Horseshoe or Lifesling?

[njlarry]

A recent post pointed out that horseshoes do not have lines attached while lifeslings do. This made me realize that perhaps they serve different purposes. The horseshoe is a throwable device to give the MOB something to hold on to, the lifesling is more a MOB recovery tool. If so, which is the more useful?
I have noticed that on the Chesapeake 80 to 90 percent have only lifeslings, the rest have horseshoes or nothing and very rarely both. (Of course most of the stink potters have nothing at all unless bicycles count as throwable.)
I removed our horseshoe in part due to the limited space at the stern to replace it with a lifesling and keep the ubiquitous square cushions in the cockpit to use as throwable devices.
Would like to hear from the more seasoned salts.
What ever you do, stay safe, there has been too many tragedies on the water this year.

 

[weinie]

I have both.

 

[DougM]

My boat has both a horseshoe and a life sling. The boat came from the factory with a bracket welded to the stern rail for a horseshoe. I do not attach a line to the horseshoe simply because I want to keep it as a loose throwable. Although I don't do it, it would probably be advisable to attach a man overboard pole to it as required on most racing boats. I really don't think the Coast Guard would count a life sling tethered to the boat as a true throwable. Anyone overboard would never be able to reach it as the boat sails away.
I have participated in man overboard drills using a floating manniquin, and it amazing to see how easily you can lose sight of it even in smaller waves.

 

[Gunni]

Both. And I suggest you practice recovery of a MOB who is incapacitated, it is surprisingly difficult without proper technique.

 

[Capt jgw]

I have a Lifesling and a life ring ( not a horseshoe). Commercial boats are required to have life rings, at least one of which has a line attached. Last time I was in Canada, and that was quite a while back, they did not accept the horseshoe. I don't know how the horseshoe got to be traditional on sail boats, the rings are much easier to throw accurately. The cushions are fine for throwables on pleasure boats as long as they carry USCG approval and are in good shape. They take a beating so keep an eye on them. Any tears, loose straps, or if you can no longer read the approval number, they're no longer legal.

 

[Ilanortho]

I have Lifesling and a life ring with a line coiled inside a West Marine yellow throw bag. After reading recent posts about the problems a line poses I am rethinking the throw bag line. I can see a situation where both get thrown and the lines get hopelessly tangled with each other or the boat/ prop. I may just have a free ring and Lifesling.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

I have both Lifesling and Horseshoe

 

[Gunni]

A heaving line should float, typically polypropylene so that you don't have to worry about it going into the prop while running a MOB drill. Since that stuff has terrible UV resistance you need to keep it covered when not in use - hence the inner line storage of the LifeSling.

 

[Ilanortho]

A heaving line should float, typically polypropylene so that you don't have to worry about it going into the prop while running a MOB drill. Since that stuff has terrible UV resistance you need to keep it covered when not in use - hence the inner line storage of the LifeSling.

West Marine throw bag accomplishes that purpose well

 

[Jacktar]

As a lifelong member of the CG Aux I hasten to remind you that all boats 16 or greater in length must have a throwable device (usually a type IV cushion!) Throw it over as soon as a MOB occurs, it will help the MOB and mark the location. Then use a throw line that floats (stays out of your props and is visible) to the MOB with or without a flotation device. You can use the horseshoe buoy as first and lifesling or throw line as second in this scenario.

 

[JTulls]

I would carry both. The horseshoe is going to be your Type IV PFD but the Lifesling is technically considered a Type V that "can be substituted for a Type IV." We usually teach that the horseshoe gets thrown immediately after someone goes over -- along with anything else to help "litter" the scene to make finding the person easier and give the MOB something to hang onto. The Lifesling would then get tied off and towed behind your boat/thrown as you make the approach to the MOB and that will help recover the person from the water.