Safety harness procedures.

[Colin]

Following on from Stephen Ords post, a discussion on safety line use could make a very interesting general topic. When you wear them , how you attach, safe procedures for attaching, where on the boat they are required!!! I have only done a couple of distance cruises and it became second nature to us to clip on whenever we were on deck.

 

[Stephen Ord]

I agree - A Safety Forum

MOB procedures and equipment, Harnesses, Emergency Radio, Flares, Abandon Ship Bags, Medical Kits etc. Great Idea

 

[David Foster]

Rules on the Lady Lillie

Everyone wears PFD's at all times under way. We have a good range of comfortable alternatives, inflatables, etc.We rig the mooring lines into jacklines port and starboard. On our hull they ride nicely against the cabin top on the deck.Harnesses are required to go forward when the seas exceed about 3 feet.The skipper wears a harness at all times if he/she is the only one aboard who can run the MOB drill. This means for single handing, and sailing with inexperienced/non-skipper crew.Once this is established, it's like using seatbelts - we just do it, and really don't notice it much.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Edward Steenstra III]

Danger using mooring lines

Be careful when using mooring lines as jacklines ! Two reasons: They are made to stretch,this is what you do not want when you are hanging by your harness over the side. Another reason is that they tend to roll under your feet at the worst possible moment causing you to lose your balance and possibly go over the side.This happened to me on a very dark stormy nite about 50 miles offshore. Well worth the safety of all aboard are the flat webbing jacklines available at any good marine store.They have a safety hook at one end, the other end is tied off tightly to a cleat or other solid thru bolted fixture. Capt. ED.