Harness and tether; a death trap?

[Rick D]

Use Jacklines, BUT...

...I have stumbled, tripped and tangled too often with jacklines and tethers. I use them during any night operation, but am not frankly convinced I'm not creating a hazard rather than addressing one. Still, it is a conventional wisdom issue I'm not willing to challenge. When single-handling, I would rather go over and hope I was smart enough to have my hand-held on me than be dragged by the boat on auto-pilot, not withstanding my quick-release shackle on the harness side of the tether. I know I'd never be able to get back aboard unless it was drifting conditions in which I'd be motoring anyway. Rick D.

 

[Chris Burti]

Nylon webbing is the preferred jackline material.

My jack lines are webbing and pretty much lay flat. I run them down the centerline from the bow to the stern rail and have had no problem with tripping. My next project is to put a pad eye in the cockpit, but until then I attach to the pedestal guard when in the cockpit.I have been overboard and I have been dragged, but never since employing a harness, tether and jacklines.

 

[Tom]

Topping lift??

For me a tether is more dangerous than going overboard unless the possibility of rescue is remote.  Has anyone ever tried a line fixed to the mast??? Something like a topping lift. If you tied on(clipped on) in the cockpit you could walk around on deck and if you fell you couldn't fall far. It would be simple to rig a pulley system to make self rescue possible. Two fittings high on the mast with one port the other starboard or one fitting on the front of the mast. It might be a little akward but so is walking around trying not to trip. Maybe a piece of bungee cord to take up slack??

 

[Mark]

My two bobs worth

Wouldn't go anywhere on a yacht without being clipped on.When going up front my tether which is 12 inches long is clipped to jacklines (flat webbing)and when I am back in the cockpit my tether is four feet long. This stays on at all times even as I go below. Clipping on and off whilst below and never unclipping one tether until the other is clipped on.May sound over cautiouse but I intend to keep delivering yachts all over the world for a few more years yet.By the way at all times I have my self inflating PFD which includes in it a personal epirb, strobe light and of course a whistle to attract the sharks Now I guess a lot of people are going to debate the worth of self inflating PFD's.I can say that over all the miles that I have sailed never has the PFD inflated because of water coming over the yacht. Even at times right up on the bow with her dipping below huge swells and water flooding my gear never has it happened. Of course we do hear from time to time of this happening but I figure that if for whatever reason I go overboard with concussion I want to float!By the way my EPIRB has onboard GPS.. pretty handy when you are 800 mile offshore in the Southern Ocean.

 

[sailortonyb]

Harness takes some gettin used to.

I have to wear a safety harness at work when climbing, working at heights or working over the water. At first it was awkward working in one, you tend to feel very restricted and do get tangled a lot. After a while, you get to where it becomes second nature and you dont have to plan every move. The ones we wear at work are very bulky and VERY heavy. I guess its akin to seat belts. Most people fought them at first, but now just about everyone uses them.Anyway, my point is, that if you wear one often, you wont have to learn to get used to it in an emergency.People will always find reasons not to wear one, just as they do with seat belts.

 

[Higgs]

My opinion

I have done quite a bit of solo sailing and racing including a 1300 mile trip last summer where I soloed half of the distance. In flat seas I do not wear a harness/tether.In rough conditions I do not tie on when in the cockpit, but do so if I need to go forward.I recognize that if I fall overbaord on a trip forword I am probably a goner even if tethered. I still use the tether in these conditions as it might help keep me on board. The exception to my policy is if I am close enough to shore to possibly swim in, I would rather not be tethered to the boat. If offshore - what difference will it make? I will stay close to the boat in hopes that I may find a way to get back on board.

 

[Tom]

Mark 12" tether??

My Harness has two tether lines one 6' the other about 3' I don't understand how anyone could work on a 12" tether. If you make the jacklines loose that negates the short tether. But for me with a tight jackline and a 12" tether I'd have to crawl on all fours....absolutely no idea how I'd stand up to do some work. The idea of the 6' 3' is 6' to walk forward and 3' to clip on a hard spot once you are there... Am I just dense??? If I ever get to where I walk around on the boat in absolute terror of falling overboard I'll take up golf or motorcycle racing..something that I feel safe doing. Statistcally sailing is safer than walking....much safer than taking a bath. Do you guys wear safty harnesses in the bath tub??? A coward dies a thousand deaths while the brave only die once.

 

[Tom]

Mark 12" tether??

My Harness has two tether lines one 6' the other about 3' I don't understand how anyone could work on a 12" tether. If you make the jacklines loose that negates the short tether. But for me with a tight jackline and a 12" tether I'd have to crawl on all fours....absolutely no idea how I'd stand up to do some work. The idea of the 6' 3' is 6' to walk forward and 3' to clip on a hard spot once you are there... Am I just dense??? If I ever get to where I walk around on the boat in absolute terror of falling overboard I'll take up golf or motorcycle racing..something that I feel safe doing. Statistcally sailing is safer than walking....much safer than taking a bath. Do you guys wear safty harnesses in the bath tub??? A coward dies a thousand deaths while the brave only die once.

 

[NautiDuck]

Bathtub harness

I clip onto the faucet when entering the bathtub and then shift over to a jackline that runs from the soap dish to a padeye at the back of the tub. I no longer use an auto-inflating vest because it always went off in the tub and made it hard to clean my torso. I do carry a personal EPIRB so that would-be rescuers will know which bathroom I am in. Bathtubs are indeed dangerous."Wisdom is the better part of valor."

 

[NautiDuck]

Bathtub harness

I clip onto the faucet when entering the bathtub and then shift over to a jackline that runs from the soap dish to a padeye at the back of the tub. I no longer use an auto-inflating vest because it always went off in the tub and made it hard to clean my torso. I do carry a personal EPIRB so that would-be rescuers will know which bathroom I am in. Bathtubs are indeed dangerous."Wisdom is the better part of valor."

 

[Dave C20469]

That's hilarious Randy

I totally get the auto-inflate vest (coverage, the annoyance of paying $15 per bath, etc.) but consider a life belt - it may keep you face up in case of a fall into the water. ;-)Dave

 

[Dave C20469]

That's hilarious Randy

I totally get the auto-inflate vest (coverage, the annoyance of paying $15 per bath, etc.) but consider a life belt - it may keep you face up in case of a fall into the water. ;-)Dave

 

[Ross]

RandyK, you can't be too careful !!

I do think that you should add a belay point on the ceiling so that while lowering your tired bones into the tub you won't be at the mercy of gravity and friction in a wet tub.

 

[Ross]

RandyK, you can't be too careful !!

I do think that you should add a belay point on the ceiling so that while lowering your tired bones into the tub you won't be at the mercy of gravity and friction in a wet tub.

 

[higgs]

Do you turn on the water?

rRndyYou don't specify if you actually turn the water on when entering the bath tub. If you leave the water off, I think most of your precautions are unneccessary.

 

[higgs]

Do you turn on the water?

rRndyYou don't specify if you actually turn the water on when entering the bath tub. If you leave the water off, I think most of your precautions are unneccessary.

 

[Mark]

Ah yes Tom

Four feet for when I am getting there and 12" once I'm up front to clip onto the jacklines, forestay or anything else that I know will hold me. Mind you often in big seas with water coming over the decks the 12" is used and yes I would rather be crawling forward than trying to walk.

 

[Mark]

Ah yes Tom

Four feet for when I am getting there and 12" once I'm up front to clip onto the jacklines, forestay or anything else that I know will hold me. Mind you often in big seas with water coming over the decks the 12" is used and yes I would rather be crawling forward than trying to walk.

 

[Al - s/v Persephone]

Jacklines and tethers matched to boat

I found that even the most highly rated "store-bought" solutions did not fit my single-handing needs, especiallywith 6ft tethers, but that it was easy to design a solution that fit my boat after a little thought.Since I have an 05H36, I have relatively narrow sidedecks. On the other hand, this design has a low cabintop that's very easy to step directly onto from the cockpit. It also has a sturdy SS arch onto which the Harken traveler is mounted for end-boom sheeting and easy traveler line access at the helm.Thus, even though I still rig double braid lines from stern cleat to bow cleat on each side for very rough conditions, my everyday solution is a permanent centerline SS jackline which runs forward to the mastbase from an eye-nut on the center bolt that mounts the traveler track to the arch over my head.With a four-foot tether of 5/8" double braid terminated with a Wichard safety hook on the jackilne end and a quick release snap shackle on the PFD D-ring end I can stand at the helm while hooked on; go forward on the cabintop as much a a foot or two beyond the mast and have confidence that my short tether will allow me to keep on my feet - even in fairly rough conditions. For things like furling drum jams that require going forward to the bow, I have to use the stern-to-bow side jacklines, but that is fairly rare compared to the more frequent need to clear a wrapped 3rd reefing line or mainsail downhaul that only require me to go to the gooseneck.For me and my boat using the "standard" storebought solutions might keep me attached to the boat but dangling. The solution I designed to the boat's configuration and dimensions provides me the abiity to keep on my feet and actively functioning. I'd suggest that blind purchases of storebought solutions may allow one to check-off the "jakelines and tehters" box, but may not do the real job at hand - which isn't to be passively dangled but to stay on your feet and keep yourself on the boat. Be sure your solution really fits your boat and the way you sail her.Fair winds,Al

 

[tom]

Getting Slammed

Another problem with tethers is the possibility of getting slammed hard by a big wave into something hard. My stomach hurts just thinking about hitting a lifeline stanchion. I guess we all have to imagine the circumstances in which a tether will be used. right now I am on a lake and swimming to shore is a viable option especially in warm weather wearing a pfd. Offshore single handed a method to get back on board or not to go overboard is required. Offshore with crew some system to sound an alarm and some method to get back on board. Cold water means that the MOB will be unable to help after a few minutes unless he was wearing some kind of thermal protection. Quick release shackles required!!! But I am not convinced that a tether is an unqualified good thing.