MOB recovery in large fast river situation??

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pcatterall

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Just another thing which kept me awake last night.
We are travelling down the Saone and then the Rhone.
2 man crew, 10m yacht.
We always wear life jackets ( unlike the majority of people we see on various craft)
If someone did go overboard what could you do?
I think recovery by myself would be just about impossible, The river flows at 3 or 4 knots, very difficult to get alongside and danger of MOB being dragged along by or going under the boat. Helmsman has also got to concentrate on and man the helm full time.
I can only think to 'stay in proximity to MOB' deploy life ring and danbuoy use flares call 112 and anyone listening on VHF.
Possibly MOB could swim to shore in country side but in some towns it would be hard to get out.
We will be a bit more careful about messing about on deck unless strictly required.
Any suggestions/experience?
 
I have sat in a Hotel in Lyon and watched the Saone with all the melt-water. Pretty powerful.

Seems like a good argument for lifelines. Sure there are issues about being dragged under and recovery but less than the alternatives.
 
If you're in the middle of the river, current makes no difference because you're both subject to it.

Quite possibly a problem of being swept onto a fixed structure while you're dealing with getting someone on board etc, but they're not going to be "swept under the boat" unless you anchor it.

Pete
 
pcatterall said:
Just another thing which kept me awake last night.
We are travelling down the Saone and then the Rhone.
2 man crew, 10m yacht.
We always wear life jackets ( unlike the majority of people we see on various craft)
If someone did go overboard what could you do?
I think recovery by myself would be just about impossible, The river flows at 3 or 4 knots, very difficult to get alongside and danger of MOB being dragged along by or going under the boat. Helmsman has also got to concentrate on and man the helm full time.
I can only think to 'stay in proximity to MOB' deploy life ring and danbuoy use flares call 112 and anyone listening on VHF.
Possibly MOB could swim to shore in country side but in some towns it would be hard to get out.
We will be a bit more careful about messing about on deck unless strictly required.
Any suggestions/experience?
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Make sure the boat doesn't hit anything whilst your dealing with MOB, otherwise another casualty.
In these circumstances, if you are both wearing LJ's, keep a few good throwing lines handy, but make sure the aren't snagged by the prop.
 
On a river MOB should swim diagonally to the bank.
If unconscious then you have real problems picking up MOB! I have no idea how I would do it, except maybe use the boat to steer the MOB to the bank, and accept the probable damage to the boat.
 
my main fear with my two daughters (and wife too) was at anchor: there is a false sense of security, people relax... and accidents may happen; pretty much like people falling overboard in the most bening conditions

Say one falls in the water, with a river at 3-4 knots the time to realize, weigh anchor, launch the dinghy, etc...


On some rivers the main fear was crocodiles though :D
 
Fast flowing rivers

During my time with the Ocean Youth Trust it was routine to have all hands wearing lifejackets at all time when on deck and in climbing or stepping ashore in the situation of fast flowing rivers or tides such as you describe. The dinghy or rib was also kept afloat with the engine at ready for starting, flotation buoy, throwing line and handheld vhf also stowed in the dinghy. The situation should also be discussed by all onboard as to the procedure in event of such an incident.



Roberto said:
my main fear with my two daughters (and wife too) was at anchor: there is a false sense of security, people relax... and accidents may happen; pretty much like people falling overboard in the most bening conditions

Say one falls in the water, with a river at 3-4 knots the time to realize, weigh anchor, launch the dinghy, etc...


On some rivers the main fear was crocodiles though :D
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Rigger Mortice said:
Tow your dinghy behind you. If necessary release it for MoB to climb into/hang on. A much easier target to aim for if you get separated.
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To travel down a river, your boat needs to be going faster than the river, to be able to steer. So, unless your boat is going much faster than the river, towing a dinghy would be a pain.

You could consider pointing upstream, to keep some steerage & letting the river take you down, since trying to turn for a MOB when running at 4-5 knots won't be easy. Reverse ain't going to be much help in stopping the boat being swept along, if pointing downstream, when your travelling at 5 knts just in the stream.
 
alant said:
Reverse ain't going to be much help in stopping the boat being swept along, if pointing downstream, when your travelling at 5 knts just in the stream.
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Why would you want to stop the boat relative to the ground? That would be like motoring at five knots directly away from the MOB, which seems an odd strategy.

I can't believe the struggles some people seem to have with relative motion. Maybe it would be easier to think of the water as stationary, with you and the MOB moving slowly about on it, but some evil genius is hurling bridges, buoys and jetties towards you at five knots.

Pete
 
prv said:
I can't believe the struggles some people seem to have with relative motion. Maybe it would be easier to think of the water as stationary, with you and the MOB moving slowly about on it, but some evil genius is hurling bridges, buoys and jetties towards you at five knots.
Pete
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+1
Maybe they are the same people who don't believe boats can sail faster than the wind?
 
alant said:
To travel down a river, your boat needs to be going faster than the river, to be able to steer. So, unless your boat is going much faster than the river, towing a dinghy would be a pain.
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I have to travel a couple of miles down the river, which can flow at up to 4 knots, from my mooring to get to sea. I will often travel at no more than two or three knots through the water, but I'm moving at up to 7 knots over the ground. I can tow my dinghy without the slightest problem and I have plenty of steerage. I just don't recognize what you are suggesting; it simply isn't necessary to be going much faster than the river.
 
prv said:
Why would you want to stop the boat relative to the ground? That would be like motoring at five knots directly away from the MOB, which seems an odd strategy.

I can't believe the struggles some people seem to have with relative motion. Maybe it would be easier to think of the water as stationary, with you and the MOB moving slowly about on it, but some evil genius is hurling bridges, buoys and jetties towards you at five knots.

Pete
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I have no difficulty with relative motion.
 
Rigger Mortice said:
I have to travel a couple of miles down the river, which can flow at up to 4 knots, from my mooring to get to sea. I will often travel at no more than two or three knots through the water, but I'm moving at up to 7 knots over the ground. I can tow my dinghy without the slightest problem and I have plenty of steerage. I just don't recognize what you are suggesting; it simply isn't necessary to be going much faster than the river.
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But you are!

You are travelling at almost 2 x the speed of the water you are in.
 
alant said:
But you are!

You are travelling at almost 2 x the speed of the water you are in.
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If you think that travelling at a gentle two or three knots through the water can be characterised as travelling much faster than a current of 4 knots then our use of the English language is obviously so different that it isn't worth taking this any further with you.
 
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