It Could Happen To Anyone - Be Careful!

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Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
During the "Blizzard" a good friend of Tim R. & myself fell in the water at the marina and could not get himself out of the water. It was about 2:30 am with 50 MPH winds and by some odd luck the marina manager and an associate were walking the docks and thought they heard screaming... We came very, very, very close to losing a good friend that night.

Maine chef survives icy plunge into Portland Harbor during blizzard

Please be careful on the docks in the winter and have a plan.. It is easy to become "comfortable" when you are on the docks every day even in the winter. This particular marina does not have "self rescue" ladders, but probably should.

Harding told me yesterday that he will now be leaving his swim ladder down when at the dock to aid self rescue should this ever happen again.The water temp was soooo cold that his bilge water (fresh water) was frozen solid on Saturday morning when I went to check on the boat. This means the harbor temp water had to be very, very low to freeze bilge water that is below the waterline.The boat is heated... Based on the frozen bilge water I suspect the estimate in the article of 40F water temps is off..

PLEASE BE CAREFUL! Mother ocean deserves respect.....!
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Definitely colder than 40°. The other day we had slush in the water that lasted most of the day. That simply does not occur in water that is much above 32°.

MaineSail, how about a new drink at his restaurant called the "Nemo Dip"?
 
tomgrigsby

tomgrigsby

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May 21, 2009
362
Hunter 30 Smithfield, VA
The PO of my boat was walking forward one frosty winter morning, slipped on the frost, and went over the side, wallet and all. He managed to get his hands to the deck edge and hand over handed himself to the stern and pulled down the swim ladder. I think about that every time I go forward in the winter time. Don't want to try that.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
We lost a guy in our marina 3 winters ago. Same scenario, with rescue ladders, but he didn't make it. I suspect lots of stray current in our water as well. An isolator install fixed my zinc disappearance -cold.
 
Stretch

Stretch

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Feb 1, 2011
281
sail boat dock
WCB fined a marina in BC 30K for swim ladders that were not every 100ft and stainless steel. The reason is wcb insured workers had access to the dock. Wharfinger told me that .
 
C

Calif. Ted

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Jun 8, 2004
3,011
Catalina 320 Dana Point
On TV last night they mentioned Weddell Bay starting to freeze at 29 F., I don't think I've never seen frozen seawater, what a strange concept.
We don't have any ice and still manage to loose people, recently a dockmate had to rescue a dog with bloody paws trapped on the seawall before the tide put it in the water again.
 
Hello Below

Hello Below

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May 7, 2012
1,618
Hunter e33 Maple Bay, BC
Stretch said:
WCB fined a marina in BC 30K for swim ladders that were not every 100ft and stainless steel. The reason is wcb insured workers had access to the dock. Wharfinger told me that .
Click to expand
Self rescue ladders are definitely not the norm at BC marinas. I am at a loss as to how marinas/yacht clubs are able to purchase liability insurance without having this life saving devices installed.

This particular ladder would take 3 - 2x4s, a few fasteners and yellow paint. Pull the bottom of the ladder out and the whole upper part slides down giving an access point out of the drink. None of the ladder touches the water until it has been deployed; thus, they last a long time particularly if constructed from pressure treated lumber.

Also I always carry a Scotty Life Saver Whistle in my pocket when on the docks.

http://www.amazon.com/Scotty-780-Life-Saver-Whistle/dp/B001M4HTAM
 

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Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Our marina has one of these in EVERY slip. Partly because its Lake Superior, mostly because its smart.

 
Warren Milberg

Warren Milberg

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Dec 1, 1999
2,391
Hunter 28.5 Chesapeake Bay
The fellow who owned and ran a local sail loft slipped off a customer's boat and drowned when removing a sail a few winter's ago. This guy was also an accomplished sailor who knew his away around a foredeck, as it were. Stuff happens when you least expect it. Be careful out there...
 
R

Rick486

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Oct 1, 2007
1,865
Boston Whaler Super Sport Pt. Judith
Calif. Ted said:
On TV last night they mentioned Weddell Bay starting to freeze at 29 F., I don't think I've never seen frozen seawater, what a strange concept.
We don't have any ice and still manage to loose people, recently a dockmate had to rescue a dog with bloody paws trapped on the seawall before the tide put it in the water again.
Click to expand
Back in the day, Narragansett Bay froze over from Providence down to Prudence Island. Not every year but often enough to remember it. probably a bit brackish but not much. Where I lived in Maine Blue Hill Bay would freeze down to about the end of Long Island. Very cold for that to happen. Brrrrr.
 
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