then yes fit it. But yes it may never be used for throwing to a person in the water.
Re Neeves lovely photo of his knife block with screw drivers and knife, I found perhaps the most used tool is a pair of pliers. The ones I use are slip jaw so lots of room for corrosion without hampering movement. The pair I have are so rusty after 40 years they simply refuse to jump (fall ) over board. (shiny pliers would be gone in a thrice). I keep the tools under elastic straps attached to the inside of the cockpit locker so always handy. ol'will
 
Never deployed one for a real MOB but have deployed them frequently over the years, some times every day during drills. I have also used them in the water just to show and demonstrate their inadequacy as secure flotation aid. Horseshoes are difficult to use in the water and hardly fit around a normally dressed thin person, never mind if wearing bulky waterproofs and tubby. If wearing a lifejacket they serve no purpose. They are nearly a pointless piece of equipment, especially if wearing a lifejacket is normal, but the horseshoe with SOLAS reflective tape does work well as a night identification aid when swept with torch light.

This article shows the the point being made above via a picture. MOB myths busted – Part 4 - Yachting Monthly

While I have two on the boat, one with a danbuoy and one without, both with lights and drogues, the rescue sling with a long line is the device for deployment. I also carry an excellent Ocean Safety throwing line with lifting strop, and a standard throw line without harness.

Ocean Safety Throwing Recovery Strop 36 Metre

I used to have jonbuoy inflatable horseshoes but keeping them inspected and maintained was a pointless expense based on cost benefit, so I don't carry them anymore, hence the dumb horseshoes just sit there, being low cost items.

While lifejackets are mandatory on my boat, they could fail, I have not always implemented the rule on glorious sunny and warm sailing days, so I still need something that floats for the MOB that is not wearing a lifejacket and the dan buoy remains useful for approximately marking MOB position.

Mark the horseshoes with the boat name, MMSI and call sign for ID purposes, the latter two being just written in marker pen on the underside.
 
Praxinoscope said:
just how many have ever deployed one
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I've tried it, and not a single person who has sailed on my boat would fit in it even if they did know how they're supposed to "put it on". I had to Google how they are supposed to be worn as it's not entirely obvious!
 
lustyd said:
I've tried it, and not a single person who has sailed on my boat would fit in it even if they did know how they're supposed to "put it on". I had to Google how they are supposed to be worn as it's not entirely obvious!
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I am amazed at how many horseshoe rings you see left on boats when not in use (which in most cases is most of the time). We always bring our horseshoe, and lifesling, in when not sailing and they both look nearly new after 12+ years.
 
I don't need it to look new, I need it to be where it needs to be in an emergency (OK, I may not believe in horseshoe buoys, but if I did...). It's the same as taking in jackstays, I'd rather pay to replace now and then.
Have you tried putting the horseshoe buoy on (sideways across the chest)? If it fits I'll be amazed :ROFLMAO:

Photo competition - best example of donning a horseshoe wins!
 
Latvian Registry Inspection requires Lifebuoy(s) .... the number depends on number of persons boat registry lists as can be carried as well as boat size.

My 25ft Sunrider is required to have two .. but I only have one mounted - other is at home !!
 
lustyd said:
I don't need it to look new, I need it to be where it needs to be in an emergency (OK, I may not believe in horseshoe buoys, but if I did...). It's the same as taking in jackstays, I'd rather pay to replace now and then.
Have you tried putting the horseshoe buoy on (sideways across the chest)? If it fits I'll be amazed :ROFLMAO:

Photo competition - best example of donning a horseshoe wins!
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All lifebuoys .. horseshoe or round are Flotation aids - not lifevests ... if you can don one - fine - but idea is to give something to hold onto to help keep afloat.

It may surprise some - but teachings also give info that on MOB occurring ... Lifebuoy is thrown over as a MARKER ... so that drift / position are apparent .. the idea of a lifebuoy with rope hauling a person in after throwing it to the casualty is a myth !
IF you can do that - great ... but usually by time you get to throw it - casualty is at too far a distance to reach ... so buoy is a marker to return to approximate position.

Events after that can be circling casualty so that rope from buoy can encircle ... or whatever is deemed suitable.
 
I have 2 lifebuoys 2 dan buoys a throw bag and a sharp knife next to my company.

I consider id better to have a tool and not need it than not have a tool and need it

My life buoys are attached to the danbuoys, and one is also attached to the boat with a floating line so we can sail/motor around the MOB to capture him/her

Our safety authority requires us to have all possible safety equipment on board during inspection

I also have velcroid covers over my life buys to protect from the sun being in sun tropical waters the cover can also be thrown as a floating marker (crumb trail) back to MOB
 
"roger" mentions something that killed my lifebuoys ... Sun. The zipped on covers basically split and failed exposed to the sun. They were only about 4yrs old.
The previous covers were more than 20yrs surviving similar ...

I will be looking at covers for my lifebuoys !!
 
neil1967 said:
I am amazed at how many horseshoe rings you see left on boats when not in use (which in most cases is most of the time). We always bring our horseshoe, and lifesling, in when not sailing and they both look nearly new after 12+ years.
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Mere youngsters. Mine are still the original ones from mid 19070's ! They spend 99% of the time inside and even if I'm sailing singlehanded they stay inside. If when single handed and I saw someone in the water I would have time to get below to get one. The slow part of retrieving a person is getting the sails in / down so that I can control the boat.
 
Refueler said:
It may surprise some - but teachings also give info that on MOB occurring ... Lifebuoy is thrown over as a MARKER ... so that drift / position are apparent .. the idea of a lifebuoy with rope hauling a person in after throwing it to the casualty is a myth !
IF you can do that - great ... but usually by time you get to throw it - casualty is at too far a distance to reach ... so buoy is a marker to return to approximate position.
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The trouble is that, in any wind, the lifebuoy will blow away, while the casualty is unaffected by any wind in which recovery might be possible. As a marker, a danbuoy is a much better bet.
 
Stemar said:
The trouble is that, in any wind, the lifebuoy will blow away, while the casualty is unaffected by any wind in which recovery might be possible. As a marker, a danbuoy is a much better bet.
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Hence the Offshore racing regulations require each horseshoe lifering to have a parachute style drogue attached.

This is then pleated into a small open ended carry case which is attached to the lifering bracket.
 
I thought the reason (in the regulations) for having two was that one could be immediately deployed as a marker, like Refuelled says...

And that when you return to the area and spot the MOB, the second could be deployed pretty much direct to the person in the water.
 
Refueler said:
"roger" mentions something that killed my lifebuoys ... Sun. The zipped on covers basically split and failed exposed to the sun. They were only about 4yrs old.
The previous covers were more than 20yrs surviving similar ...

I will be looking at covers for my lifebuoys !!
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The (plastic) lights associated with them also suffer uv degradation over time, becoming brittle and cracked..... more quickly than the cover fails in my experience
 
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There's some really good points in this thread. I've never thought about the fact that crew wear lifejackets which to an extent negate the benefit of a life ring for my guys.
My biggest worry is loosing sight of a person in the water when short handed sailing. I'm coming to the conclusion that an inflatable Danbouy would be of more use in my situation, with a flotation device secondary so could be kept in the locker and brought out when needed. I only have a small yacht so rail space comes at a premium. I have a Horseshoe and light that I keep below and bring out when sailing.
I also feel that if I went overboard seeing a yellow inflatable stick in the water near me would give we confidence that I will be found in the waves and keep me calmer.
 
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