Safety Briefings / Talks - What do you include with new crew

[rob2]

I used to sail occasinally on a boat as "qualified" crew, but the safety talk still took half an hour followed by a tour of the bits that one might be required to switch on or off. I replicate much of this talk to my guests, but it does need to be done with good humour to hold their attention. I always demonstrate how to wear and work a lifejacket - my own is personalised, the handle says JERK TO INFLATE.

Actually, developing a talk is good for the skipper as it helps to make a list of the items to be addressed and how they operate. As this becomes more comprehensive, it also becomes a reference work for your maintenance schedule.

Rob.

 

[Mandarin331]

The pre-departure is kept short, seasickness tablets, making sure enough warm clothing and suitable shoes are being worn, lifejackets (which have built in harnesses) to be worn on deck and how to inflate, no-one leaves the cockpit without asking first, don't get between the boat and anything else, plus the domestic basics of loo, kettle etc - which is normally part of a short boat tour.

All the other stuff is dealt with as we go along to avoid overload.

 

[stevd]

Thanks for all the useful suggestions, and for the link to the PDF! Thats really helpfull.

I think I have enough info to work out my own, I suppose it will develope / evolve over time with more experince of doing it as well.

Cheers

 

[maby]

I used to sail occasinally on a boat as "qualified" crew, but the safety talk still took half an hour followed by a tour of the bits that one might be required to switch on or off. I replicate much of this talk to my guests, but it does need to be done with good humour to hold their attention. I always demonstrate how to wear and work a lifejacket - my own is personalised, the handle says JERK TO INFLATE.

Actually, developing a talk is good for the skipper as it helps to make a list of the items to be addressed and how they operate. As this becomes more comprehensive, it also becomes a reference work for your maintenance schedule.

Rob.

I'm afraid that half an hour seems a bit on the high side! Generally speaking, our guests are only with us for four or five hours, so that would represent a significant fraction of the total visit.

"Here's a lifejacket. This is how you put it on. If you fall in and it doesn't inflate automatically, pull here.
There's a liferaft under here. We almost certainly will not need it but if we do and I'm not able to launch it, there's a rope sticking out of the side - tie that onto a rail and chuck it over the side - it should be obvious where to get in.
Here's the radio. Don't touch it unless I tell you to - or I'm missing/unconscious. If that happens, press this red button for about ten seconds twice, then wait for someone to ask you what's wrong.
There are flares in the back of this locker - very big fireworks - don't touch them unless someone who knows what they are doing asks you to do so.
There are fire extinguishers here, here, and here. Use them with common sense if necessary."

I would probably mention the boom, but on our boat you would have to be a giant before it is a danger...

 

[rob2]

A half hour talk doesn't have to be a sit down lecture. Starting with the stroll down to the boat or in the dinghy going out to the mooring and finished off over a cuppa once aboard you'll hardly notice the time taken. I only got to time it as we met on the pontoon and it was tipping it down, so we sat around the dinette table and did the talk. Otherwise the basic safety information hasn't been covered before you're motoring out with the skipper retrieving the fenders and a newbie at the helm!

It helps set the tone if you show your pride and affection for your boat as you show them around.

Rob.

 

[Spirit of Glenans]

On the subject of "toilet training" I keep a spare joker valve in the chart table to show to novice crew and visitors. They are told not to put anything down the pan that won't go through the valve

Great idea, I'll copy that!

 

[theoldsalt]

On the subject of "toilet training" I keep a spare joker valve in the chart table to show to novice crew and visitors. They are told not to put anything down the pan that won't go through the valve

Are they expected to examine and measure every anal discharge and if too large what do you expect them to do with it/them?

 

[concentrik]

Most of the foregoing we do too. And it's surprising how often people negotiate the companionway steps the wrong way... we have to say 'always bum first, not knees first'

 

[alant]

I used to sail occasinally on a boat as "qualified" crew, but the safety talk still took half an hour followed by a tour of the bits that one might be required to switch on or off. I replicate much of this talk to my guests, but it does need to be done with good humour to hold their attention. I always demonstrate how to wear and work a lifejacket - my own is personalised, the handle says JERK TO INFLATE.

Actually, developing a talk is good for the skipper as it helps to make a list of the items to be addressed and how they operate. As this becomes more comprehensive, it also becomes a reference work for your maintenance schedule.

Rob.

That's a comment, NOT an instruction!

 

[alant]

Are they expected to examine and measure every anal discharge and if too large what do you expect them to do with it/them?

I always thought, that the comment, "whoever blocks it, cleans it", focussed attention admirally.

 

[alant]

How to pump the toilet and the things "they" are not allowed to put down there.

That only the skipper is allowed to operate the battery selector switch(es)

Nothing that hasn't been through your digestive system.

 

[nigelmercier]

... And it's surprising how often people negotiate the companionway steps the wrong way... we have to say 'always bum first, not knees first'

I have a set of very steep stairs at home, so I'm used to descending as if on a ladder.

 

[laika]

Probably stating the obvious but as well as imparting safety information such as safe use of winches, hanging on, use of harnesses, avoiding the boom and the traveller etc., the briefing is intended to make people feel safe. The subtext of the tour of bungs, fire blankets and extinguishers, flares, liferaft and DSC/VHF is "Your safety is my number 1 concern: Look at all this stuff we have which we never use but it's here to mitigate against any highly improbable danger. You know I know what I'm doing because I'm explaining how it all works. There's nothing to worry about"

 

[maby]

Probably stating the obvious but as well as imparting safety information such as safe use of winches, hanging on, use of harnesses, avoiding the boom and the traveller etc., the briefing is intended to make people feel safe. The subtext of the tour of bungs, fire blankets and extinguishers, flares, liferaft and DSC/VHF is "Your safety is my number 1 concern: Look at all this stuff we have which we never use but it's here to mitigate against any highly improbable danger. You know I know what I'm doing because I'm explaining how it all works. There's nothing to worry about"

Hmmm, not sure that works for me, I'm afraid. The first time I got on a yacht, I knew absolutely nothing and felt pretty safe - the more I know, the more nervous I get!

 

[theoldsalt]

Probably stating the obvious but as well as imparting safety information such as safe use of winches, hanging on, use of harnesses, avoiding the boom and the traveller etc., the briefing is intended to make people feel safe. The subtext of the tour of bungs, fire blankets and extinguishers, flares, liferaft and DSC/VHF is "Your safety is my number 1 concern: Look at all this stuff we have which we never use but it's here to mitigate against any highly improbable danger. You know I know what I'm doing because I'm explaining how it all works. There's nothing to worry about"

Doesn't convince me either. The expression "famous last words" come to mind. You are really tempting fate. Though I would not go so far as saying "cock sure".

 

[laika]

Doesn't convince me either. The expression "famous last words" come to mind. You are really tempting fate. Though I would not go so far as saying "cock sure".

Can I just check that the word "subtext" was noted? The expression "famous last subliminally conveyed kinda general sort of ideas intended to make people a little less nervous" rarely springs to many people's minds.

 

[Mysteresailing]

the flares are in the locker, if I am onboard I will let you know if we need them, if I go overboard then feel free to make use of them,

But your find a friendly voice on channel 16 on the VHF,

 

[alan_d]

What no-one has said is that it all depends.

On what you are setting out to do, how long you intend to be out for, what the weather and sea-state are likely to be, what expectations you have of your "crew" (i.e. will they be expected to work the boat, or keep out of the way while you do it) etc. etc. Similar considerations will affect the receptiveness of the listener - someone coming out for a two-hour trip round the bay will not be as interested as someone accompanying you on an overnight trip to a distant destination.

 

[cliff]

How to pump the toilet and the things "they" are not allowed to put down there.

That only the skipper is allowed to operate the battery selector switch(es)

Yes, plus, (pointing to a very nice bottle of Single Malt in the drinks cabinet) "This is for the Skipper only - anyone caught even sniffing it is liable to be keel hauled. (Pointing to another couple of bottles in the drinks cabinet) These is also for the Skipper only - Don't even think about it - it could be a long swim back to the beach if you survive the keel hauling.
Skipper takes Pink Gin sundowners with Ice lemon and a dash of Tonic so don't forget to fill and switch on the ice-maker an hour or so before dropping the anchor, white wine, chilled, with evening meal followed by multiple Single Malts for the rest of the evening. Breakfast may be served with any remaining white wine from the previous evening (optional but highly recommended to start the day off right)

 

[Greenheart]

...it all depends...what expectations you have of your "crew" (i.e. will they be expected to work the boat, or keep out of the way while you do it) etc.

So true. I decided never to take SWMBO out again in the dinghy until I had made the boat entirely singlehandable. SWMBO's enjoyment was nil when I needed her help, and so was her ability, which I couldn't blame her for because she hadn't a clue. Critically, she also didn't want to learn - she'd rather I had bought a motor boat.

I reckon unless non-sailing guests are genuinely keen to learn (and stony-cold-sober while they do so), they must be treated as so much vulnerable semi-mobile ballast. You can't count on them for an atom of ability, understanding or foresight in any circumstances, so be prepared to do everything yourself, whilst looking out for their safety. What they don't know isn't their fault, so it's not grounds for the choleric up-welling one feels, watching a situation descend from good to bad because nobody understood what to do.

Everything that needs doing on board is only ever obvious to people accustomed to sailing, so having a non-sailor wandering blithely about is an accident in waiting. I daresay it's quite different on motor-boats, where rigging doesn't swing about and ropes won't tend to need much adjustment en route.