Personal Safety Items When Crewing

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Colin_747

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I am interested in hearing people's opinions on what level of safety equipment people would being when crewing on unknown boats/new skippers?

I would always bring my personal lifejacket and I'm was considering adding a PLB and a MOB lifesaver, but I've heard others that would bring their own handheld GPS or their own handheld VHF.

So, I'm curious what other people might do in terms of ensuring their own level of personal safety?
 
Divide this up in to what you intend to wear. Much also depends on what you have already. So PLB, LJ wet weather gear harness flash light etc ..
Then if you have it HH GPS with some useful way points that could substitute normal navigation. HH radio. Here in Oz people often bring their own water bottle hat sunscreen etc. ol'will
 
Colin_747 said:
I am interested in hearing people's opinions on what level of safety equipment people would being when crewing on unknown boats/new skippers?

I would always bring my personal lifejacket and I'm was considering adding a PLB and a MOB lifesaver, but I've heard others that would bring their own handheld GPS or their own handheld VHF.

So, I'm curious what other people might do in terms of ensuring their own level of personal safety?
Click to expand...
All depends on what the voyage and the boat is about. A summer day sail within sight of home in a 40' BenJenBav is very different to heading off in September on a non-stop delivery trip round the Mull of Kintyre in a CO32. Whatever you think you might need, take it, unless you are racing when weight matters.
 
I can't recommend the MOB Lifesaver enough. I have them fitted to all my boat's lifejackets and carry a couple of spares for guests who bring their own (saves removing one from a lifejacket). My freeboard is quite low, but the MOB Lifesaver just makes it easier to secure and then raise the MOB back onboard.

My personal opinion with modern boats having high freeboard, these are essential items to fit to the lifejacket lifting strop or D ring if no lifting strop fitted. They make a huge difference as an aid to recover a MOB back onboard.

I have no association with the company, except as a customer.
 
If you are on someone else's boat why take navigation equipment unless asked. Personal stuff, LJ, & tether, MOB / PLB Clothes suitable for the vessel and journey and my Wichard knife. The rest depending on the boat and where we were going I either wouldn't be going or it will be on the boat.
 
If the OP is inexperienced might he ask the prospective skipper what is appropriate? I would regard such a question seriously and if accompanied with a query as to my favourite tipple, most favourably. My boat has already got 4 independant GPS systems, a couple of anchors, charts that extend far beyond my likely voyaging, a far too heavy toolbox - I'm not sure I would fully appreciate an iPad carrying, GPS toting, tooolbelt wielding new crew. Appropriate clothing, lifejacket if you wish (the boat has sufficient, recently tested), sleeping bag (and teddy bear) if o'night - but, seriously, just ask your host.
 
I've sailed with a couple of people whose LJs were well out of date - they were good friends, so I just took over servicing theirs when I did my own, so I always take my LJ that I know is in date and has a light, a safety line, a multitool and a little pouch with a few other useful bits and bobs - again, I've lost count of the number of times they've come in handy, and a small torch. If we're going to be sailing overnight, a head lamp. My phone has Navionics, so that's navigation covered not because I expect to need it, but... Don't forget the charger.

If I don't know the boat, and it's more than a day sail, I'd probably pack a small first aid kit.
 
I think we can accept that each will have heavy-weather gear as part of their kit ... the OP I think is aimimg for answers about the extras gear.

For me - I like to have my tablet with Navionics - as well as my phone with Navionics on it. I have a small Cobra HH VHF that slips into the pocket with its waterprrof cover .... todays tiny LED torches slip into pocket and don't interfere with anything .. my own inflatable LJ ...
 
As awol says, depends hugely on the voyage - a day sail or a trip across an ocean.
And if the latter the important thing is to ask about what the boat already has and, if at all possible, go for a short voyage before committing.

Most skippers would not object to somebody turning up for a short trip with their own lifejacket if unusually high spec (though nobody has ever brought their own to our boat), but own VHF and GPS would seem rather eccentric (not least as who carries a portable GPS rather than use a phone these days).

Crossing an ocean is a bit different, and kit will depend on what learnt from short familiarisation trip. I took an empty fishing tackle box and with the skipper took it to the chandlery and filled up with various items missing from their bosuns spares. Also took battery booster so that if had total battery failure could navigate by phone. Other than that a kindle, headphones for music and bought some decent bottles of wine.
 
If I know the boat and the owner all I bring apart from clothing is a tiny narrow beam torch for checking the sail trim at night. As I learnt most of my sailing singlehanded on a tiny cruiser with no guardwires, no electronics and did not even carry a lifejacket, perhaps I'm a bit biased. If now and boat/owner unknown I'd bring a LJ and a handheld VHF as well as the torch and my mobile phone (which of course has GPS).

My current boat has of course all the 'safety kit', all in date and serviced/replaced as necessary.
 
but own VHF and GPS would seem rather eccentric
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I still have :

Magellan early HH GPS with the side mounted antenna. Still works but takes up to 30mins to sort itself out. But I no longer use it on my or any other boat. I did create an NMEA network on my 25ft'r for it where it still has the bulkhead cradle for it.

I have an eTrex basic ... which I use for land trekking more than on board - actually thinking about it - cannot remember last time I carried on board ...

I have a Garmin GPS II plus .... its mounted on the chart table of the 38ft'r ... I have switched it on a couple of times - but basically its an item that I shall probably remove ... I find it clunky to use compared to the eTrex ...

If I was to crew another boat - deliver as I have done - then I would likely carry the eTrex along with my Navionics Tablet ...

As regards VHF - the pocket sized Cobras maybe low power - but they work and have a long battery life - plus they work on AA's ... not built in rechargeable packs.
 
Colin_747 said:
I am interested in hearing people's opinions on what level of safety equipment people would being when crewing on unknown boats/new skippers?

I would always bring my personal lifejacket and I'm was considering adding a PLB and a MOB lifesaver, but I've heard others that would bring their own handheld GPS or their own handheld VHF.

So, I'm curious what other people might do in terms of ensuring their own level of personal safety?
Click to expand...
I have a pouch on my lifejacket, in there I have a knife (obviously), PLB and laser flare. I have Navionics on my phone, and other apps. I also slip a handheld VHF in my jacket outer pocket.
 
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