Would you use a lifeline and harness on a motorboat?

[ari]

I was intrigued by this video from MBY. It had never occurred to me to use a harness and tether on a motorboat, but I guess it's something to think about.

My initial concern would be, while I can see some sense in it, I imagine that it's unlikely to ever be the perfect length whereby it is long enough that you can reach whatever it is you're needing to do on deck without impeding you, but short enough to stop you going overboard and finding yourself dangling from it, which could be worse than going over without being connected.

Have to say that in 50+ years of boating in all types of vessel, I've not seen anyone ever use one on a motorboat (they're more common on sailboats, which are often rigged with deck lines that you can attach to and the attachment can slide fore and aft as you go forward or return to the cockpit).

Anyone got one/use one on a motorboat?

 

[Elessar]

I was intrigued by this video from MBY. It had never occurred to me to use a harness and tether on a motorboat, but I guess it's something to think about.

My initial concern would be, while I can see some sense in it, I imagine that it's unlikely to ever be the perfect length whereby it is long enough that you can reach whatever it is you're needing to do on deck without impeding you, but short enough to stop you going overboard and finding yourself dangling from it, which could be worse than going over without being connected.

Have to say that in 50+ years of boating in all types of vessel, I've not seen anyone ever use one on a motorboat (they're more common on sailboats, which are often rigged with deck lines that you can attach to and the attachment can slide fore and aft as you go forward or return to the cockpit).

Anyone got one/use one on a motorboat?

Yes I have one. Rigged to hold he at the far end of the bathing platform. If recovering a MOB I don’t want to fall in.

Used once by my other half when we were taking a disabled yacht under tow. Again she was on the bathing platform.

 

[rafiki_]

Yes I have one. Rigged to hold he at the far end of the bathing platform. If recovering a MOB I don’t want to fall in.

Used once by my other half when we were taking a disabled yacht under tow. Again she was on the bathing platform.

What did you clip to? I use one sailing when the breeze is getting up, generally over F5, but coded yachts have the strap along both gunnels so are set up for it. Not so easy to do on a mobo.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I’ve got them on board, but I’ve never found the need to use one. In fact, if we were out in weather that demanded the use of these, I would probably have been assassinated by my wife long before I got round to clipping the pair of us on. Elessar’s use case is obviously very valid, I’ve never been in a position to have to do this but that’s an excellent illustration of why the use of these tethers on a motorboat of any size might in fact be very wise..

 

[spray]

Yes I use one, I am always single crew and I clip on mainly to rig or retrieve my fenders.

 

[Robin]

We took our combined lifejacket harness sailboat ones with us when we went mobo but never used the tether lines in anger though might have been handy during anchor operations or picking up a buoy perhaps in bad conditions.

 

[Canopy Locked]

Used tethers on workboats when working on the aft deck with the stern gates open, but I'd not consider using on a "normal" motorboat.

 

[Skik op reis]

Offshore it seems to me very wise! When sailing there is the problem how to reach the m.o.b.
But motorboats need the propeller to work while manouevring (ouch) and the deck is often higher.
Off course there is no boom to swap crew from deck. It's low risk high impact, I suppose.

 

[Little Ricky]

You have to draw the line somewhere regarding safety measures on a boat, otherwise the joy and freedom that boating gives you soon becomes restrictive and tangle of kill cords, high railings, harnesses, life jackets, electronic overboard tags and confusing bleeping alarms (is that a man overboard or is that the bilge pump). Just sayin'.

 

[potentillaCO32]

I was intrigued by this video from MBY. It had never occurred to me to use a harness and tether on a motorboat, but I guess it's something to think about.

My initial concern would be, while I can see some sense in it, I imagine that it's unlikely to ever be the perfect length whereby it is long enough that you can reach whatever it is you're needing to do on deck without impeding you, but short enough to stop you going overboard and finding yourself dangling from it, which could be worse than going over without being connected.

Have to say that in 50+ years of boating in all types of vessel, I've not seen anyone ever use one on a motorboat (they're more common on sailboats, which are often rigged with deck lines that you can attach to and the attachment can slide fore and aft as you go forward or return to the cockpit).

Anyone got one/use one on a motorboat?

I think you're right. Is it because motorboats rarely leave the marina?

 

[Elessar]

What did you clip to? I use one sailing when the breeze is getting up, generally over F5, but coded yachts have the strap along both gunnels so are set up for it. Not so easy to do on a mobo.

Flybridge stairs handrail. It’s not designed to get you to the foredeck. It’s batihng platform safety if you need to be there at sea.

 

[Elessar]

Offshore it seems to me very wise! When sailing there is the problem how to reach the m.o.b.
But motorboats need the propeller to work while manouevring (ouch) and the deck is often higher.
Off course there is no boom to swap crew from deck. It's low risk high impact, I suppose.

The MOB problem with a mobo is not the props. It’s how to get someone onboard.
The only practical way in one of any size is the bathing platform which will be pitching wildly in a big sea.
You have to be prepared to launch a liferaft and recover someone into that.
But if you are trying to recover them in a big sea being strapped on is wise.

The props are not a problem because it’s a different technique to a sailboat. You go up wind of, and beam on to, the casualty. This creates a lee for them and you drift sideways to them with no power. If you need to nudge forward or backward you can use the engine furthest from the casualty.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I think you're right. Is it because motorboats rarely leave the marina?

Where does all that wash in the Solent come from then?

 

[ari]

I think you're right. Is it because motorboats rarely leave the marina?

Don't judge everyone else by your own behaviour.

 

[ari]

Yes I use one, I am always single crew and I clip on mainly to rig or retrieve my fenders.

What do you clip on to and are you not concerned that, if you did go over, being tethered to the boat on a line that might not be quite long enough might leave you in a worse predicament?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Don't judge everyone else by your own behaviour.

I was surprised to read that he spends his time fixing his boat, and has not yet sailed her

 

[PCUK]

Not at speed. That would be fatal. But for assisting in emergencies then a good idea.

 

[ari]

Yes I have one. Rigged to hold he at the far end of the bathing platform. If recovering a MOB I don’t want to fall in.

Used once by my other half when we were taking a disabled yacht under tow. Again she was on the bathing platform.

That makes sense.

 

[Seastoke]

That makes sense.

It also makes sense to wear a life jacket.

 

[Skipper Felice]

I have two lifelines and all the other equipement with lifejackets. To be honest - the last five years I never had to use it and I did not wear during leisure cruising. BUT at times doing work offshore with bad conditions / bad weather / night I would wear all the security gear and also use the lifeline.