Safety briefings

[BlueSkyNick]

[ QUOTE ]
I tend to think in terms of risk
Likelihood of boat sinking, or me going overboard - very slim.
Likelihood of newbee remembering list of complex instructions on MOB or sinking - slim to none.
Likelihood of heads getting blocked by someone not informed how to use - PROB 100%
Likelihood of injury due to holding on to a loaded line or trying to pull / hold off boat when mooring - very high.

So I brief - use of heads, rope / mooring safety (i.e if in doubt let go - you won't break the boat). and a brief discussion about the radio. maybe a quick discussion on MOB. point at the victim, chuck stuff at him.
Everything else can be discussed as we go.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with all of this, although it also depends on the forecast and the planned passage.

One main point I do focus on is to fend off without putting any part of your body between our boat and something hard, eg the lock wall, a pontoon or another boat. Use a fender or just don't worry about it. At the end of the day, its only a boat and if I dent or scratch it, I am to blame and I will sort it out. Similarly, do not jump across a gap, wait for me to bring the boat closer.

 

[Guest]

Not any more .... ???

Having been the proud owner of 3 boats in different locations I can honestly say that each has its own set of rules to operate by ....

UK - None except 3rd party insurance and then thats a Harbour requirement not general.
Baltic's - Flares, L-jackets, flag - ensign, safety certificate inspection, skippers licence etc. etc.

I haven't seen any document or requirement for any safety equipment as rules for UK boats ... except those that operate commercially or as Scout / organised boats.

I accept that liability and responsibility may be thrust on an owner in event of accident and by courts etc. but that is single situation.

I carry various safety items ... extinguishers, blanket, flares, life-buoy etc. as any other ... but don't go overboard on fancy stuff, that having had MOB's seriously, realise that half the junk available is just that ---- Junk.

The best safety tool will always .... teach so as not to have to use it ... the best safety item is the one that is collecting dust - as it shows that its never been needed ....

 

[peterb]

That's an interesting set of replies, ranging from nothing at all to a complete tour of the boat!

I remember the point frequently made to lecturers: in the course of a half hour lecture, students may remember just three points. So which three points are the most important?

Our boat has a low boom. Anyone standing up in the cockpit is likely to be hit if the boom comes across. An essential point.

Probably the worst thing that can happen on a boat is a gas explosion. Surprisingly, I've found that many novices are aware of this, and are worried by it. As well as the normal cylinder cock, we have a solenoid valve by the bottle, an under-stove tap, and flame failure devices on all burners. I explain this (usually while making a cup of tea), then talk about fire extinguishers.

My third point is on the 'one hand for yourself' theme. We talk about life jackets (my rule is at all times unless I've said you don't need to). I mention the liferaft, but don't go into detail; the last thing I want is someone experimenting with it to see how the release works! If I have a novice crew (and I teach at Competent Crew level) then I have to make very sure that I don't get put out of action in any way, but just in case I describe how to use the red button on the VHF set.

As a mnemonic, I use gunfire: a boom as the gun fires, a bang as the shell lands, followed by everyone falling down.

What about the other things? Winches I show when it comes to the time to put the sails up. Flares get shown when we've just finished a meal, and are relaxing; I don't want a novice letting off a flare to see how it works. Anchor chain hazards when it's time to anchor. In fact most hazards are dealt with as they may arise, rather than at the beginning of the trip.

I do show how to use the heads, but I don't count that as a safety point. Before we leave our berth, I put on a couple of spare warps and let them practise stepping down on to the pontoon to secure the boat. And that's about the lot. Any comments?

 

[tillergirl]

I think I generally agree with you but the range of answers is quite sobering when we think of today' world where someone in charge has a duty of care and a responsibility to the others. The last thing I would want is someone to injure themselves on board TG but what happened to those simple days of enjoyment.

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Safety briefings content

Mines in two parts. A leaflet that they get sent before they get to the boat and a chat on the boat.

It includes a brief confirmation that sailing isn't dangerous and a stiff list of things that confirm that it is.

We run through the objectives, no no's, safety equipment position and use, winch safety, gas safety, how the heads works, engine starting, bumps, slips and trips and a quick VHF intro. I also warn them about seasickness and sunburn and with Q&A it takes about 10 minutes. We fit lifejackets at the same time.

I use it as a time to weigh up my victims, sorry, my crew. I don't expect the whole thing to stick but it's a start. It's a good time to find out if they've got any skills, medical conditions, or attitudes.

I do this at the start of any cruise with any crew other than the missus. If they've been on the boat before or not. Things get moved or changed and I don't always know were I've put stuff or on a charter boat I'm often reinforcing what I've just learnt by passing it on.

There's only one rule. Never give a flare to a newby in the cabin.

 

[sticky]

May seem a lot, but during the first few days of a cruise, I cover the following:

One hand for yourself, one hand for the boat – always.

All seacocks to be turned off unless being used. Only ones to be left on permanently at sea are engine inlet, cockpit drains, galley outlet and electric bilge outlet.

Lifejackets worn at all times. Hook on at night, when going forward, when second reef goes in, or anyone feels uncomfortable; this may well be the skipper feeling uncomfortable about the crew.

Lookout - 360º sweep of horizon every ten minutes once clear of harbour and in unrestricted waters. In the Solent, or similar congested waters, a constant watch is to be maintained.

All on watch to be aware of the need to notice chafe on any equipment and to prevent it.

Be aware of the booms, there are three on board Arrow.

When under sail, always move around the boat on the windward side.

All to know:
How to start engine.
Gas stove procedures.
How to deploy liferaft.
How to set off all flares.
How to send a distress alert.
How to deploy man overboard recovery gear.
How to operate fire extinguishers.
How to use the fire blanket.
How to operate emergency fuel cut offs.
How to operate remote handles on cockpit drain seacocks.
How to drop and weigh anchor.
Battery policy.
Location of grab bags.
Location of hook on points.
Location of first aid kit.
How to use the heads.
Policy on internal lights at night.
Navigational log maintenance. Hourly check, course steered, distance run, leeway, weather signs, barometric tendency, bilge, battery state. GPS position.

All to understand damage control procedures in the event of:
Electrical fire
Engine fire
Gas alarm going off
Collision drills

All to be briefed on (inter alia):
Action on man overboard
Action on someone feeling seasick
Lifeboat or helicopter drills
Action on towing or being towed
Oilskins to be warn when cooking at sea in rough conditions (this means even when just boiling a kettle)
Embarking/disembarking from to dinghy

Skipper to know
If anyone has allergies, a medical condition, pacemaker, anaphalactics
If anyone has any special dietary needs
If anyone cannot swim
If anyone is colour blind
Damage/accident reporting procedure

 

[misterg]

After that lot, I don't feel qualified to set foot on my own boat any more /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

If you fall off, you're dead.
If I fall off, here's the radio... and there are the flares.

Anything else is dealt with as it arises.

Andy

 

[Ships_Cat]

I tend to agree with you Andy.

I would give a briefing about as long as one would get on a small single crew commercial passenger vessel, which may (but probably not) extend to the complication of where the lifejackets are (I would state where they are 'cos we don't have the locker labelled).

If the person wanted to learn to sail, then I would approach it from that point of view during the occasion of sailing (which is what I think Sticky may have meant so this is not aimed at him), not from the point of view of anticipating a disaster.

People with long safety checks for novices should consider how much of it a novice will remember and how much of it will be just confusing and/or interpreted as over the top scary stuff.

In the end it is a personal decision, though I would never again sail with a person who gave anything more than a very simple safety briefing - as smacks of lack of confidence on the skipper's part.

Now that is sure to get the cat kicked /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif.

John

 

[alant]

And they remember all this? Not a chance.

We are talking to newbies & this list is a necessary requirement to give, mainly because of any possible litigation against the skipper, rather than a likelyhood they will remember or understand more than 10% of it.
A safety brief this long, will need at least half a day to explain.
What chance does a skipper have of giving this before a day corporate charter?

<"I remember the point frequently made to lecturers: in the course of a half hour lecture, students may remember just three points. So which three points are the most important?">
Agreed, this is about right.
Tell them the basics (life jackets, radio, liferaft, fire/gas drill, boom). Still more than 3 things, but they will remember these.
Its a safety 'brief' - keep it 'brief' but appropriate!

 

[Sea Devil]

The only safety briefing I ever give is

'if you fall overboard your dead'.

"If you are going on deck in any weather or night wear a safety harness and attach it."

All the other information is contained in a (waterproof) book I keep on board with written details of how all the different systems - From 1st aid to anchoring to radios operate in my boat.

I think it is unrealistic to expect newbies to remember more than that. Experienced sailors will ask the questions they need to know the answers to.