Man overboard? How do you.....

[steve_cronin]

...throw him a line from a floating Faraday's Cage?

Just take a look at a modern (US) Legend with it's twin biminis etc.
Look Here at first pic in Photo gallery - Photobucket currently down

MY boat is even worse. I have a bimini with four poles, a gantry, outboard mounting, stern anchor, parked passerrelle with two lifting tackles, ensign pole and divided backstay all forming a very effective barrier to performing a proper "abmiralty" two handed heave.

Of course all this clutter reduces the possibility of falling overboard from the cockpit but most go over whilst crossing the foredeck or negotiating the side decks.

I'm going to have to give this some serious thought. COMPULSORY-WHILST-ON-DECK Lifejackets, maybe?

Probably coming to mind because I'm just re-writing our RNLI Branch risk assessment!


Steve Cronin

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
COMPULSORY-WHILST-ON-DECK Lifejackets, maybe?

[/ QUOTE ]
Lifejackets won't stop you from falling overboard .... lifelines (when attached in an appropriate place) will ....

There is room at the stern to throw a line ... and on the side decks ... of course - trying to do the 2 handed throw will probably result in you falling overboard at the same time ... but heck - at least you'll have a line to hand!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[steve_cronin]

Why do we want to throw a line and throw it quickly?

So that you can stop the wife from drowning (or v.v.), yes?

SO if we have lifejackets we can leave her bobbing around a little bit longer confident that she will remain relatively safe until we can turn the boat to collect her.

Lifelines are certainly the best protection but how often do people just not bother because it's " a nice calm sunny day"?
As to "There is room at the stern to throw a line..." that is just the point, there is NOT - unless you climb over the back rail onto the sugar scoop which could result in you joining the casualty whilst the boat carries on being dutifully steered by George. The only direction you're going to be able to throw to from the side deck is straight out sideways, NOT where your casualty is likely to be. Anything less powerful than a two handed throw (Three coils in throwing hand, remaining coils in other) isn't likely to get much nearer to the casualty than just flicking it over the rail.

Steve cronin

 

[fireball]

I suppose it depends what sort of sailing you're in to. ..... and why you're going to loose someone overboard ...

TBH - what is the likely hood of loosing someone overboard and being able to scramble for the throwline before they are out of reach? Let alone being able to grab the coils of line in the right hands and get a good swing ...

Lifejackets are fine - and yes, if you assess the risk of going overboard to be high enough then a lifejacket should be worn - it should keep you afloat for long enough for the vessel to get back and rescue you ... but surely the primary consideration should be preventing going overboard in the first place ... if you're going to insist on wearing lifejackets then it isn't much further to insist that anyone leaving the cockpit should clip on (except to go down below ... in which case they should bring the skipper a drink and biccy!).

 

[bigwow]

Problem easily solved, get a multihull!

 

[ggt9]

[ QUOTE ]
Anything less powerful than a two handed throw (Three coils in throwing hand, remaining coils in other) isn't likely to get much nearer to the casualty than just flicking it over the rail.

[/ QUOTE ]

A yak throw bag or similar (like these) should give you a similar range and accuracy one handed (perhaps with one hand holding a rail or frame on the boat) to a line thrown the conventional way. I didn't do too well with one when I tried it but then I'm not great at chucking heaving lines either.

In any case, you're likely to have to turn the boat around and go back in close to the MOB and won't be throwing the rope that far.

And, yes, having a lifejacket on greatly increases the MOB's chances... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[photodog]

The whole man-OB this is a bit of a nitemare.... I dont think there is much use throwing a line if the boat is still underway, and in fact could turn into a disaster if whilst manouvering you ran back over the line, or towed the rescuee in the water.

I think DROPPING things off the back is the best you dould manage, or throwing a short distance a object, (LifeRing?)

My feeling is prevention; ie Clip on when going forward, when alone in the cockpit, when its rough, and Wear a lifejacket. (YEs we are annal and do all the time)

If someone goes over drop the dan and lifebouy, then crash stop, lose the foresail, motoron, approach from downwind,
dropping rescue line onto casualty to keep them alongside,
mainsheet(4:1) off attatchement point in cockpit, onto casualty, sheetin on winch using boom as hoist.

In theory.

 

[Fin]

Easy shorthanded way of getting a line to someone in the water is to tow a horseshoe lifebelt on a long bouyant line. Circle the MOB and the line will get there, pull them aboard, simple and works in a heavy swell. There was (i believe ) a video of it being practiced on the UK-Halsey website.

 

[Bajansailor]

My approach to a MOB situation is that if said MOB goes over while sailing on any course with a balanced combination of headsail and main (other than downwind with the sails either goosewinged, or a preventer on the main), then the first thing to do is to tack and heave to.

Then decide what you are going to chuck out, how you are going to chuck it, and what effect it will have.

We practice this every time we go for a sail with a new crew member - even if it is just a little potter along the coast - and everybody is invariably very impressed by the dramatic change that happens as soon as the vessel is hove to, ie all peaceful and quiet (relatively!) in comparison to what was going on less than a minute earlier.

On an offshore passage, or at night, or in 'rough' weather, harnesses are required for crew on watch. I have a lot more faith in harnesses than lifejackets.

 

[Seven Spades]

If he was in one of those he might have jumped off.

 

[Bajansailor]

One of which and why? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[rogerthebodger]

Tie a piece of bungy cord to the rear most legs of your gantry and use it like a catapult to extend the range of a throwing bag.

I started to design a systen to fire a dan bouy using a simular bungy cord but was conserned I may spear the MOB in doins so