Single handing and injury

[Mark Maulden]

With "all" our Problems behind us we decided to leave Fri am for a sail somewhere and back on Sat. Tried to sail to Lopez Is but no wind. Still have yet to see how the new stndg rig works. Iron Genny to Lopez and Sat. absolutely turned nasty with rain/fog. Not much wind either. Played the two step with ferries etc and 1/2 hr out from the Marina, I turned to put the painter on the opposite cleat and I felt a good snap in my lower back. Didn't hurt until about 10 sec later and I could barely stand. Throttled back and into neutral and floated for awhile to see how bad it was. I never have this problem. My wife and I decided that I was not going to be much help docking the boat except to drive it in. We changed our mooring plan and made it in OK. Wife did a superb job. Then I got to thinking... I do some single handing and I was thinking about what I would have (or should) done if was alone. I could "drive" around and try to attract some attention..Get on the radio to see if I could get some help. Probably would have gone off channel a bit and toss an anchor over as it's only 15' deep and I have a light Danforth I could use. Then reassess...All you single handers ever think about what you'd do in an injurious situation?????

 

[Ross]

A: you can stay out in open water and call for assistance.
B: you can motor to familar area and call for assistance.
C: you can try to be a hero and tough it out all by yourself. not a good choice.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Your circumstance will dictate your solution.
Ray

 

[Rob2435]

Head to a fuel dock, radio ahead if possible, usually someone there that can help.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Mark, no I never "think about it" in terms of being incapacitated, although it could happen. I try a form of preventive maintenance, one hand for the skip and all that. I always have a bail-out program, if something went wrong with the boat. I can envision all sorts of scenarios where I could get assistance, always in the front of my mind. I ended up having some very sharp back & leg pains a number of years ago, I thought it was muscle, turned out to be a disc. We went racing that day anyway - I couldn't sit down so I drove! Thinking about a physical situation with me, personally, I simply can't even begin to think about dwelling on. I still cross streets and drive the car.

Hope you're feeling better.

 

[Mark Maulden]

So the reason for the post is to spawn some thought. Ross says to "call for assistance" and "call for assistance". I had the same thought. Ray says circumstances will dictate solution. Well, I'm not sure I could have made it down the companion way ladder to the nav sta to use a radio (and back up) and circumstances of i.e a lee shore could get ugly fast. . Right now, I can't walk 20'. What if I broke a limb somehow? This gets me to thinking that, at the least, when single handing, have a handheld radio in the cockpit. I admit, I don't even have the radio on all the time...We all discuss life vests, jack lines etc etc.. But this "little" episode got me thinking. I'm not 40 anymore....If I have a problem, can I keep the boat under control/out of danger and can I get help if needed......? I'm going to give that some more thought. The engineer in me says to have some procedures in mind. Obviously, you can't think of everything, but some high level things like a handheld could be very helpful. I sure have more compassion for people with chronic back problems.....

 

[Bob J.]

Mark,

I have chronic back trouble, deteriorating discs & have thought about this same issue.

When your back pops like that, you will be unable to toss out an anchor or just trying to release a sheet would be a chore. The slightest movements or just standing is very painful, almost to the point of being crippled.

Ross is correct, just call for assistance. You many want to consider keeping a handheld radio in the cockpit.

This may be just a random event for you but this is how back issues begin for me when I was in my mid 40's. Tying a shoe, reaching over to the side of a desk, the most simplest of movements & bam.

At the moment you having trouble walking 20'. Hope for you it doesn't get to the point where you're sitting on the john, back pops out & you can't get up!

 

[rgranger]

Mark
When you feel good enough to walk a few feet at a time. Go see a doctor. I had a back problem about 15 years ago that turned out to actually be a problem with my hamstring. The symptoms are nearly the same and it is a common thing (so says the doctor). The hamstring attaches at the base of the spine and a twing can cause the muscles at the base of the spine to spasm. That pinches nerves and the effect is similar to a ruptured disk. But much easier to treat. If you are "lucky" all you need to do is stretch that hamstring on a regular basis and you should avoid this happening again.

 

[Ross]

It is quite amazing what you can do when your life depends on it.

 

[Stu Jackson]

This gets me to thinking that, at the least, when single handing, have a handheld radio in the cockpit. I admit, I don't even have the radio on all the time...

I've had one ever since we started sailing. A radio down below is useless. You might want to check the "rules" but it would be wise to have it on all the time. I scan our Vessel Traffic Service as well as 16 whenever we're moving. A HH is cheap "insurance." I'm an engineer, too, and try to plan ahead as I mentioned in my earlier post. Still, you can be prepared, but you shouldn't "worry" -- I leave that to my mom.

 

[sailaway78]

I'm with Ross

Basically it comes down to you do what you gotta do. I single hand a lot, and at 74yo I know things can and probably will happen at some point. But that doesn't deter me from sailing, and won't as long as I am physically able. My best advice is grit your teeth, don't panic, think about the situation, and then just do what you gotta do.

 

[kenn]

Our VHF radio is mounted within easy reach, just inside the companionway. And I usually have it on all the time. Of course, our boat happens to be small, but regardless, if you have just the one VHF and it's mounted all pretty at the nav station, like you're a ham operator at home, that's kind of silly.

Ditto for horns, flares and other signalling devices. Cell phone too. Bonus marks for a light but suitable Danforth -style anchor that's deployable from the cockpit.

Most of us are fortunate to be within easy calling distance of very capable first responders. Nonetheless, it's both prudent and seamanlike to have prepared yourself and your boat to handle all the reasonably likely occurrences.

I had the opportunity to attend a US Sailing Safety at Sea seminar. It was pretty interesting and sobering. Highly recommended, if you want to face the possibilities head-on.

 

[Bill Roosa]

I'm with Stu, do preventative maintenance, that includes on the skipper and crew. I plan on sailing till my last days so I try and stay healthy by practicing an active life style. Park in the lots farther out, take the stairs up a couple of flights, develop some hobbies (like sailing) that require you to stay mobile and use your muscles.
Course you don't want to forget eating right. I try to get at least one helping of the four food groups (alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and tri-glicerides) each day.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Whazzat? tri-glicerides??? You already said rum, er, alcohol so whatzis stuff? Jello?

Gonna go watch the US Open golf now.

 

[Stu Jackson]

If I have a problem, can I keep the boat under control/out of danger and can I get help if needed......? I'm going to give that some more thought. The engineer in me says to have some procedures in mind. Obviously, you can't think of everything, but some high level things like a handheld could be very helpful. I sure have more compassion for people with chronic back problems.....

Fallback positions: Most all of us have anchor lockers. Most all of us have locks on the anchor lockers. i make it part of our leaving the dock procedures to ALWAYS unlock the anchor locker. Always. Even if I'm just going up the estuary to get some fuel (10 minutes). Why? 'Cuz back in the late 80s my daughter and I were out in our old C25 in the California Delta, narrow sloughs with riprap (rocks) as part of the levees on either side. We'd just finished up getting some supplies and were motoring out when the engine concked out (outboard). There was a huge black plastic bag wrapped around the prop. It was windy, too, blowing us against the shore. My daughter, who was maybe 13 at the time, calmly responded to my request to go forward and drop the anchor. Our C25 had a Danforth on the bow pulpit hooks with the rode in an anchor rode locker, which was OPEN. Saved the boat.

On our C34 the anchor is always out on a bow roller with the rode in the locker and is on a garden hose holder inside the locker, always ready to go. The holder was the POs idea, I think it's kinda nifty. Hadn't ever seen that before. Never woulda thought of it myself.

That's one of those "little things" that even if partially incapacitated I'm pretty sure I could deal with. I singlehand a lot. With my earlier back problem and my January 2009 skiing accident and broken leg, I'm sensitive to physical issues. Nah - my own body-abuse syndrome!

I'm always in a "What would I do if..." thought process. Sometimes I even relax when sailing, too. :cussing:

 

[Bad Obsession]

I use to live in a rural area and do some stuff on a farm on my days off. One day I was on a tractor, about a half mile back in the woods, pushing brushes out of a path in the woods. I was by myself.

As I was working I was pushing a very large tree limb with the tractor. The limb snagged a stump and it sprung over the loader. The limb landed right in the middle of my left forearm.

I could see that my arm was now deformed. At that point I went into survival mode and began to think one or two steps ahead about what I needed to do to get out of here. My first thought was to back the tractor up and clear the limb. I did this. Now I could clearly see the distortion of my arm. It was hurting, but not that bad, yet. I then tried to see if I could move my fingers (they were still gripped on the steering wheel). I could move them. I then let go of the steering wheel. My arm on that side went limp and it was hanging.

At this point I could see bones at the skin. I knew that my arm was broken badly. I began to think about what I needed to do. The main thing is that I knew that I couldn't panic.

I callled my ex wife, at that time she was still my wife. I told her to meet me at the barn and I needed to get to the hospital to have surgery on my arm. When I spoke to her I was VERY calm and collected (she was amazed). Then I told her to come down the path if she didn't see me at the barn (I was worried that I would pass out).

Once I had done that I started to drive the tractor back out of the woods down the path. Every time I hit a bump my arm would hurt (and I mean hurt). I looked down at my arm, which had began to get really painful because the muscle in my forearm was cramping due to the position of my arm and bones. I new that I needed to straighten my arm back out. I looked around and thought about fashioning a splint but I didn't want to take a long time to do that. Finally, I took my right arm, grabbed my left fingers, and pulled my arm straight. At that point the pain was at a level I can't even describe. I then let go of my hand thinking that I had set it. When I let go my arm went back to the previous position where my bones were overlapping. I then straightened my arm again and held it in place. I drove the tractor with my knees.

I managed to get out of the woods, met my ride to the hospital, and went to the hospital.

Once in the ER room they checked my blood pressure. It was NORMAL! Because I had kept myself calm, thought my way through things, and kept my breathing normal I was able to overcome a major injury.

I tell you this story to remind you of what you can accomplish if you need to. We all have this survival instinct. You are only impaired as much as you allow yourself to be.

 

[justsomeguy]

It is quite amazing what you can do when your life depends on it.

Yep. Even when you only think your life depends on it.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Matt, that why you bought a boat with a TRACTOR engine in it?

 

[Mark Maulden]

Some interesting discussion.... Being laid up for awhile, (it's getting better), I've had a chance to think about this a bit. First, all halyards/sheets/topping lift are led back to the cockpit. The radio is mounted down below all pretty like a ham (and I'm am a ham) but that's the way the boat came to me. I think I can get an extension to the mic cord which have some control functions on it. Then I need to get an external spker and then figure out what to do with it all.... for now, the hh goes outside but it's just a basic hh. The bow anchor situation is not good and is the next major project. Just a wimpy short bow roller that S2 put on about 3' back from the bow next to the cleat. The slot in the locker door cannot handle a chain as it' to small. So, a double roller off the bow etc is being engineered in my head and maybe a windlass...I do carry a light Danforth on the stern pulpit with about 15' of chain attached to a rode tied to the pulpit. Works great for a stern anchor. Also aware of physical condition as I do walk a lot and eat/drink right to get the right "food groups". Actually, my wife is pretty good about that. Other than that, also been thinking a wheel pilot. Have to work on the admiral on that one.....Maybe this last episode will help that!!!!! Stu, like to see a pix of the garden hose holder. Other than all this, I agree. You do what you gotta do...

 

[Bill Roosa]

tri-glicerides - anything not made of dairy, vegetables, fruit, grains, or meat. If it has oil in it even if it is made of one of those "bad things" above it still counts as a trigliceride so most firied foods are ok.
You have to keep your body properly oiled just like your motor!