Jackstays

[Aja]

Agree entirely that the best option is to have a single jackstay running along the centre of the boat. In my case it isn't feasible. It would mean leaving the cockpit unclipped until I get round the sprayhood.

Donald

 

[ccscott49]

Donald, get a Double hooked safety line. made long enough to allow you to get round the sprayhood. Its no problem hooking and unhooking with a double, if you have full legth jackstays, the strain on the end fiittings in massive and will allow you to fall over the side. I also advocate putting ring bolts or plates in the mast area and fordeck and anyhwhere else you are likely to need to be outside the cockpit, to clip to rather than jackstay or both, then you will be held on board safely. Has anybody here tried to get somebody back onboard a reasonable sized boat in bad weather? I have, keeping them onboard is my utmost priority.

 

[ccscott49]

Donald, get a Double hooked safety line. made long enough to allow you to get round the sprayhood. Its no problem hooking and unhooking with a double, if you have full legth jackstays, the strain on the end fiittings in massive and will allow you to fall over the side. I also advocate putting ring bolts or plates in the mast area and fordeck and anyhwhere else you are likely to need to be outside the cockpit, to clip to rather than jackstay or both, then you will be held on board safely. Has anybody here tried to get somebody back onboard a reasonable sized boat in bad weather? I have, keeping them onboard is my utmost priority. If you are clipped on, on my boat, unless something breaks, (unlikely) you cannot fall over the side.

 

[Aja]

Yes. had a problem last year where a Jet skier ran out of petrol and fell in.... no lifejacket... no experience.... anyway I threw him a lifejacket which was almost impossible to put on in the water...even more so when it had inflated! The outset was that he then panicked and swam to my stern boarding ladder and found it too short to get from the water onto the first rung. In the end I had to tie a bowline and loop it round him and tie him off on a cleat (I was single handed at the time) nip below and call the coastguard. The lifeboat duly arrived and got him aboard.... this is what really prompted a lot of thought during the close season as to safety in general but getting someone back on board in particular. Upshot is that I now have a collapsible boarding ladder that can be clipped to the toerail (preferably at the widest beam) and have had another 3 rungs added to the stern boarding ladder.

This all happened in calm weather. Hate to think what would have happened if I was not a mile from the lifeboat station and had any amount of sea. It was a good exercise though as nothing was planned.

Donald