What if ??

[clyst]

As a live aboard we have often thought "what if ?" what if one of us broke a leg , arm or even worse . We did sell our house and lived solely on the boat and put the money in the bank luckally because we were getting little in the way of interest with the bank we got back into the housing market on a small scale to give us a bolt hole should it all go tits up . Early this week my wife whilst ashore had a minor slip on a grass verge resulting in a broken ankle . Not much in a way of an injury but with her leg in plaster the discomfort /pain completely prevented her from boarding the boat let alone continual to live onboard . I never thought such a minor misshap would create such complicated situation. Fortunately we have the "bolthole" and were in the uk. What steps have other liveaboards taken to cater for accidents that prevent travel and living aboard ?

 

[TQA]

As a live aboard we have often thought "what if ?" what if one of us broke a leg , arm or even worse . We did sell our house and lived solely on the boat and put the money in the bank luckally because we were getting little in the way of interest with the bank we got back into the housing market on a small scale to give us a bolt hole should it all go tits up . Early this week my wife whilst ashore had a minor slip on a grass verge resulting in a broken ankle . Not much in a way of an injury but with her leg in plaster the discomfort /pain completely prevented her from boarding the boat let alone continual to live onboard . I never thought such a minor misshap would create such complicated situation. Fortunately we have the "bolthole" and were in the uk. What steps have other liveaboards taken to cater for accidents that prevent travel and living aboard ?

Nuff wonga in reserve to live ashore till healed.

Nuff friends in the cruising community out in the Caribbean to be happy the boat would be moved to somewhere safe and looked after till I healed.

In the past I have moved boats for those not capable, ferried the halt and lame and gone on grocery runs for the boat bound.

 

[lenseman]

. . . In the past I have moved boats for those not capable, ferried the halt and lame and gone on grocery runs for the boat bound.

Nice one, that is what I admire so much about the liveaboard community.

Well done.

 

[Ariadne]

Well life would be a real pain in the arse if one us broke a leg, but I'm sure we'd cope. Probably head into a marina alongside a slip until it was sorted. At sea we have plan of action and everybody (should) know what should happen should one of us need to be medivaced off the boat.

On saying that we are planning in few days of MOB and some emergency over the side procedures such like when we get up Tobago. The kids will love hooking me on the boom and hauling me aboard - or whatever they decide to use!

 

[oldvarnish]

I'm not a liveaboard, but I dislocated my shoulder in Brazil, where I had none of the language or knew what the hell to do.
It's amazing how people gather to help. others in the marina made sure the boat was secure, a guy cane with me to a hospital to translate, the marina owner took me to his home for the night and fed me.
If the worst happens, in the midst of a cruising community is the best place to be.

 

[little_roundtop]

As a live aboard we have often thought "what if ?" what if one of us broke a leg , arm or even worse . We did sell our house and lived solely on the boat and put the money in the bank luckally because we were getting little in the way of interest with the bank we got back into the housing market on a small scale to give us a bolt hole should it all go tits up . Early this week my wife whilst ashore had a minor slip on a grass verge resulting in a broken ankle . Not much in a way of an injury but with her leg in plaster the discomfort /pain completely prevented her from boarding the boat let alone continual to live onboard . I never thought such a minor misshap would create such complicated situation. Fortunately we have the "bolthole" and were in the uk. What steps have other liveaboards taken to cater for accidents that prevent travel and living aboard ?

Well...I've had surgery for colon cancer, I've broken my left wrist, and been hospitalised with Atrial Fibrillation (a heart arrhythmia). All whilst living on board and all whilst in Greece. Liveaboards are pretty good at coping with whatever comes along I think, you need to be to live this life.

 

[Nostrodamus]

"What ifs" are usually said as a reason to stay in one place and not set off cruising.

There are so many "What ifs" that if you think about them all you would never go anywhere.

The only "What if" that really matters is the "What if we had never set off".
We would have missed so many wonderful places, people, and the best life you can find.

 

[GrahamM376]

Fortunately we have the "bolthole" and were in the uk. What steps have other liveaboards taken to cater for accidents that prevent travel and living aboard ?

We also have a small bolthole, downsized to it 3 years ago and may even get around to unpacking remaining boxes when we're there long enough.

I think too much time can be spent worrying about the "what ifs" and we just take simple precautions such as basic insurance to cover medical and repatriation costs. Have both had good and quick hospital treatment on European Health Card and there's always a crem around if the worst happens.

 

[clyst]

I agree most injuries / illnesses can be coped aswell onboard as on land its the broken leg situation that causes the most problems. Anyone exerienced one ?Imbilisation is instant which needs hospital treatment no matter how many "friends" are in the marina etc try moving / getting someone if leg is in plaster back onboard .

 

[duncan99210]

The answer, I think, is that you don't try to get back on board until your mobility is up to it. You need enough mad money to be able tuck the boat up safe and fund accommodation for a bit so as to return to a reasonable level of mobility. Yes, friends to help out in the casevac situation are needed but longer term it's usually down to a bit of dosh and time.

As regards getting back into a place of safety after an incident, then you do need a plan and both of you need to understand what happens if the other if out of commission. Not always an easy thing to do but it needs to be there in back of your mind.

 

[charles_reed]

Not unusual to see a member of crew with a plaster cast, wheelchair or crutches.
Most cope OK, thanks to being in a marina and rigging a bock and tackle.

I've seen 5 in the same marina at one time and been one of them myself.

The problem is exacerbated if the boat is out of the water, but it's still manageable, if undignified.