Safety Checklist For Guests

zeehag · Apr 6, 2014

omydoggies...this is WAAAYYYYY too organized.. beautifully done,

but

there is a necessary flexibility factor my method has intric¡nsically within it....

i was a cruise ship for two christmas parades in port of lost angeles (my boat was scene of annual christmas party for the post anes recovery unit in m****y hospital,lost angels while i was manager of same. ).. one year we were escort(stinkpot) and one year observers.. my laws were....
no one touches anything serious looking
no one flushes toilet...get me(nurses)
bring good food of your particular culture
do not fall overboard..(not a swimmer??..wear pfd, i dont care about your christmas dress, dammit)....
do not put anything in toilet at all. just pee
(or see me)
skipper was uptight, so no one bother him unless briinging foodplate....
stop being freeking nurses for a night
relax.
(i was their boss..they darent argue. i loved it)

oh yes..if ye dont wanna do shots of booze, bring mixers of choice..lol we had booze, never anything else..and i am not a drinker..lol

Bill Roosa · Apr 6, 2014

It's a parody of a military thing

rgranger · Apr 6, 2014

Bill Roosa said:
It's a parody of a military thing

ah!

Kings Gambit · Apr 6, 2014

A couple of rules.

If only day sailing the basic rules are 1) don't hit anything (if steering) and 2) don't fall in. So, help keep a sharp lookout, especially to leeward; and remember--one hand for the boat when moving around; don't leave the cockpit w/o the Captain's permission.

Life jackets are out (below) where they can be seen when uninitiated guests are aboard; or, they are wearing them. I show them how to put one on if not wearing it.

If making a long passage somewhere, the above plus basic VHF and GPS instruction if appropriate. The rest of the time, just follow the Captain's instructions

.

CarlN · Apr 6, 2014

I don't see the benefit to talk to a first time sailor about emergency procedures. But I also never take novices out without at least one other somewhat experience sailor aboard (usually my wife) who knows emergency procedures, has practiced a man overboard drill, and who has a fairly detailed knowledge of the boat. It's their job to take command if something happens to me - not the novice.

If someone is truly new to sailing, my primary concern is to make them feel comfortable. Sailing can be quite scary if you haven't done it before. I never yell and work hard to look completely relaxed even if the last tack was embarrassingly sloppy.

I cover before leaving the dock:

How the head works (I make everyone try pumping)

You can't break anything by stepping in the wrong place

Put on suntan lotion

Where the drinks are

Where to put the bags they brought with them

Tell people that I often wear a life jacket offshore. While holding one up, I ask "Would anyone like one now?" (I carry really comfortable and non-dorky inflatables)

While leaving the harbor:

The concept of one hand for you, one hand for the boat. Grab anything, it's strong.

Sailboats heel - it will surprise you when it happens but it's normal

Avoid seasickness by staying on deck and looking at the horizon instead of a book (this is the single most important tip for a new sailor on the ocean)

I always make sure everyone is sitting down in the cockpit while the sails go up - not on the bow or below.

While sailing:

Lots of warning before tacking or jibing including a description of what the boom and genoa is about to do -- and that we'll heel the other way. Everyone has to be sitting before the tack begins. If there's a kid aboard, they get to yell "Ready About" and everyone has to answer "Ready" (the kids love this feeling of power).

I always teach newbies (including kids) to steer but don't let them use a winch the first time (too much risk of jammed lines or fingers).

Kids are assigned the job of watching for lobster pots, crab traps, or boats crossing our path. It keeps them from getting bored. I'll even give them $0.25 for spotting something that requires an unexpected course change.

jimmcgee · Apr 6, 2014

I like Victor's rules, plus:

Wear suntan lotion and sun glasses
Always hold on to something when moving around the boat
It's normal for sailboats to tip - but they won't tip over.

capejt · Apr 6, 2014

In addition to radio instructions, maybe a quick lesson on how to get your Lat/Lon from the GPS. If a passenger is using the radio, chances are the captain is incapacitated.

lnikl · Apr 6, 2014

The Canada "Safe Boating Guide" has a nice checklist. On our work boat, the operator has laminated the checklist and he goes through that each time for the safety briefing that takes place before departure. I suggest that you download, print and laminate it. It provides all the basics.
Then:
- One hand for the boat
- Skippers tolerance for alcohol on his boat
- Skippers rules on PFDs (wearing or not - I am ok if they don't in the cockpit but ask that it be worn up on deck and always for children). I wear mine always, thus setting an example of my preferred practice.
- Use of the head (unhealthy to hold it)
- Be careful, the boom swings around and it is stronger than your head.
- what to do in the unlikely event that someone falls in
- the big red button on the VHF (if you have DSC).
- repeat as necessary while underway.

capta · Apr 6, 2014

Every time I left the dock on a commercial, passenger carrying vessel, I was required by law to give a safety speech. I would introduce the crew, and it had to cover where lifejackets were stored, their use, emergency procedures for fire/abandon ship/MOB and location and operation of toilets, and anything particular to that vessel, keeping it light, amusing and non-intimidating.
When preparing for an offshore passage without passengers, I will call the crew together and remind them that if they fall overboard to immediately begin swimming for the nearest land (even if it's a thousand miles away), as we are most unlikely to find them. Also I mention that without a doctor aboard, it would not be wise to get injured.
But never in over 50 years of taking friends and family out for day sails have I ever started a trip with a safety speech. I couldn't imagine a more intimidating and worrisome beginning to what should be a pleasant day of "messing about with boats".

rbringle · Apr 7, 2014

rgranger said:
Hungh?

I have a sheet that explains how to start the engine (inboard diesel) in case I am incapacitated or if I am in the drink. I also have a sheet that explains what to do in the case of fire, if there is water on the floor of the boat, and how to use the VHF. I think a sheet of paper listing the steps is a better strategy than verbally explaining these procedures to the guests (which can become confusing in a crisis). I give them the sheets to look over, then show them where they are. We boat in Canada (North Channel) and we may be a considerable distance away from help.

Phil003 · Apr 7, 2014

On a day sail don't let the kids stay below decks for any length of time, reading, colouring or playing on an Ipad for an hour can lead to sea sickness.

Keep the boat flat, healing over 25 degrees is not comfortable for most newbies.

And I agree giving the kids or the adults the tiller is a great way to share the fun

SeanG · Apr 7, 2014

Bill Roosa,

Your OPORDER is fantastic! I loved it. Well done. LOL funny. The non-Navy or non-military folks perhaps do not “get it” but I am certain that most U.S. military people certainly do. Thanks for sharing. BZ and Charlie Mike.

Morgan donor · Apr 7, 2014

SeanG said:
Bill Roosa,

Your OPORDER is fantastic! I loved it. Well done. LOL funny. The non-Navy or non-military folks perhaps do not “get it” but I am certain that most U.S. military people certainly do. Thanks for sharing. BZ and Charlie Mike.

I agree that its all good info but might be intimidating in its totality. I see 3 key actions:

1. Have auto-inflatible life jackets and insist they're worn.
2. Explain the "boom" concept.
3. MOB - most important that everyone keeps an eye on the MOB while the skipper S turns or other method. Otherwise follow Capt's individual instructions... If its the skipper OB you may want to explain how to drop sail/start engine.

Keep it simple.
Dave

Yankee Girl · Apr 7, 2014

BZ on the OPORD.

It all depends on the experience of the guest and how much help I expect as to how much I brief. I remember the Captain of the fishing head boat briefing the 100+ passengers on night time signaling operations for aircraft for a harbor cruise lasting 4 hours departing at 0800. Too much information and they lose interest quickly.

Gunni · Apr 7, 2014

They're guests, keep it simple, anticipate the dangers and make sure to point them out. Everything else is just going to go in one ear and out the other, like this:

Don't be one of those skippers who deliver an ongoing lecture on nomenclature, sailing strategies, navigation, COLREGS, sail trim, The Origins of Sailing terminology, or any of the 1 million things that while demonstrating your superior knowledge of the dark science of sailing is simultaneously convincing your interested guest that this stuff is too hard to bother with. Boost the fun factor by letting them simply enjoy what brought joy to you when you decided this sport was worth your time and treasure.

sherwood77b · Apr 7, 2014

Re: Taking care of crew

Had to read this a couple of times to get the HUMOR ...
Nicely done ...

zeehag · Apr 7, 2014

dont tug on supermans cape
dont spit or piss into the wind
dont whistle unless you want REAL wind..lots...like a gale
do what your are told to do .
have fun.

rgranger · Apr 7, 2014

Side bar...

My youngest daughter (13) fell overboard on a day sail last spring. She was heading forward around the shrouds on the windward side when .... splash. The look on her face was sheer.... EMBARRASSMENT. Her sister did the pointing thing... but more to mock her than because we really needed a spotter and my wife quickly tossed her the floatation cushion she was sitting on.

We had done the drill a few times using an empty coke bottle and I was pleased to see that when it happened for real, things just went into automatic. There was no real danger but it was still comforting to see it all come together in a real "simulation".

It might be fun to just jump off the back sometime and see what the family does...

... hmmmm on second thought...:neutral:

lrschultz · Apr 7, 2014

Know What to Hang On To!

There are a lot of good suggestions in here but I will add one more. I think the key thing people are sensitive to is that a sailboat tips with the wind and it is not "natural" in their minds. So I try to cover the worst case event which actually happened to me. I was sailing in 8 knots of wind, just turning out of a heave to parked boat position when the wind went almost instantaneously to 40 knots. All we could do is hang on until the boat rounded up. So I tell guests, don't worry about the tipping of the boat, there are two tons of lead in the keel and it is not going to overturn. It would be like trying to lift a big Buick out of the water. But it can tip almost on its side and there is a danger one could be tossed out so always have in mind what you would hang on to in that worst case situation. Then I proceed to show them all the things on the boat that are solid and good to hang on to in a gust.

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