Practical Safety Precautions - Small Enclosed Motor Boat

[Cbjroms]

I have moved from a small sailing cruiser to a Merry Fisher 645. Most of my sailing was single-handed and the cabin was simply used for storage. I am based in the Solent, am envisaging having more company and have been considering the difference in safety precautions required. As with sailing I will be equipped with VHF, navigation plotter, horn and charts.

The first thing is the kill-cord for the outboard which in an open boat is obviously essential but I will be driving from an enclosed wheelhouse and so the risk is more about being incapacitated having been thrown around. Do those with large, closed boats with twin diesels (for instance) still use kill-cords?

The second thing is lifejackets. I would wear one continuously when sailing but what is best practice on an enclosed motor boat? I feel that anyone moving outside the cockpit/wheelhouse should be wearing a lifejacket when handling ropes and anchoring. Depending on the weather (unlikely to have any company in any sort of sea/wind!) I would advocate lifejackets when outside the wheelhouse.

Finally I am thinking that I need to have some sort of MOB line/buoy to throw in the event that someone does go over or to help someone from another boat. A line seems to be better than the horseshoe buoys which, in my experience, are difficult to throw and cumbersome to store.

 

[Plum]

I have moved from a small sailing cruiser to a Merry Fisher 645. Most of my sailing was single-handed and the cabin was simply used for storage. I am based in the Solent, am envisaging having more company and have been considering the difference in safety precautions required. As with sailing I will be equipped with VHF, navigation plotter, horn and charts.

The first thing is the kill-cord for the outboard which in an open boat is obviously essential but I will be driving from an enclosed wheelhouse and so the risk is more about being incapacitated having been thrown around. Do those with large, closed boats with twin diesels (for instance) still use kill-cords?

The second thing is lifejackets. I would wear one continuously when sailing but what is best practice on an enclosed motor boat? I feel that anyone moving outside the cockpit/wheelhouse should be wearing a lifejacket when handling ropes and anchoring. Depending on the weather (unlikely to have any company in any sort of sea/wind!) I would advocate lifejackets when outside the wheelhouse.

Finally I am thinking that I need to have some sort of MOB line/buoy to throw in the event that someone does go over or to help someone from another boat. A line seems to be better than the horseshoe buoys which, in my experience, are difficult to throw and cumbersome to store.

There is no right or wrong but based on my own experience, while on my Antares motorcruiser, no killcord, lifejacket at all times while underway even in wheelhouse or while mooring, a throwbag with at least 20m of line.

Also, i agree that trying to throw a horseshoe lifebuoy any more than a few metres with any accuracy is difficult and i am considering a self inflating lifebuoy like this http://www.force4.co.uk/department/...ago-inflatable-lifebuoy-set.html#.VvfscKjTXxA which should be much easier to throw.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[rosssavage]

My twin engine mb has no kill cords, but actually it would make sense to have one as I single crew frequently too..

Life jacket - yes outside, no inside. There was an accident in the last few years when a lady died after the family boat capsized and she was trapped inside the boat by her auto jacket. Can't remember the details, was a hot topic around here at the time.

 

[ParkerS]

May not be the sort of thing that you had in mind but ......

Try to go out INTO the weather..........if it increases to the point that you become uncomfortable, you can then run home with it and have a better and safer ride.

 

[sarabande]

as a point of interest, do mobos with open stern cockpits over inboards, or with outboards, have a Big Red Button that can stop the motor ? Similar to the safety cutouts used on routers and dustcarts.

 

[SwanseaBoat]

I think you raise some really important questions.
I had a MF625; I fitted a kill cord but never used.
I now have a fly bridge: there is facility for a kill cord inside saloon, but none up top. If I fell off the top, and the family were dozing (frequent), they would motor onwards to the sunset...oblivious.
We have a rule: like jackets always underway. End of. But I choose a manual over the auto-inflation I give wife +kids. I had an inadvertent inflation in the lock one time when the toggle caught the grab rail: much amusement on a busy bank-holiday. I now route the toggle higher up the Velcro, rather than let it dangle.
Good to think through these scenarios: your response will be better, and more chance to save the day. Dan

 

[wipe_out]

I have a MF 695 and will wear the kill cord most times unless we are just in the harbour and doing about 5kn.. Have been on a MF in VERY bad weather.. Climbing over a wave with some power to get over we plunged into the trough behind it and I was literally thrown out of the helm seat across to the dinette.. As it happened I instinctively slammed the throttle back to neutral but having the kill cord on was a much better idea to ensure the engine died.. Had it not been the case and the engine was left with the power on things could get nasty quickly..

As for life jackets we don't tend to wear them inside..

 

[Cbjroms]

Thanks for the inputs above and the advice which I very much appreciate.

What do people feel about the need for flares within a relatively confined area such as the Solent?

 

[Tranona]

You will find as many for as against flares. Yesterday's technology - much more reliable ways of calling for assistance, mobile, radio, DSC, satellite based systems. However a flare is more likely to be seen in a densely populated area like the Solent than at sea.

So, your choice - just remember the chances of having to use them are vanishingly small.

 

[Plum]

Thanks for the inputs above and the advice which I very much appreciate.

What do people feel about the need for flares within a relatively confined area such as the Solent?

I think a PLB fixed to your lifejacket is much more useful than a set of flares, particularly when singlehanded.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Momac]

Lifejackets - always to be worn when under way except for passengers who are not contributing to boat handling. If you have to go outside in a hurry to help the crew you could lose vital seconds putting a lifejacket on.
Kill cord - no facilities on my boat. A kill cord doesn't work with a diesel does it ? Not sure the engines stopping every time I left the helm would be a good thing.
Flares - I prefer not to have them on my boat.

 

[rwoofer]

I have a 645 as well. I will probably be castigated for this, but here are some truthful answers.

Kill cord is never used. I can only drive from inside and I drive for the conditions, so very unlikely to be thrown out.

Personally I never wear a life-jacket in my mobo - generally I never had done in 40 years of sailing boats unless wind/sea suggest otherwise. In the Mobo I'm either inside driving or at anchor/mooring where the conditions are calm. My kids always have LJs underway, but when we are anchored they take them off.

As my only concession to safety, I do have a life sling for MOB retrieval

 

[salar]

I had a 23 sports fisher with an open back to the wheelhouse. When I converted to diesel, I added a U bolt to the bulkhead and had a short strap made with a snap hook at each end so I could secure myself against being thrown overboard. Now I have a fully enclosed wheelhouse it is no longer an issue. Lifejacket - always on at sea. I have a very slim-line one, well worth the expense. I also have an EPIRB and handheld VHF clipped to the strap. Rescue line - I have a horseshoe lifebelt in case, and a floating throwline hooked to the back of the wheelhouse which would be more use. Flares, yes, I am also based in the Solent and although VHF radio is my friend I can imagine plenty of occasions when flares would be good to have to hand. I often fish up to 15 miles offshore on my own so these basic safety precautions are essential in those circumstances. Pottering from marina to marina at weekends in calm weather in the Solent would be different, but why limit yourself?

 

[gjgm]

I think safety is very personal. .one man's danger is another's dull day,and very few people seem able to grasp risk..hence the success of the Lottery!
You should be VERY safe in the Solent in your boat,assuming you don't choose to boat in the worst of weather..there are plenty of boats,plenty or rescue boats and you are close to shore,harbour,marinas.
An anchor, a radio and a life jacket if it all goes wrong. ...suncream might be your biggest safety requirement...