Lifebouy and light

[muckypup]

When I bought Harlequin it had a brand new lifebouy and light and we have just correctly fixed the bracket to the outside on the back of the cockpit.

(like this)

I was wondering how and when to use it?

The lifebouy has about 30ft of rope attached to it, the light currently doesn't have anything attached to it.


Steve

 

[colvic987]

Hi, it is used as part of MOB equipment the light should be attached to the rope and fitted with batteries, so the light will start to either flash or stay on depending on the model,when deployed into the water, (tip it upright to test the light, might take a couple of seconds to light if the flashing one), it would also be appropriate to have a drogue attached so it will not be blown away when deployed, i also have it attached to a danbouy, common on yachts, but i dont recall seeing one on a motorboat, a lifesling is also similar, but you have it attached to the boat and deploy it towards the casualty, and motor around the casualty until they catch and attached the belt around themselves and then you can pull them towards the boat..

i am surprised you have not known about these items and their use, if new to boating, i would urge you to find out how to use and what types are available, as it would be the wrong time to learn about them, at the time they are needed, as it could be to late for someone unfortunate to fall in..

ask around your boatyard or yacht club if unsure..go to chandlery to ask about safety items, they will show you, or look up some manufacturers, crewsaver, baltic, etc..

 

[mainsale0]

Steve
Let's hope you never have to use it but the light should be tied to the string attached to the horseshoe. In the event of man overboard you throw the horseshoe with the light into the water - the horseshoe is not attached to the boat. The light will right itself in the water and will come on as the batteries make contact providing a visual fix.

 

[gfbalduc]

I would also like to hear some opinions on the subject, although there was a recent related thread on the Forum.

To open up the discussion, here's my current, VERY temporary personal opinion:

You may use the lifebuoy for 3 different purposes, which imply 3 different set-ups:

1) to mark the position of the MOB (and possibly to offer the casualty some additional buoyancy if he can swim up to the lifebuoy).
In this case, you do not want the buoy to be attached to the boat, but rather to stay as near as possible to the casualty and to be highly VISIBLE both to him and to you.
My favourite configuration: lifebuoy attached by a short rope to a danbuoy equipped with light and a drogue.
Second-best: lifebuoy connected to a floating light and to a drogue.

2) to start the MOB recovery, circling around him with the buoy at the end of a long floating line, in the hope that he will be able to grab either the line or the buoy itself.
Configuration: buoy attached to the boat by a long line (at least 100 feet). Probably a drogue and a light connected to the buoy would be a good idea.

3) same as above, but launching the buoy to the casualty (in case circling aroun him did not work or is unfeasible, such as in the case of a disabled yacht).
Configuration: again lifebuoy connected to the boat, but the line does not need to be very long (you would never achieve to throw it 100 feet away!) and I would favour a somewhat heavier lifebuoy. Anything attached to the buoy would seriously impair the throw and would be of little benefit.

Summarising, my configuration (a bit overkill, I'll admit):

- 1 danbuoy with drogue and light + lifebuoy, free-floating
- 1 lifebuoy (or MOB-recovery device) with 100-feet floating line, drogue and light
- 1 lifebuoy with 40-feet line

 

[colvic987]

hi gian, i use the same as your item 1 and item 2, but also have a second lifebouy with light and drogue, its amazing how inaccurate you can be,when throwing the lifebouy in, especially when windy.

 

[muckypup]

[ QUOTE ]
i am surprised you have not known about these items and their use, if new to boating, i would urge you to find out how to use and what types are available, as it would be the wrong time to learn about them, at the time they are needed, as it could be to late for someone unfortunate to fall in..

[/ QUOTE ]

I am new... which is why I've asked /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

S.

 

[Mirelle]

Well, I'm not new; I am not at all sure that I know the answer either, and Gian's answer is about the best that I have seen.

I never bothered to carry these things for the first 36 years of my sailing career. When I did decide to go in for them I very soon discovered that most of the horseshoe lifebuoys sold by chandlers are too small for a "casualty" to climb into them, so I am inclined to wonder what they are for, beyond looking good.

Merchant ships, unconstrained by space and weight but constrained by tight international safety regulations, carry big (30") hard plastic round jobs, with lights attached.

It makes sense to carry a danbuoy, but securing a danbuoy in such a way that it can be easily deployed yet remain aboard the rest of the time is no easy matter.

If you carry a length of rope between lifebuoy, light and/or danbuoy, then even if it is of the pukka floating kind there is a risk of it fouling the prop.

These things are not at all as easy as the salesmen make them seem.

 

[colvic987]

looking at the size of motorboat you have i was expecting you to be an experienced sailor, sorry to offend if i have presumed to much.

as i had mentioned in my previous post, there are plenty of different types of mob equipment around, many of differing quality, choose wisely and be certain it is up to the standard you expect.

hope you enjoy your boating experiences as we have had many a good adventure in the past and hoping to have many more in the future..

all the best

 

[muckypup]

No worries, not offended in the slightest - I'm used to forumites now /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

...and yes, she is a fair size for a first boat, SWMBO always says I "never to things by halves" /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Steve

 

[Vara]

My understanding is that the best way to use these is in pairs.

1.Lifebelt with light attached,drogue and danbouy(If fitted) not attached to boat is thrown over board at the earliest opportunity,this has the effect of marking last known position of MOB in the water.

I have also read that at this stage it is not a bad idea to throw any other floating objects you have to hand(Cushions etc)overboard to create a trail.

The second life belt can then be used while attached to the boat by floating line to establish a hard link to the casualty when you have located him.

Don't forget while all this is going on to hit MOB button on GPS and hit red button on DSC.

I dont know where the helm position is on your boat but placing the life belts on the aft rail is not necessarily the best place to put them,ideally they should be placed so that whoever is controlling the boat can deploy them quickly without compromising control.

On aft cockpit sailing boats I prefer to have them mounted in board of the rails in reach of the helm without leaving tiller/wheel unattended.

Please note that over the years I have played at MOB drills and deployed all sorts of kit but (thank goodness) have never done it for real.

 

[rodwhite]

mirelle good point about size i dont think they fit average crew size-the kids yes. gian on no1 you have only one chance to throw, if its a poor shot ?? no2-3 set up sounds spot on

 

[Mudplugger]

I go along with Gian on this. and is the same set up I arrived at, having been on the receiving end a long time ago! The only other difference is that I would alway's have a large commercial ring type, as part of the package, 'cos the lightweight foam type dance off downwind at a very rapid rate, somewhat faster than one can swim in wellies & oilies! and exceeding disconbobulating when about to go into panic mode mode!

 

[gfbalduc]

The idea is that as soon as an MOB situation develops, somebody (including the helmsman, as he may be the only one left on deck) jettisons a lifebuoy with attached danbuoy to mark the general MOB position (hence the importance of the drogue, to avoid the lifebuoy to be swept away by wind or waves).
If the casualty can swim, he may be able to reach the lifebuoy and use it as an additional buoyancy (he has a self-inflating lifejacket, hasn't he?).

If there is only one person left on board, he may take quite some time to turn back, and it would be all too easy to lose sight of the MOB. A danbuoy is far more visible than a lifebuoy, from a distance.

Only when the boat is back near the casualty, the second/third lifebuoys are deployed mainly as a means to send a rope to the MOB to pull him close for recovery.

Some thought should also go to the actual recovery: how is the MOB going to climb back on board? What if he is unconscious or wounded?

There was a case in last year's ARC: with 2 persons on board, one fell and the other was unable to bring the casualty back on board, until he died (stroke, hypothermia?).

 

[old_salt]

Just wish to add. Do a 'practise' M.O.B. good to practise when an opportunity arises, we use a paper egg box totally degradable and it's floats for a while and gives a good chance to be helm and pointer. Give it a try not as easy as every one thinks.

 

[Bluebird]

Two very important extras that you should add to your lifebuoy in addition to those already suggested.

1. Add the name of your boat. If the lifebuoy is picked up by a lifeboat searching for lost crew or, god forbid, your boat's sunk, then they know for sure that the lifebuoy belongs to you. Using some clever software, which takes into account wind and tide direction and rate of drift of lifebuoys, the CG and Lifeboat will have a better idea where to search for you.

2. Add retro-refletive tape. This is superb stuff and will make the lifebuoy far more visible if and when the light fails. CG helo pilots have spotted retro tape on divers from 8 miles away!

Hopefully, you'll never need to find out if these tips work.

KiloCharlie

 

[muckypup]

Excelent tips - I will do both of these.

Thanks
Steve