Into the drink

[CJV]

Big Man Over the Side

A buddy jumped off on a hot day off my Tartan 10 (read: high freeboard, swept transom). Did the horseshoe toss and figure 8, then pulled him in. Swim ladder was already on the transom, but was at chin height to my friend. Waves were pitching the stern up and down, splashing saltwater in his face each time it came down. The rudder almost emasculated him during one of those pitches. Getting a foot on the pitching ladder, sometimes a foot above his head, proved useless, so we threw a line with a bowline for a foothold on a winch and gradually lifted him up.Some weeks later he bought me a lifesling. Still haven't pitched the horseshoe...

 

[joe]

Reply to mike p

I have been debating this situation for a while. If you are on the fore deck and go over, you will only be able to get back as far as the shrouds. Your dead if you are offshore.I have rigged additional lines from bow to stern that run outside of everything, just under the toes rail along the hull. Two tethers are needed. Only one is attached on deck. If you go over, you attach the other tether to the outside jack lines and cut or release the first tether. Never use a tether that cannot be released quickly at your chest.I have considered wearing a scuba diver's knife sheathed on my lower leg so if I do go over, I have a knife that I can get with one hand and not have to open. Trying to open a closed knife with one hand while fighting to keep your head above water as you are being pulled along at 6 knots....

 

[Bart15842]

With motor running

I fell off when I was out alone with the motor at trolling speed. I managed to swim to the boat and catch the rudder, took one look at the prop spinning and decided this was not a good idea. I was on Lake Hartwell in south Carolina mid October. Fortunately the water wasn't cold and I was not far from shore. Swam to shore and waved my arms and a guy came over and took me back to the boat which was going in circles.I consider myself real lucky because if the water had been cold or I had been further from shore, I would have pushing up bubbles.Never told my wife for fear she would say one of three things. Get rid of the boat, you can't go alone anymore, or is your life insurance paid up.I brought an inflatable belt pack life preserver and wear it when I out alone. In the fall when there aren't many boats on the lake, I trail a line about 100ft long attached to the rudder, so if I do fall over, I have 2 things to fall back on.

 

[Jon6436]

Don't fall off the boat!

I've created a list of "12 Neat Things to Know (about sailing)" The 1st two on the list are:1. RULE #1: Don't fall off the boat.2. RULE #2: Don't fall off the boat.Nonetheless, both have been violated for a total of two ocassions -- once approaching the docking, and once leaving the dock.Both times, rescue was fast ((although not fast enough in the minds of the (wo)men overboard)), but still scary. In both cases a throwable hit the water on-target instantly, but there were still some screw-ups. Rules 1 and 2 remain paramount.

 

[Bert dF]

jacklines, lifelines and ladders

Whether alone or with others offshore, no one is on deck without lifejacket (at night or first reef, with strobelight and whistle), and always with a lifeline. The first thing you do as you emerge from the cabin is to hook said lifeline to one of 2 strong rings on either side. Once safely ensconced in the cockpit, you may switch that to a mizzen stay or a jackline (in case you may have to go forward).Scantly clad or ba pictures with a harness on look funny, but I have yet to retrieve a MOB except for practice.(I advise heaving to and drifting on the target in any heavy swell).Besides the Lifesling, I also geared my mizzen staysail halyard so it can pull 180 deg fwd of the mizzen mast, and the tail goes through a block at the mast foot so it can be handed around the port primary selftailing winch, so anyone one with one arm can heave a MOB on either side.When alone, I have a rolled-up step ladder tied to the aft cleat and unrollable by pulling on a rope hanging just at the waterline, with a quick release halter knot learned in my horse riding days. It is now permanently one as a conversation piece.When alone, if I cannot safely reach the nearby coast (distance> 500ft or cold water), lifeline is a must at all times, especially under autopilot or windvane! It is more important and more comfy than any lifejacket, although a belt-style inflatable comes pretty close.

 

[Bert dF]

STAYING ABOARD!!!

Practising MOB is great, we do that whenever practical, even with feathers drifting down from a gull... Heaving to and drifting on it, or on the gaff that obligingly lifts up to our hand as the hull pushes the other end under...But there is no substitute for staying on board, esp. offshore which means 500+ft away from shore or in cold water or heavy seas. There, anyone ties up harness as he/she comes out of the cabin (2 big rings either side of stairs, or a mizzen stay or jackline).Lifejackets (with whistle and strobelight, and a gypsy EPIRB once my current larger one is obsolete) are added on at first reef and/or at night. A rope ladder is rolled up aft, unrolls from a rope hanging at waterline. The mizzen staysail halyard can be directed to a primary selftailing winch to become a MOB lifter, simpler than a 6:1 that gets entangled or too well hidden when needed.I also have a Lifesling with a lighting buoy, never had to use it for real yet. STAY ABOARD!

 

[Gregg]

In light of the quiz

I saw the results of the online quiz, and there are far too many people that fall into the water while docking, not only is it cold, but dangerous as well. Here is a link that will show all of you a device that makes docking safe. If you are interested, please let them know how you heard about it(ie Macgregor ownwers.com. I have a couple, and IO have found them to be invaluable.

 

[Pelicaneer]

Man Overboard!

All the responses are excellent. A little more "food for thought" Re: Life jackets. If you are out in light winds, on a warm day, with other competent sailors, perhaps omit the life jackets.If you are the only sailor aboard,no matter what the weather, wear one! If you go overboard it will take a while for the boat to get back to you.If you have children aboard, who are required to wear a life jacket, the adults aboard should wear them too. A good example is worth a lot of words!!And consider, the kids have most likely been through recent swim classes. They are in the water every day in summer, at least. The adults aboard may know how to swim, but they haven't actually done it in years.

 

[Romanza]

MOB Test - Oklahoma City Boat Club

I'm a provisional member of the Oklahoma City Boat Club. As part of the requirement for passing through provisional status (in addition to a written exam covering the constitution, bylaws, and facility rules) there is an "on the water" man overboard exercise. Our 25.5 had the most freeboard of the seven or eight boats out that day, but my crew (two college age daughters) and I were ready - having had practiced regularly over the past few months.After the test and having successfully rescued "Rigsby", the fire hose dummy, my girls commented on our performance. They pointed out things to watch out for, possible changes in our procedures, and even a few improvements in MOB preparations before we leave the dock in the future. They were also impressed with the seriousness of the exercise. Bottom line: The entire exercise was extremely worthwhile.

 

[Bob Camarena]

Me

It was embarassing and potentially dangerous. I was working on my boat by myself one cold, foggy February day. I was stepping off of the boat onto the dock and slipped, banging my knee on the dock and falling into the water between the dock and the boat. No one was around so I was on my own. It wasn't very easy hoisting myself onto the dock with all of my wet clothes on. It took me three tries before I was successful. If I'd failed on the third try, I would have had to swim to the bank. It's a good thing I live in CA and not Maine, but the water was still icy cold. More chilling was the thought that, had I hit my head on the way in, it could have been taps for me.

 

[Marc_B]

To Jeff Mckinley

Jeff,I saw from you post you were sailing outside Jupiter Inlet. Do you use Jupiter Inlet in your Hunter 22? I was curious because I understand Jupiter can be very tricky and was looking for some local knowledge. BTW - I sail a 240 our of Palm Beach Inlet.Thanks,Marc_B

 

[Joe]

"fend off"

Had inexpereienced person on board. When coming into the slip someone yelled fend off and he jumped overboard.

 

[Peter]

Alcohol a non-no, especially w/cold water!

Reading Bob Camarena's report of his winter time fall reminded me of an event last New Year's Day in the same harbor. After the New Year's Party, about 0230, a woman, severely inebriated, left to return to her boat to sleep, and fell into the water near her boat. Luckily, a man sleeping on another boat had gone off the dock to use the head, and heard her (very faint) cries for help as he returned to his boat. He ran towards the sound, and managed to grab her wrist as she was about to disappear beneath the surface. Unable to pull her out alone, he screamed for help, and another man on his boat heard and came to help. The two of them managed to get her out, and drag her to the showers, where under the warm water, she revived.

 

[BigTuna]

Dink in the Drink

I fell in the drink at the floating dinghy dock. I was trying to launch the dink to go sailing. It was very windy, and the floating dock was surging. I wrestled the dink off the upper berth of the "pipe rack," spun it, and laid it face up on the edge of the float. The space was very limited, so the dink's keel was only an inch or so from the edge. When I turned away to reach for the oars and the painter, the surge dumped the dink in the drink, and it was foating away. When I knelt to reach for it, the surge toppled me in after it.The water was cold, and the dock stood a foot or more above the water. I couldn't haul myself out, so I put a foot up and into the dink and used it as a step, swamping it in the process. I was exhausted, and suffering from the shock of a dislocated finger incurred in falling in.Lessons? Hook up the painter and put on the life preserver first. Get the marina to install ladders on the docks. Destroy pipe racks. BTW, under sail I practice "rescuing" buoys and cushions regularly, alone and with crew.

 

[Mark]

watched as WIFE took a dip into the drink!

Amusingly, I found myself in a unique first time, MOB situation last weekend. We have an Oday 23 and as luck had it, my sister, brother-in-law and their twins were out visiting here in Green Bay over last weekend. We took them out on their first visit to our boat, very light winds kept it pretty casual and low-key. My brother-in-law knew how to sail, so he helped me lower the main and jib as we prepared to return to the marina. Then, as we got closer to the marina entrance, my son and wife got into their routine of putting fenders over the side and getting the bow docklines ready. Well, we slowly motored into the marina, making our starboard turn to get to our dock. With a very slow approach, my wife at the bow with docklines in hand and son next to her, I thought it would go smoothly. That's where I was wrong.I was controlling the motor and tiller, about to come alongside the dock. I must have sensed her intentions, cause with a firm yet loving voice, I bellowed out "Don't jump off from the bow!" I must have sensed her " I can do this" look in her eye. The boat was 3/4 of the way next to our dock, nice smooth docking so far.No sooner did my statement of caution end, my wife took a big long step forward with one jump, landed on the dock. However her upper body was still on the boat, as her hends were trying to support her. Well, this caused the boat to obviously push away from the dock and before I know it, she's trying to get back onto the boat. With the distance of water underneath her becoming wider, I watched helplessly as she hit the water! Her hands luckily held onto the starboard bow. My brother-in-law seeing this, leaped forward to get a hold of my now dangling wife. Unable to lift her up, this made this complicated. Now the boat was becoming difficult to maneuver. After backing out from the dock, it took several attempts to ease back into our dock space without crushing my wife between the dock and boat. She hung on for a while, without a word during the entire time. Everyone watched on, as this scene played out. I finally lined up the boat again to the dock and slowly motored as I crept alongside the dock, where my wife quickly grabbed the end of the dock, moving herself there, allowing the boat to move alongside without hurting her. My brother-in-law got the bow secured, I got the engine shut off and as my son was securing the stern line, my brother-in-law and myself hoisted my wife up out of the green waters of Green Bay. She was laughing, saying over and over, "I know, I know, that was stupid of me." Embarassed, soaked she was a trooper about it all! We've christened her Miss Green Bay (for amusing and a good laugh). Everyone who was once scared and nervous before, was now laughing. Made for a good story for family and all of us!

 

[dak]

My wife got wet as well

My wife recently got wet as well. We were coming into the dock around 10:00pm. Thus, it was dark. There we a couple of boating neighbors on the dock to help us dock. However, my wife had the stern line and just thought it would be easier to do it herself. As we were about 2/3's of the way in the slip, she simply stepped off the boat and into the water! She said she thought the front of her foot hit the dock, but she wasn't sure. I quickly put the boat in reverse, gun it for a second to stop any momentum toward the dock, and then put it in neutral as not to make hamburger of my wife. The neighbor who was standing by to help simply reached in and pulled my wife out of the water. She fortunately was out as quickly as she went in, embarassed, but unhurt. The next day she left a roll of Lifesavers for our neighbor who had pulled her out.

 

[John]

Three times

I have been involved in three man overboard situations in the last 12 months. All three were at the dock or while docking. None of these involved my boat or crew. The first time a lady visiting my neighbours boat was boarding using a gangplank and the it gave way. Fortunately she went straight down into the water. Had she gone forward or back it was her head or face onto the dock or the anchor. With the help of the boat owner and the womans husband we was able to pull her to safety. The second was a woman on the dock helping to dock a boat. She ended up in the water but with low tide and the extra weight of her wet clothing she was unable to get herself out. Of course the wind was onto the dock and she was between the boat and the dock. I was able to hold the boat off until she rounded the stern and get up on the swim platform. The third time a woman was getting off her boat with infant son in hand. She was not wearing proper footwear tripped and ended up in the water with the baby. I was able to get the baby out of the water allowing the woman to get herself out. In all three cases the were no major injuries but there could have been.All three times I was an innocent bystander having nothing to do with these people or their boats but was close enough to lend a hand. I have heard bad things come in three's so I'm due for reprieve from MOB situations.

 

[Pat]

been there

Never fell off my own boat, but had a "learning experience" on a charter. Was standing by shrouds while my wife was bringing a 38 footer into its slip. Boat was coming in at an angle, so I got ready to hop off the boat onto the floating pier with a docking line to straighten the boat. Caught my foot on the lifeline or toerail, fell onto the pier, fractured my right wrist in two places, fell into the water. Surveyed the bow and hull from underneath, popped up, thought about and then decided not to rescue my hat, swum over to pier and got helped out - it helped that the floating pier rose only about 8 inches above water level. Was feeling nauseous and in pain; folks nearby called 911. I was able to walk up the gangplank to the street by the time the paramedics arrived; eventually the ambulance also got there after taking a couple of wrong turns. Was eventually treated for shock and hypothermia, later got arm splinted. Had to fly home to NM to get wrist operated upon with plate, screws, pins... HMO didn't want me to get operated on in California. Two months later chartered same boat out of Marina del Rey, sailed & motored to San Pedro, Avalon, Two Harbors, and back. Lessons learned...(1) Habits formed on a smaller boat aren't always good to follow on a larger, higher freeboard vessel. A 14,000 pound boat that's moving has too much momentum to be pushed around and hopping down three-plus feet to an unstable pier while the boat still has some way on is a very high-risk operation. (2) Bones are more expensive to fix than gelcoat scratches. Plus, the paperwork keeps coming.(3) Even just a minute or two in cool water, when combined with an injury, are quite enough to trigger dangerous shock and hypothermia. The shock and adrenaline covered up the hypothermia for quite a while; I didn't even feel chilled until after I got in the ambulance some 20 minutes after getting dunked. But by the time I was in the E.R. my blood pressure was headed down. (4) Take plenty of time to get to know how a boat handles under power. We had plenty of experience docking our 26-footer, and had chartered 30- to 35 footers and gotten used to them, so we were a bit complacent when we chartered the 38-footer. Then, we squeezed in as much sailing as we could get in and wound up being in perhaps a bit of a hurry to dock. Wrong. The rudder response wasn't what my wife expected, so our docking was thrown off. Pat

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending August 29, 2004:Have you had a crew member overboard?64% No15% Yes, while under sail11% Yes, while docking or launching11% Yes, while docked 1,023 owners responding

 

[Tami Heart]

Appreciate Stories

I just bought a Hunter22. Already fell partially into water while docked. After reading this thread, I will be doing MOB drill when out next! Any advice on docking alone?