Singlehanded MOB Procedure

JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,745
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
LeslieTroyer said:
sorry ass back on board
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Well we have tested method for bringing "semi-dead weight" on board using our life sling.

Many boats are not so equipped with a sugar scoop swim ladder but she can wrap the life sling line around a winch and crank a person aboard.

I plan to land my 600 lb dream Yellow Fin Tuna the same way!!
Jim...

PS: We have a 1500 lb electric wench too.;)
 
J

jeepbluetj

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Jan 18, 2016
782
Catalina 387 Dana Point
Hayden Watson said:
If it is blowing like stink you will (should) have a reef in the main and partially rolled jib. My experience is that for any given wind, the proper sail area for controlled sailing is the correct sail area for hove-to. This isn't to say that you will not need to use the motor but it does allow you to sit relatively in one place will little effort.
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Oh, I agree. I'd personally be under reduced sail 15-20ish. But when it's blowing enough for reduced sails, there's also a lot more chop (and possibly swell) which makes keeping an eye on the MOB that much more difficult. Also gybing becomes more interesting because of the pressures involved.
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,182
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
jeepbluetj said:
Oh, I agree. I'd personally be under reduced sail 15-20ish. But when it's blowing enough for reduced sails, there's also a lot more chop (and possibly swell) which makes keeping an eye on the MOB that much more difficult. Also gybing becomes more interesting because of the pressures involved.
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I have always assumed if I go over, I'm dead. My wife couldn't handle it even though she thinks she could. (Hopefully, I have my vest on.) Same with crew. We did a few MOB drills but that was in calm conditions. However, it did convince me that the (regulation) horseshoe, pole and light would take the crew so much time to deploy, the MOB would likely be out of sight, much less close to all the gear. So, I purchased a Dan Buoy after seeing a demo. And I have a heaving line on the rail next to it. At least I hope it gives the MOB a marker and if needed, a strap to hang on to. I did purchase a holder for it and some rail clamps so it doesn't stay outside unless we're underway. I do insist my crew wear a vest or pack when on deck during daylight and always at night. I sailed a 26 T-Bird singlehanded for nearly 20 years that had no lifelines. I did wear a harness and tether, but it would have been hard to get back aboard, if even possible. I tried it once and did but wouldn't want to count on it.
Here is a link to the DanBuoy and to a similar one sold on this site:
http://www.danbuoy.com/
http://shop.hunterowners.com/prod.php?5485
 
Roland5048

Roland5048

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May 12, 2004
1,505
Hunter Cherubini 30 New Port Richey
AlastairLC said:
Capta & Roland,
It's all very well to say, "Don't fall overboard", but people do, and not always in gale-force conditions. If it ever happens to me, heaven forbid, I'm not just going to sail away and leave the poor bloke to drown. That's why I'm interested in learning the best way to handle it.
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I can only speak for myself. Yes, people do fall overboard. It's gonna happen to someone, sometime, somewhere. That's why it's important to practice MOB retrieval skills in differing weather conditions. It's also important to instruct others on how to best stay aboard. When I take charterers out there is always a short lesson on how to stay safe. If I feel someone is not taking what I have said to heart, they are forbidden to go forward on deck. If they continue to be a danger, we go back to port. No questions asked. After 30 years I have not had anyone go over but I have had to restrict a few to the cockpit. As far as learning the best way, that should read best ways. Like was said before, every situation is different.
 
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B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,164
CC 30 South Florida
That is the function of the MOB feature on your chartplotter; to get you back to the point where the crewman fell overboard. You will likely not see him until you are almost on top of him. The old method was to drop a float with a stick, a light and a flag at the spot as it can be seen at a distance. Loosening the sheets and turning the engine on is advisable.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,818
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Rick D said:
I have always assumed if I go over, I'm dead.
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I'm a Plus 1:plus: with you Rick.
I am working as many angles as possible but figure If I go over the lifelines it will not be long before I become flotsam attached to the side of the boat. :hook2:
What are my strategies:
  1. Solo sailing means always wearing a PDF:yeah:
  2. While the sunny days mean balmy minds, when out of the port I run a center jack line bow to stern with tethers in the cockpit for the trip forward to the Mast and at the mast for a trip to the bow. When moving between tethers clip on then clip off is the rule.
  3. A Dry suit which allows movement about the boat yet will help slow the chill of the PacNW water till the CG can find me.
  4. A portable VHF radio with GPS to reach out and talk to someone.
  5. A PDF with lighted bladder, a firefly strobe, a whistle and a dye marker. At the least they may find the body. Having a sea hood on the PDF is must as it may help me breath should I go into the water.
  6. Paid up insurance plan. So the Admiral can get along if I am swimming with the fishes. :yikes: Maybe I shared too much... You guys are all witnesses if I suddenly go missing.:worship:
 
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AlastairLC

AlastairLC

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Jan 2, 2017
765
O'Day & Islander 322 & 37 Scottsdale, AZ & Owls Head, ME
When I took the ASA courses (many years ago) there were three other students plus the instructor. When doing MOB drills, one student was at the helm, one did nothing but point, and the other two handled the sheets. No problem!
Only the 6-8 boat-length figure-eight procedure was taught. In my naïveté, I didn't ask, "But what if I'm the only one still aboard?"
Seems to me the ASA needs to teach that drill as well, with emphasis on quick stop, maybe engine, and how to winch the poor helpless sucker aboard.
 
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LeslieTroyer

LeslieTroyer

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May 20, 2016
3,015
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
I have found myself in the sound back in high school while racing El Toros. The rescue boat was off goofing around and I was in the water for what seemed like for ever but probably 8-10 minutes. A passing T-bird picked me out of the water. I was lucky the have low freeboard. I spent 30 minutes in a warm to hot shower and was still shaking with cold. Much more than 15 minutes it would have been toast.

Les
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,818
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
That's a visit I would not desire.
 
Parsons

Parsons

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Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
AlastairLC said:
Seems to me the ASA needs to teach that drill as well, with emphasis on quick stop, maybe engine, and how to winch the poor helpless sucker aboard.
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I'm sure we have several ASA instructors on here, so I'll answer from the point of view of a student that went though all the courses. It was not until much later in the series (106?) that someone talked about lifting the poor MOB on-board and that was by throwing a five-gallon bucket over with a fender to simulate some weight. 20 kilos of water is nothing like a full-grown, dressed adult, but it does make you think about the problem of the 'last two meters' - straight up.

As has been discussed here several times, ASA is balancing 'selling' sail chartering as a fun vacation activity, and transmitting useful knowledge. The courses mention MOB, weather, emergencies, etc. but does not try to scare the S&*% out of the future charter customers. I can understand this philosophy, but I take the "ASA charter certified" captain with a grain of salt. If all sailors talked about was the thousands of ways you could die (painfully and alone), this would be an even smaller sport than it already is. The good ASA instructors teach safety well, but that's usually in comments outside of the textbook.
 
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M

MitchM

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Jan 20, 2005
1,031
Nauticat 321 pilothouse 32 Erie PA
and while starting those maneuvers, throw an old fashioned MOB pole from fore spar.. an old fashioned horse shoe buoy.. and hit the new fashioned MOB on the autopilot...
 
Hayden Watson

Hayden Watson

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Apr 5, 2009
3,098
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
All this talk about our wives trying to get our sorry overweight bodies back aboard got me to thinking. As I stated, my preferred technique from any point of sail above a broad reach is to immediately hove-to by tacking and with no adjustments I have stopped the boat to windward of the MOB. If reaching you should trim the jib in as the boat is rounding up for the tack so that it is sheeted tight and back winded.
Having hove-to hundreds of times in wind conditions from 2 to 40 knots I know that once into that position, my boat will stay there and drift slowly down wind at 0 to 4 knots depending on wind. Like I said in an earlier post I hove-to at least once on nearly every sail so am very comfortable with how stable everything gets.
So what I am thinking is that given many hours of proof that the boat is affectively parked with no need for further action, why not use the dingy to go retrieve that MOB that is within several boat lengths of my position. I know from experience that I and my wife can get another person into the dingy because that is how we used to get back aboard before we had a boat with a stern ladder. Unless I am racing I always have the dingy in tow with it cleated a couple of feet astern and outboard mounted.
I am thinking that this might be the fastest and safest way to retrieve an MOB on to the boat in any wind less than 30 knots.
Given that the water temperature in Puget Sound is in the 50's year around anything more that about 15 minutes is likely not survivable. Speed is the first priority.
 
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Daveinet

Daveinet

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Sep 20, 2014
1,328
Rob Legg RL24 Chain O'Lakes
Why use a dingy? Just throw a line.

I'm also try to figure out - Don't you guy's boats have swim ladders? That is how our MOB's got back on board.
 
Hayden Watson

Hayden Watson

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Apr 5, 2009
3,098
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
Daveinet said:
Why use a dingy? Just throw a line.

I'm also try to figure out - Don't you guy's boats have swim ladders? That is how our MOB's got back on board.
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10 minutes in 55º water and you likely will not be able to climb by your self. I have a 50' heaving line and that would be the first choice. https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-793-T...8&qid=1506788196&sr=8-1&keywords=heaving+line
If we were not in range of that throw or the throw missed and the MOB could not get to the line I think the next best option would be to leave the boat parked hove-to and use the dingy as a retrieval boat.
 
AlastairLC

AlastairLC

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Jan 2, 2017
765
O'Day & Islander 322 & 37 Scottsdale, AZ & Owls Head, ME
marke14 said:
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I think the video Marke14 cited should be required viewing by all skippers.
After viewing it and reading all your helpful comments, I'm concluding that for singlehanded MOB recovery the salient points are:
1. Immediately stop the boat (you have no spotter and retrieval will take longer);
2. Minimize sail handling (no one to do it for you);
3. Therefore, heave to and stop boat to windward of MOB;
4. Need easy maneuverability, therefore start engine and release (or furl/drop sails);
5. Toss lifesling or throw bag and haul MOB to boat;
6. Use halyard and winch to bring a deadweight MOB onto swim platform (or over the side if none).
Any comments, pro or con?
I plan to test this out (with my crew doing nothing except timing) in different wind conditions and points of sail.
 
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