MOB solo with jack line question

Steve Dion · Jul 3, 2012

It will probably sail ahead.

If you are clipped on it will be difficult to get to the stern. If you unclip the boat would normally get away from you before you can get ahold of it.

So shark bait may be a good definition.

Nom De Guerre · Jul 3, 2012

It will sail on for a bit, probably at least too far for you to catch it, as likely as not out of sight.

Try to set up your safety line (tether and jackline(s)) such that they stop you from going completely overboard in the first place.

Bill Roosa · Jul 3, 2012

You could always rig up a Rube Goldburg dead-man that released the helm if the lifeline went tight. I'm thinking a short adjustable line made fast on one end and attaching to the helm on the other with a hook of some devious design. The tight lifeline would remove the hook and allow the boat to round up.
Course right after it rounds up it will take off down wind so I'm not sure this is much of a solution if you hit your head on the way overboard.

Mike B1026 · Jul 3, 2012

When I used to use bungees to hold the tiller in position, I attached a hundred foot floating line to the tiller. From the tiller, I routed it around the aft starboard cleat and finally trailed it behind the boat, attached to a small float.

In "theory" if I fell completely off the boat, I might be able to grab the floating line before it passed by. By holding on to the line, it would pull the tiller all the way to starboard and "maybe" cause it to round up and stop. Now that I have an auto tilller pilot it would have to pop the auto tiller off the tiller to work.

I have never tested the system.

sailaway78 · Jul 3, 2012

The best system

The absolute best system to have is a tether short enough that you don't go over the side. I know there will be disagreement on this, but if you are short of being an olympic class athlete, you will not be able to get yourself back into a moving boat.

MrBill_FLL · Jul 3, 2012

r.oril said:
And there you have it!!

I will be sure to make the line short enough so I don't fall overboard. I thought that the drag on the boat would make her round up, guess not!

Thanks

on the macgregor it will depend on how windy it is and boat speed. I'm pretty sure the drag will be over 2knts, or take you from 6 to 4 knts or less. I've dragged behind my boat on calm days. But its almost impossible to pull yourself in on a moving boat. #1 rule, stay on the boat!

when I rig them, I cross jacklines around the mast bow to stern

alexco38 · Jul 3, 2012

ACR make a personal locator beacon.
I wear it when solo

There is no fun to be drag by a tether on a moving boat. The water pressure will pin you down. There is no way to lower the swim ladder and climb back on board.

catsailor · Jul 3, 2012

Nice N Easy said:
The absolute best system to have is a tether short enough that you don't go over the side. I know there will be disagreement on this, but if you are short of being an olympic class athlete, you will not be able to get yourself back into a moving boat.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a tether so short you need to crawl/scoot. I use a 2-leg tether, since I need it very short going around the cabin, but long on the trampoline (catamaran).

(This shows my tethers, though most of the post is off-topic for a small boat)
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2012/03/case-for-softer-tethers.html

No, you're not going to be able to get back on if your tether lets you out of reach of the rail.

John Howitt · Jul 3, 2012

A few yrs ago a single hander here on Vancouver Island fell overboard, and managed to get back to the boat, but could not board it. He tied himself to the boat and waited for it to run aground. By that time he was severly hypothermic.
But he did live.

sailor1950 · Jul 4, 2012

after having read about someone elses experience I put my hand held radio inside my life pfd

zeehag · Jul 4, 2012

r.oril said:
Holy Crap! Thanks Guys! I had no clue!

Rule 1: Stay on the boat
Rule2: See Rule 1

EXACTLY

dont count on the ability to use the gonna die when wet despite saying floatable and submersible radio.

tsheie · Jul 4, 2012

This topic again? Man, we had a long discussion going a week or two about this--search for 'singlehanded' and see if you can find the thread.. Use a jackline down the center of the boat, and TEST it to make sure that if you fall, the worst result is bruises from the toerail.. You should know for a fact that you won't get wet, and won't have to discuss things like sharkbait..

Calif. Ted · Jul 4, 2012

The good news is that I've sailed between San Francisco and the border for decades and never used a jackline or tether and rarely donned a PFD. Calm down, unfasten your seatbelt and go sailing so you can relax.

Witzend · Jul 4, 2012

As I see it you have 3 modes of operation.
1) It's light winds calm seas and your felling safe so you not wearing anything, you moving less than 2 knts, the auto helm is on and you're going forward for whatever and something distracts you, you trip on something and over you go. Now what?
Catch line with swim ladder that can be pulled out from the water.
2) Here is the more dangerous scenario because you still feel safe... it is blow'en 10-15, boat is moving on a reach at 5knts, auto helm is on, perfect sailing weather, so you're still not wearing anything and that is a problem when you stumble and fall overboard cause your not going to be able to pull your self back unless you in really good shape and the water is not too cold.
3) It's blow'en really hard so your wearing everything and don't go overboard when you stumble and fall.

#2 is going to get you!!!

Kordie · Jul 4, 2012

Calif. Ted said:
The good news is that I've sailed between San Francisco and the border for decades and never used a jackline or tether and rarely donned a PFD. Calm down, unfasten your seatbelt and go sailing so you can relax.

Some more good news is that I have crossed roads with my eyes closed. Logic dictates that you can all do it too.

Pretty comfy with my harness on rounding Point Conception with 35kn winds and 4m following sea.....