I am instructing a course in Boating for the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron and in a few weeks will be dealing with person overboard situations. Is there anyone who would like to share this terrible experience with me. I am particularily interested in how you brought the person back on board.
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Bill O'Donovan
The drill
1. Whoever yells "Man Overboard!" is automatically designated the spotter. He must stand fast, pointing his arm out continually. 2. Throw life preservers, especiallly the horseshoe with 100 feet of line. 3. Stop the boat by backwinding. Simply come about WITHOUT moving the jib. Boat stops dead in the water. 4. Don't run over the victim.
1. Whoever yells "Man Overboard!" is automatically designated the spotter. He must stand fast, pointing his arm out continually. 2. Throw life preservers, especiallly the horseshoe with 100 feet of line. 3. Stop the boat by backwinding. Simply come about WITHOUT moving the jib. Boat stops dead in the water. 4. Don't run over the victim.
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B.Smith
That's the standard info!
Thanks but that it the standard drill. I was looking for information respecting an actual incident and the difficulty in bringing the person back on board, ie block and tackle on the boom or some other lifting device???
Thanks but that it the standard drill. I was looking for information respecting an actual incident and the difficulty in bringing the person back on board, ie block and tackle on the boom or some other lifting device???
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Bill O'Donovan
Okay,sure
I've got a 4-to-1 block and tackle in the bottom of the horseshoe bag for hoisting on the back of the boom. Since it swings outward, you can hoist the victim up from either side, though on Hunter 29.5 it's just as easy to haul him in to the platform and up from there manually.
I've got a 4-to-1 block and tackle in the bottom of the horseshoe bag for hoisting on the back of the boom. Since it swings outward, you can hoist the victim up from either side, though on Hunter 29.5 it's just as easy to haul him in to the platform and up from there manually.
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Fred G
Retrieveing a man overboard
2 years ago, my dad and I retrieved a motorboated who had fallen out of his boat about a mile off the Hampton coast, North of old Point Comfort in the Chesapeake Bay. He was alone and did not have a life jacket on. I figured he was in the water for about 15 minutes before we heard, and then spotted him. We approached under sail (a lot quieter than under power), and dropped sail once we were withen 50 yards of him. The wind was NE at about 12 knots with small chop in the bay. I threw him the yellow horseshoe, and he swam to it. I then realized why the "LifeSling" system is so popular as we did not have a line tied to the horseshoe. I tied a line to a seat cushion, and secured the bitter end to a cleat on the stern. I had my dad approach his leeward side (I was always taught to approach a Man overboard from the leeward side of the man in the water to prevent the boat from running over the man. I have read the ASA sailing books, and one recommends this and one says to always come to the windward side, I do not know which is "Officially correct"). It took a couple of tries to get the man the cusion with the line on it as the wind altered my intended flight path of the cushion. On the second try, he got the cushion. I told him hold on to the cusion and we stopped the motor and lowered the swim ladder. He let go of the cushion about 3 feet from the stern of the boat and we drifted away immeadiatly, unable to collect him. We tried to motor in reverse, but quickly saw the futility and danger of this and circled around for attempt number 3. On the 5th attempt he reacquired the cushion, and I was able to pull him all the way in. From there he was able to climb the swim ladder, and we got hm back to his boat. Lessons learned: 1) Always secure a line to whatever you are throwing to a man overboard. 2) Think about wind direction and speed when throwing out horeshoes or whatever else you are throwing. 3) Always wear you life jacket if you are moving about on a boat. My dad and I have always worn life jackets every time we go out(since I was 11, and I am now 33), and I have always felt a little bit silly since no one other boaters seem to wear theirs, but after seeing how tired this guy was after 15 minutes in the water and how easily the small chop would wash over him and keep him from getting a breath when he wanted to, I am happy to look like a dork and wear my jacket. Also, if you are alone, and you fall overboard, yell to the sailboats, because the motorboats can't hear you. His cries for help were not loud and we were running very quietly under sail at the time.
2 years ago, my dad and I retrieved a motorboated who had fallen out of his boat about a mile off the Hampton coast, North of old Point Comfort in the Chesapeake Bay. He was alone and did not have a life jacket on. I figured he was in the water for about 15 minutes before we heard, and then spotted him. We approached under sail (a lot quieter than under power), and dropped sail once we were withen 50 yards of him. The wind was NE at about 12 knots with small chop in the bay. I threw him the yellow horseshoe, and he swam to it. I then realized why the "LifeSling" system is so popular as we did not have a line tied to the horseshoe. I tied a line to a seat cushion, and secured the bitter end to a cleat on the stern. I had my dad approach his leeward side (I was always taught to approach a Man overboard from the leeward side of the man in the water to prevent the boat from running over the man. I have read the ASA sailing books, and one recommends this and one says to always come to the windward side, I do not know which is "Officially correct"). It took a couple of tries to get the man the cusion with the line on it as the wind altered my intended flight path of the cushion. On the second try, he got the cushion. I told him hold on to the cusion and we stopped the motor and lowered the swim ladder. He let go of the cushion about 3 feet from the stern of the boat and we drifted away immeadiatly, unable to collect him. We tried to motor in reverse, but quickly saw the futility and danger of this and circled around for attempt number 3. On the 5th attempt he reacquired the cushion, and I was able to pull him all the way in. From there he was able to climb the swim ladder, and we got hm back to his boat. Lessons learned: 1) Always secure a line to whatever you are throwing to a man overboard. 2) Think about wind direction and speed when throwing out horeshoes or whatever else you are throwing. 3) Always wear you life jacket if you are moving about on a boat. My dad and I have always worn life jackets every time we go out(since I was 11, and I am now 33), and I have always felt a little bit silly since no one other boaters seem to wear theirs, but after seeing how tired this guy was after 15 minutes in the water and how easily the small chop would wash over him and keep him from getting a breath when he wanted to, I am happy to look like a dork and wear my jacket. Also, if you are alone, and you fall overboard, yell to the sailboats, because the motorboats can't hear you. His cries for help were not loud and we were running very quietly under sail at the time.
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Briann Smith
Thanks to all.
Having heard of the difficulty that friends (2) had when attempting to hoist their 40 lb. dog which was wearing a lifejacket, back on to their Tanzer, it has long concerned me as to how one would raise a 200 lb. person, wet, frightened and perhaps unconscious back on to the boat. We have always taught the "procedure" but once the victim is secured, is it really possible to raise them. The block and tackle method, on the boom end and employing a winch seems to be the solution but I was interested in personal experiences. Thanks.
Having heard of the difficulty that friends (2) had when attempting to hoist their 40 lb. dog which was wearing a lifejacket, back on to their Tanzer, it has long concerned me as to how one would raise a 200 lb. person, wet, frightened and perhaps unconscious back on to the boat. We have always taught the "procedure" but once the victim is secured, is it really possible to raise them. The block and tackle method, on the boom end and employing a winch seems to be the solution but I was interested in personal experiences. Thanks.
MOB hoisting tackle.
I think Bill's idea of carrying an extra vang-type tackle for hoisting the MOB back abaord is terrific-- amazing how simple an idea can be so overlooked even in the comofrt of an easy chair. I have an 'extra' bail on the boom now and this'll be a must on our boat next season. Maybe I am just dumb but... I understand that the 4:1 mechanical advantage of the tackle relates to weight as well. That is-- if I am hoisting a 200-lb person aboard, I'd need to exert 50 lbs on the tail of the purchase... right? It's starting to look like 5:1 or 6:1 is better.... Hmmm. JC 2
I think Bill's idea of carrying an extra vang-type tackle for hoisting the MOB back abaord is terrific-- amazing how simple an idea can be so overlooked even in the comofrt of an easy chair. I have an 'extra' bail on the boom now and this'll be a must on our boat next season. Maybe I am just dumb but... I understand that the 4:1 mechanical advantage of the tackle relates to weight as well. That is-- if I am hoisting a 200-lb person aboard, I'd need to exert 50 lbs on the tail of the purchase... right? It's starting to look like 5:1 or 6:1 is better.... Hmmm. JC 2
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Alan
I can't understand why...
..on a sailboat you need hoisting tackle. Any halyard is much better than a 4:1 or even a 6:1. A halyard lead to a winch would allow a 6 year old lift a full grown adult and its already onboard. So why the tackle??
..on a sailboat you need hoisting tackle. Any halyard is much better than a 4:1 or even a 6:1. A halyard lead to a winch would allow a 6 year old lift a full grown adult and its already onboard. So why the tackle??
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Jim Wolfgram
I think it's the angles.
If you use the halyard, I think you'll drag the person up the side of the boat... With the tackle, you have it on the boom, haul em up, then swing em over the lines with the boom. Sounds easier to me.
If you use the halyard, I think you'll drag the person up the side of the boat... With the tackle, you have it on the boom, haul em up, then swing em over the lines with the boom. Sounds easier to me.
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Alan
But..
...you can do the same with the halyard run through a snatch block on the end of the boom. Anyone else know why??
...you can do the same with the halyard run through a snatch block on the end of the boom. Anyone else know why??
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joe
Alan is right, but....
...if you combine the winch with the lifting tackle you put a lot less strain on the rescuer. I seriously doubt a 6 year old can hoist 200lbs of dead weight with only a 3:1 winch. I realize you said that for dramatic effect, though. In his Annapolis sailing video... John Rousmaniere attaches the 4:1 tackle to the main halyard, sets the tackle about ten feet above the deck, then runs the tail of the tackle through a lead block to a primariy winch. This method increases the purchase dramatically so that a 6 year old might be able to reel in the victim. Using the boom is helpful but not necessary. You would still have to attach the main halyard to the end, then raise the boom high enough so the tackle and victim can clear the rail. This would be inconvenient with a rigid vang by the way,
...if you combine the winch with the lifting tackle you put a lot less strain on the rescuer. I seriously doubt a 6 year old can hoist 200lbs of dead weight with only a 3:1 winch. I realize you said that for dramatic effect, though. In his Annapolis sailing video... John Rousmaniere attaches the 4:1 tackle to the main halyard, sets the tackle about ten feet above the deck, then runs the tail of the tackle through a lead block to a primariy winch. This method increases the purchase dramatically so that a 6 year old might be able to reel in the victim. Using the boom is helpful but not necessary. You would still have to attach the main halyard to the end, then raise the boom high enough so the tackle and victim can clear the rail. This would be inconvenient with a rigid vang by the way,
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