Horseshoe Liferings - decoration?

[Lizzie_B]

Does the danbuoy have a drogue on it? If not, I'd be interested to know how fast it moves through the water in a breeze. I've never tested one - perhaps it barely moves at all - but it seems worth knowing if this is your plan. Most danbuoys have little drag against the water (a slim rod and a smallish weight) whereas the pull on a flag whipping in the wind can be appreciable.

That aside, I agree that visibility is a greater priority than a small piece of additional buoyancy if yours is a lifejackets-at-all-times boat.

Pete

My danbouy kit came with a drogue. US Coast Guard also have a minimum recommended height above water, and my impression is my USCG spec one is significantly taller and heavier than many British counterparts I've come across (my UK one included).

 

[ytd]

horsehoes not the worst offenders

I was also shocked that they didn't have a line clipped beside the companionway which crew would clip on before unclipping their deck line. I though this was standard practice on racing yachts once there's any sea. Once you are below you unclip and pass the line back out the companionway. Also surprised that he managed to slide across the deck and through the lifelines without grabbing anything.

I've never used a horseshoe in anger. They make nice floating seats when swimming though. We have had MOBs in calm seas when no one is clipped on especially during pre start but by the time you could have thrown a horseshoe you've picked the embarrassed crew member up. Only MOB in a big sea was when the foredeck crew was airbourne after the boat fell off a wave. When he came down he was on the wrong side of the lifeline. Luckily he was clipped on and quickly recovered.

There seems to be a lot of "just in case" for yacht safety gear. Racing authorities specifying stuff of dubious benefit just in case it saves someone one day. I think lifelines are a case in point. How many bad injuries are caused by crew falling on staunchions or bad cuts caused by wire lifelines but if you try replace the wire with spectra or padding the staunchions you are non compliant.

 

[Searush]

Okay, bit windy in the South Atlantic, but here's how a horseshoe acts when used 'in anger': http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8383946.stm

Trying to throw a plastic foam item upwind is ridiculous. They are surfing downwind, a particularly dangerous time to fall overboard.

I have a horseshoe. It has a light (repaired every time I visit the boat due to poor connections) and a 200' floating line attached to a stern cleat. If I can't throw it downwind to the MOB (quite probable in many situations) I will simply drop it over the side down wind. I can then sail/ motor slowly around the casualty & the line will come within their reach. The MOB is now connected to the boat which is the first & most critical stage of recovery. I have a boarding ladder that extends under the water so that swimmers can get aboard. Even if I can't get them aboard, they can be secured there while I broadcast a Mayday.

OK, I accept that the Southern Ocean is so cold that the casualty will be effectively disabled, but I don't sail in such cold waters & often swim in them anyway. Mind you, it's all a bit pointless when I am single-handed . . . .

 

[Ludd]

I have a horseshoe and danbuoy(wa fitted when I bought the boat) ,but my idea is to tie all my fenders together in pairs connected with a floating line and secured to pushpit with a quick release knot. That should give the MOB a greater chance of grabbing something buoyant. Haven't put reflective tape on them yet.
Mind you I'm solo most ofthe time,so who's going to throw them?

Harness and lifelines rule,ok?

 

[lw395]

I would not be without one (or two) beyond dayboats.
Simple, no/few moving parts, quick to use.
It should be set up in reach of the helmsman so it goes over the side very quickly, with light and drogue. All this really needs a good bracket outside the pushpit.
MOB and Yacht then both have something to aim for.
30ft of floating line between the light and buoy makes it easy to gaff with the boat hook.

Also, the sun-scorched old ones are ideal for leaving on the pushpit at all times in case someone falls in the marina, while the decent ones are stowed away with the lights etc.

There are all sorts of reasons why rescue might fail, but not to have the basics sorted would be very scary if you ever want it.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

My 2ps worth.

All of my real world MOB experiences match ytd's. Calm weather, guy climbs up the ladder laughing. Kind of makes sense, if it's lumpy you go into 3 points of contact climber mode and clip on so MOBs are far less likely.

Therefore, the following comments are not based on real world experience, merely time spent pondering, usually while looking at the wake disappearing into blackness while going downwind at full pelt at night:

I reckon going downwind fast at night and/or in a lumpy sea I'd chuck the liferaft to the guy in the water. It solves the three big problems - It gives him and me something substantial to aim for, makes recovery much easier & protects him from cold.

The only problem (apart from cost) I can see are if the pockets don't fill with water quickly and the raft blows downwind away from him.

Assuming to pockets do fill effectively these days (a big assumption given that they never used to) the LR does everything that danbouy/life ring do and more.

Also, as the single handers say, if it's night you're probably on watch alone in which case who's going to carry out the elaborate plan? - So there aint no substitute for clipping on.

My 2ps worth.

PS: I know the objection that some mindless w**ker is going to raise. The answer is: In the highly unlikely event that you know he is, don't do it, if you're not sure, what have you lost?