Life Jackets and Safety Harnesses

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Whilst I am of the opinion that it is sensible to wear life jackets all the time whilst at sea I started to think that if your jacket is able to take a harness then why not clip on as well.

However, I then thought that if you are motoring and fall over whilst wearing a harness are you in more danger because of the risk of being drawn into the prop ?

Wonder what views you have ? Should you clip on as well ?

 

[Doghousekeeper]

Whilst I am of the opinion that it is sensible to wear life jackets all the time whilst at sea

Smart thinking - thoroughly agree (others won't, and they are entitled to their opinion too)

However, I then thought that if you are motoring and fall over whilst wearing a harness are you in more danger because of the risk of being drawn into the prop ?

Wonder what views you have ? Should you clip on as well ?

Generally not when motoring unless you can guarantee not to be driven over and end up in the prop. You could still clip on, but with a shorter strop and maybe to a higher or further inboard attachment point so that you don't end up in the water

 

[bbg]

Generally not when motoring unless you can guarantee not to be driven over and end up in the prop. You could still clip on, but with a shorter strop and maybe to a higher or further inboard attachment point so that you don't end up in the water

That should always be the objective of clipping on.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Try Searching Some Excellent Posts On This Subject Are Available

This search of these forums probably has enough information to help http://www.ybw.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1146857 I used the search phrase "wearing safety harness" in the search engine.

You could also search on "wearing lifejackets"

 

[sailorman]

Whilst I am of the opinion that it is sensible to wear life jackets all the time whilst at sea I started to think that if your jacket is able to take a harness then why not clip on as well.

However, I then thought that if you are motoring and fall over whilst wearing a harness are you in more danger because of the risk of being drawn into the prop ?

Wonder what views you have ? Should you clip on as well ?

never have the safety line too long best kept short with 3 hooks rather than 2 hooks

 

[Doghousekeeper]

That should always be the objective of clipping on.

A noble objective to be sure, but if people installed their kit with that as a primary objective I suspect they'd do it a little differently than the norm. How often do you see crew clip on to jackstays running along side decks using a 1.85m tether? Most people set up their safety lines using methods that should keep them connected to the boat rather than keeping them on board. It works well for freedom of movement, but it's not designed to ensure people don't fall in. Less of an issue under sail, but could lead to tragedy under power.

 

[dunedin]

A noble objective to be sure, but if people installed their kit with that as a primary objective I suspect they'd do it a little differently than the norm. How often do you see crew clip on to jackstays running along side decks using a 1.85m tether? Most people set up their safety lines using methods that should keep them connected to the boat rather than keeping them on board. It works well for freedom of movement, but it's not designed to ensure people don't fall in. Less of an issue under sail, but could lead to tragedy under power.

When using harnesses we use the jackstay and 2m tether approach as you say. Any shorter line would not allow moving around on deck (eg to do reef hooks on mast). If stopping in one place to do a lengthy job a third hook would be ideal, but almost all my trips have been out and back quickly.
I appreciate that in extremis this may not prevent falling in, but the intent is to stay with the boat. I can't see how there should be a prop danger on a line of this length. With a guardrail height of perhaps 40cm (up and down) and a freeboard of perhaps a metre, surely likely to end up at or around the waterline - which is a fair way from a prop on most boats, particularly if fallen off the foredeck.
The real issues I would expect to be drowning through being dragged at speed through the water and/or not being able to get bck on board (particularly if singlehanded)

 

[bbg]

Having spoken to someone who has had need of his harness in anger, the purpose must always be to stay on the boat - inside the guardrails.

 

[SeamanStaines]

Having spoken to someone who has had need of his harness in anger, the purpose must always be to stay on the boat - inside the guardrails.

This is really relevant to me at the moment as I am about to replace my safety lines. The problem I have is that I have a catamaran so conventional wisdom does not always apply. Currently, I have two that go along the decks, just inside the stanchions. They are about 12mts long so even when tight they still lift about 750mm in the middle which is nearly to the top of the safety rails. I clip on and go half way along but then need to get to the mast, this is about 3mts away so currently I have to unclip, walk to the mast and clip on there which is hardly safe.

My intention was to replace them with safety lines about 15mts long with bunjee in the middle of them. This would make them tight when not used but unable me to easily walk to the mast without unclipping. Clearly these have the benefit of not having to unclip and would fulfil the objective of keeping me with the boat, they would not prevent me going over the side though.

No matter how I try I cant come up with a better alternative. One possibility is to have another line from halfway down the main lines to the mast but it would be a major trip hazard and probably be the reason you fell in in the first place!

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Lifejackets are optional on my boat and become compulsory when visiblity, sea state or weather deteriorates to the point where I would deem a MOB manoevre to be more difficult than just alter course and deploy the swim ladder. This also sends an important message to the crew, life-jackets and harnesses mean be careful. No life-jackets and harnesses - relax.

Additionally, a self inflating lifejacket is a one-shot device that needs to work when it is really needed. Wearing it 24/7 out of habit only subjects it to unnecessary wear and tear which could result in premature failure. I think it would be a real shame if it went off or got damaged while horsing around on a beautiful summers day and then wasn't available for the night crossing home.

Wearing lifejackets out of habit also means you stop thinking about why you do it. Making the decision when to use lifejackets and harnesses, and when it is safe to take them off again forces you to continually appraise the risks to yourself and crew - which is not a bad thing.

As for life lines, they should be used to prevent crew going overboard in the first place. Being towed like a mackerel spinner behind or alongside the boat negates the use of a lifejacket.

Just my humble opinion and any crew member who want's to wear a lifejacket 24/7 is obviously welcome to.

 

[pcranness]

I’m inclined to agree with Baggywrinkle, in that it may not always be necessary to wear a life jacket and/or a harness constantly.

A lifejacket and/or harness will not prevent you from falling over board, but will mitigate the risks if you do, e.g. boat sailing off into the sunset without you.

If you are on board with a experienced crew on a balmy sunny day, safety gear might not be necessary as the risks once you have fallen overboard are small, the crew should be able to perform a MOB recovery, and you shouldn’t catch hypothermia.

However if you shorthanded in the middle of the channel in a force 6 in winter, the risk from falling over board are massive and as such safety gear is highly appropriate. The risk of being dragged into the prop, against the risk of drowning, I would risk being dragged into the prop, in the previous situation I’m happy to bob around for a few minutes.

Clearly there is no correct answer, but you need to use a bit of common sense and weigh up the risk of any and every situation, and how to mitigate against those risks.