If you looked at all of your safety gear, which 2 pieces would you consider the most important, and why?
Safety Gear
- Thread starter sailortonyb Allied Mis
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PFD and waterproof handheld VHF
If things went really bad I would be able to float and call for help. If you are in the water without a PFD you are probably going to die. Likewise if you cannot get help even if you have a PFD. For this reason I would like to get an EPIRB some day.
If things went really bad I would be able to float and call for help. If you are in the water without a PFD you are probably going to die. Likewise if you cannot get help even if you have a PFD. For this reason I would like to get an EPIRB some day.
PFD of course. the strobe light and whistle,
The block on the end of the boom with a line reeved through that and lead to a block at the mast and back to a winch. This is for recoverery of a MOB. It is always in place. The PFD because I don't float without it.
The block on the end of the boom with a line reeved through that and lead to a block at the mast and back to a winch. This is for recoverery of a MOB. It is always in place. The PFD because I don't float without it.
The two most important things I carry with me are my common sense and wit. They do a great job of keeping or getting me out of trouble so I don't need all the other gear I spent lots of money on. Mike
PFD & Tether
I have been unexpectedly tossed off a 1D35 10 miles off shore from Monterey CA. I had an automatic inflation vest on and it worked. Almost too well. I came up under the stern quarter of the boat in 9', 7 second period seas. I was more concerned at that moment about being smashed on the head by the boat then anything else. Water temps in our area run 45-59 degrees and hypothermia is always a concern even in the summer. I was in the water for 12-15 minutes and quickly became barely able to assist in my own rescue. I ended up in a hospital for 5 hours bringing my body core temps back to normal. I will now tether on more quickly without any prompting. I had it on but not fastened since we had just left the Monterey area for an overnight sail to SF. The life vest I have always worn when sailing and the tether has become even more important to me now. Two safety devices I always want on my person!
I have been unexpectedly tossed off a 1D35 10 miles off shore from Monterey CA. I had an automatic inflation vest on and it worked. Almost too well. I came up under the stern quarter of the boat in 9', 7 second period seas. I was more concerned at that moment about being smashed on the head by the boat then anything else. Water temps in our area run 45-59 degrees and hypothermia is always a concern even in the summer. I was in the water for 12-15 minutes and quickly became barely able to assist in my own rescue. I ended up in a hospital for 5 hours bringing my body core temps back to normal. I will now tether on more quickly without any prompting. I had it on but not fastened since we had just left the Monterey area for an overnight sail to SF. The life vest I have always worn when sailing and the tether has become even more important to me now. Two safety devices I always want on my person!
Bill has it right
Anchor and safty harness are your two most important. To me the safty harness Tether is the most important. If you use your safty harness properly you should never need the PFD. I have seen one teenager saved by the safty harness comming from Bermuda. Without it, we could never have reached him in the 20 foot seas at the time. Required when in any dangerious body of water when you are on deck. An Anchor has saved me more than once. Sea Anchors give you a chance to rest when you are beat up. Regular anchors do the same. I have even anchored in the ocean when I was disoriented due to navigation problems. A few hours sleep made all the difference. Even with the heavy rollers it was possible to rest.
Anchor and safty harness are your two most important. To me the safty harness Tether is the most important. If you use your safty harness properly you should never need the PFD. I have seen one teenager saved by the safty harness comming from Bermuda. Without it, we could never have reached him in the 20 foot seas at the time. Required when in any dangerious body of water when you are on deck. An Anchor has saved me more than once. Sea Anchors give you a chance to rest when you are beat up. Regular anchors do the same. I have even anchored in the ocean when I was disoriented due to navigation problems. A few hours sleep made all the difference. Even with the heavy rollers it was possible to rest.
anchor + pfd w/built-in harness
That covers it for the basic big two and .000005 nanometers behind those two are the other safety musts.
That covers it for the basic big two and .000005 nanometers behind those two are the other safety musts.
sound hull and mind
Given that 60% of the drownings are men and 70% of those are found with their fly open I'd opt for using the head instead of going over the side and needing a PFD. I note that the majority of nautical history does not include even the mention of PFDs. There purpose, IMHO, is to allow folks that have not clew one to get out on the water and not kill themselves. PFDs are important in a lot of situations (duck hunting in small boats, dingys, etc) but since I have a head and use it I feel that the odds are against my falling overboard and needing a PFD. There have been numerous cases of folks abandoning ship to the life raft and then getting killed while their boat is found 3 months later and thousands of miles away still afloat. I will always believe that the gray matter between my ears is my best safety device and given a sound hull you can manage till the situation changes and you can reach safety. Do I wear a PFD? Sure when the situation requires it. Do I tether in? Sure when the situation requires it. Do I use a preventer? Sure, almost every time I sail down wind. Do I call for help on the VHF/SSB? Haven't had to yet but don't have a problem with it conceptually. My point is that I use my head and stay out of those situations/habits that can result in my needing all that safety gear. Safety gear is an insurance policy that the safe (thinking) boater caries but never needs. To answer the question, I'd spend my money on books or classes and making sure my hull and rig are sound.
Given that 60% of the drownings are men and 70% of those are found with their fly open I'd opt for using the head instead of going over the side and needing a PFD. I note that the majority of nautical history does not include even the mention of PFDs. There purpose, IMHO, is to allow folks that have not clew one to get out on the water and not kill themselves. PFDs are important in a lot of situations (duck hunting in small boats, dingys, etc) but since I have a head and use it I feel that the odds are against my falling overboard and needing a PFD. There have been numerous cases of folks abandoning ship to the life raft and then getting killed while their boat is found 3 months later and thousands of miles away still afloat. I will always believe that the gray matter between my ears is my best safety device and given a sound hull you can manage till the situation changes and you can reach safety. Do I wear a PFD? Sure when the situation requires it. Do I tether in? Sure when the situation requires it. Do I use a preventer? Sure, almost every time I sail down wind. Do I call for help on the VHF/SSB? Haven't had to yet but don't have a problem with it conceptually. My point is that I use my head and stay out of those situations/habits that can result in my needing all that safety gear. Safety gear is an insurance policy that the safe (thinking) boater caries but never needs. To answer the question, I'd spend my money on books or classes and making sure my hull and rig are sound.
- Jan 22, 2008
- 519
solo
When solo, I always wear my pfd and trail a 75' line. I have a VHF but I sail on days when there are not a lot of others out, and there would not likley be anyone on the other end of the radio, even if I did make the call. The anchor is close behind the first two. I sail on a 1.5 x 10 mile inland lake.
When solo, I always wear my pfd and trail a 75' line. I have a VHF but I sail on days when there are not a lot of others out, and there would not likley be anyone on the other end of the radio, even if I did make the call. The anchor is close behind the first two. I sail on a 1.5 x 10 mile inland lake.
To me a life jacket but the one I mostly use
is the first aid kit. Although not life threatening there is a lot of hardware on a boat to give yourself cuts and bruises and getting blood stains out of the fiberglass is a lot of work.
is the first aid kit. Although not life threatening there is a lot of hardware on a boat to give yourself cuts and bruises and getting blood stains out of the fiberglass is a lot of work.
Trailing line
Roger, In the matter of single handing ........... Finding it nearly impossible to haul in a five gallon bucket of water when the boat is moving, I wonder how a two hundred pound man being dragged behind a moving boat would be able to get himself back aboard. I believe there is no substitute for a substantial MOB prevention system having two characteristics: 1. A securely mounted jackline along the centerline, 2. An adjustable tether which is always kept short enough to keep one from going over the side. A MOB tethered to a moving boat is presented with somewhat less difficulty in re-boarding. One would have to work one's way to the stern where (hopefully) a ladder has a few rungs dangling below the surface of the water. Fatigue sets in fast, as does hypothermia. Best solution? Remain aboard and avoid the problem.
Roger, In the matter of single handing ........... Finding it nearly impossible to haul in a five gallon bucket of water when the boat is moving, I wonder how a two hundred pound man being dragged behind a moving boat would be able to get himself back aboard. I believe there is no substitute for a substantial MOB prevention system having two characteristics: 1. A securely mounted jackline along the centerline, 2. An adjustable tether which is always kept short enough to keep one from going over the side. A MOB tethered to a moving boat is presented with somewhat less difficulty in re-boarding. One would have to work one's way to the stern where (hopefully) a ladder has a few rungs dangling below the surface of the water. Fatigue sets in fast, as does hypothermia. Best solution? Remain aboard and avoid the problem.
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