For many sailors, the season is just starting again. And unless you sail in the deep south, the water is still pretty cold. That means that if you, or one of your crew, should go overboard, it would be really important to get back aboard before hypothermia sets in. What you would do if you had to rescue a person in the water? Do you have a set of procedures for a MOB situation? How often do you practice them? If you've had to use them, how did they work? And what procedures do you have if your were single handling and went overboard? How well are you and your boat equipped for such an emergency? Share your views about how you would deal with a MOB situation -- of a crew member or you -- and then take the Quick Quiz on the homepage. (Discussion topic and quiz by Warren Milberg)
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UK Halsey Movie
If you haven't seen the UK Halsey movie about this topic in their learning center, it's worth a look... http://www.ukhalsey.com/LearningCenter/mob.asp B
If you haven't seen the UK Halsey movie about this topic in their learning center, it's worth a look... http://www.ukhalsey.com/LearningCenter/mob.asp B
mob
when we were sailing off the coast of California we practiced MOB procedures quite often....my son was seven at the time. at any time one of us throw off an old life jacket. each person had his job when this happened. my son usually kept the jacket in sight. my wife would relay his info to me and i would round up the boat and proceed to manuever around to pick up the jacket. We would usually drop the mizzen and swing it out with a lifering attached. As we came along side one of us would go into the water in a wet suit and assist the "man overboard" into the ring to be hoisted aboard. then we would hoist the assistant aboard. using the winch even my seven year old son could retrieve an adult. We never lost a MOB and it really honed our cooperative skills.
when we were sailing off the coast of California we practiced MOB procedures quite often....my son was seven at the time. at any time one of us throw off an old life jacket. each person had his job when this happened. my son usually kept the jacket in sight. my wife would relay his info to me and i would round up the boat and proceed to manuever around to pick up the jacket. We would usually drop the mizzen and swing it out with a lifering attached. As we came along side one of us would go into the water in a wet suit and assist the "man overboard" into the ring to be hoisted aboard. then we would hoist the assistant aboard. using the winch even my seven year old son could retrieve an adult. We never lost a MOB and it really honed our cooperative skills.
Never will happen to me
MOB drills are an important part of sailing. People have the idea that they will never have to use it because they will never fall overboard. This is a very wrong attitude. It just takes one slip and your overboard. If you have A MOB procedure in place it ends up a person getting wet and everbody has a good joke to tell at the club. If there isn't a MOB procdure in place it could be a disaster.
MOB drills are an important part of sailing. People have the idea that they will never have to use it because they will never fall overboard. This is a very wrong attitude. It just takes one slip and your overboard. If you have A MOB procedure in place it ends up a person getting wet and everbody has a good joke to tell at the club. If there isn't a MOB procdure in place it could be a disaster.
A little snickering
This is a serious subject, however aside from requiring all to wear belts, PFD's for anyone in the cockpit (and all children), a command for all extras to point at any MOB whilst I'm making the appropriate directional manuevers and then loosing sail to a stop, tossing float line and grabbing arms and belt to hoist inboard, I have some insteresting humor: My dockmate has a regimented policy of always attaching his MOB gear to the stern rail with proper mount, horse shoe ring, plenty of line, a bouy and all neatly and securely hitched ready to pay out. There's only one note, he's almost always the only one on board. snicker....snort....chortle....I rib him on this as often as possible. He still does it anyway out of habit.
This is a serious subject, however aside from requiring all to wear belts, PFD's for anyone in the cockpit (and all children), a command for all extras to point at any MOB whilst I'm making the appropriate directional manuevers and then loosing sail to a stop, tossing float line and grabbing arms and belt to hoist inboard, I have some insteresting humor: My dockmate has a regimented policy of always attaching his MOB gear to the stern rail with proper mount, horse shoe ring, plenty of line, a bouy and all neatly and securely hitched ready to pay out. There's only one note, he's almost always the only one on board. snicker....snort....chortle....I rib him on this as often as possible. He still does it anyway out of habit.
MOB
This is only my 3rd season coming up and I hadn't given near enough thought to this subject, maybe because I've only daysailed so far. Over the winter I looked and read this and that, and I liked the block and tackle setup that Lifesling markets. I decided to make my own using two triples (6:1 setup) with a ratchet and cam on the top block. It's usually just the two of us, so I'm hoping this'll allow either of us to get the other back onboard. I have no swim platform, and the ladder isn't the easiest, but even with a platform the MOB might be unable to climb up. First, Lifesling to get the MOB tied alongside, then hoist the ratchet/cam block 8 or so feet up the mast with a halyard, and then throw the bottom block to the MOB. I have a foot of line with an easy to snap carabiner attached to that block that the MOB can use to attach to the Lifesling. That would seem easier to handle with stiff hands then trying to hold the block and manipulate a directly-attached carabiner. I'm not sure about using the ratchet or the cam on the block for hoisting. I like the cam as the MOB can then be immediately lowered to the deck, as long as the line can be easily popped out of the cam. If not, we'll use the ratchet and then switch to the halyard to lower the MOB. I know, this does make a couple assumptions, and I know what happens when you ASS-U-ME. The first is that the MOB can get into the Lifesling, but that's not too unreasonable I think. The second is that the MOB will be able to snap on the carabiner, again not too unreasonable. Also, I just got the second block, so I haven't tested whether my partner can lift me with a 6:1 yet, but I do have an ascender for mast-climbing that she can attach to the line for extra grip if she has a hard time using her bare hands. I'm thinking that 240 (me, soaking wet), at 6:1, isn't too heavy, even with the friction of the sheaves. We launch next week but will wait to the water warms up some for a real test. I'm a new kid in town so I won't pretend to have the best answers but I'm hoping that this kind of plan, practiced a few times, will ease her mind when we finally get outta sight of land. My next purchase will be jacklines and tethers for our Sospenders w/harnesses though. Maybe that shoulda been my first purchase.
This is only my 3rd season coming up and I hadn't given near enough thought to this subject, maybe because I've only daysailed so far. Over the winter I looked and read this and that, and I liked the block and tackle setup that Lifesling markets. I decided to make my own using two triples (6:1 setup) with a ratchet and cam on the top block. It's usually just the two of us, so I'm hoping this'll allow either of us to get the other back onboard. I have no swim platform, and the ladder isn't the easiest, but even with a platform the MOB might be unable to climb up. First, Lifesling to get the MOB tied alongside, then hoist the ratchet/cam block 8 or so feet up the mast with a halyard, and then throw the bottom block to the MOB. I have a foot of line with an easy to snap carabiner attached to that block that the MOB can use to attach to the Lifesling. That would seem easier to handle with stiff hands then trying to hold the block and manipulate a directly-attached carabiner. I'm not sure about using the ratchet or the cam on the block for hoisting. I like the cam as the MOB can then be immediately lowered to the deck, as long as the line can be easily popped out of the cam. If not, we'll use the ratchet and then switch to the halyard to lower the MOB. I know, this does make a couple assumptions, and I know what happens when you ASS-U-ME. The first is that the MOB can get into the Lifesling, but that's not too unreasonable I think. The second is that the MOB will be able to snap on the carabiner, again not too unreasonable. Also, I just got the second block, so I haven't tested whether my partner can lift me with a 6:1 yet, but I do have an ascender for mast-climbing that she can attach to the line for extra grip if she has a hard time using her bare hands. I'm thinking that 240 (me, soaking wet), at 6:1, isn't too heavy, even with the friction of the sheaves. We launch next week but will wait to the water warms up some for a real test. I'm a new kid in town so I won't pretend to have the best answers but I'm hoping that this kind of plan, practiced a few times, will ease her mind when we finally get outta sight of land. My next purchase will be jacklines and tethers for our Sospenders w/harnesses though. Maybe that shoulda been my first purchase.
Lots of practice -- picking up trash
We practice figure 8 MOB drill all the time. Whenever we see a soda bottle, can or even a hat in the water, we pick it up while under sail. It gives us a good opportunity to practice MOB...and helps keep the lake litter free. Whoever is at the helm calls the MOB drill and gives directions. We use a boat hook on a hat, but have to be close enough to grab a bottle or can off the stern. We rarely have to go around a second time. Picked up a looks like new Bass Pro hat a couple of weeks ago in 20 knot winds. We have standard MOB equipment on board: Life Sling, life jackets, throwable square seats/PFD, and a 4:1 block and tackle (can clip to a halyard, end of the boom or stern pulpit to help onto the swim platform.) Anyone under 18 wears a life jacket unless parents are on board and say they can swim and it's OK not to. Anyone who can't swim wears life vest unless below. We have Mustang and SO-Spenders inflatable vests with harness. I don't single hand very often. But I wear my Mustang and clip onto pedestal. The safety line is short enough I can't go overboard, yet long enough to reach all lines in the cockpit. The only real MOB was on a night sail. A crew fell overboard. We through him a throwable PFD and had him back on board in less than 5 minutes. Safe sailing. Mark
We practice figure 8 MOB drill all the time. Whenever we see a soda bottle, can or even a hat in the water, we pick it up while under sail. It gives us a good opportunity to practice MOB...and helps keep the lake litter free. Whoever is at the helm calls the MOB drill and gives directions. We use a boat hook on a hat, but have to be close enough to grab a bottle or can off the stern. We rarely have to go around a second time. Picked up a looks like new Bass Pro hat a couple of weeks ago in 20 knot winds. We have standard MOB equipment on board: Life Sling, life jackets, throwable square seats/PFD, and a 4:1 block and tackle (can clip to a halyard, end of the boom or stern pulpit to help onto the swim platform.) Anyone under 18 wears a life jacket unless parents are on board and say they can swim and it's OK not to. Anyone who can't swim wears life vest unless below. We have Mustang and SO-Spenders inflatable vests with harness. I don't single hand very often. But I wear my Mustang and clip onto pedestal. The safety line is short enough I can't go overboard, yet long enough to reach all lines in the cockpit. The only real MOB was on a night sail. A crew fell overboard. We through him a throwable PFD and had him back on board in less than 5 minutes. Safe sailing. Mark
Great topic...
I single hand my boat most of the time. Few years ago, I almost went over the stern when I stood up to gain leverage on a sheet winch. The line came off the top of the winch and I started going backward -- fast. If it were not for a lucky grad of the backstay, I woulda been history. Now I always sail with an inflatable PFD on , no matter what the weather. And I've rigged a line to my boarding ladder to that I could grab it and get it down if I were in the drink looking up at that slippery topsides.... Be careful out there folks. Stuff does happen, and usually in good weather when you least expect it.
I single hand my boat most of the time. Few years ago, I almost went over the stern when I stood up to gain leverage on a sheet winch. The line came off the top of the winch and I started going backward -- fast. If it were not for a lucky grad of the backstay, I woulda been history. Now I always sail with an inflatable PFD on , no matter what the weather. And I've rigged a line to my boarding ladder to that I could grab it and get it down if I were in the drink looking up at that slippery topsides.... Be careful out there folks. Stuff does happen, and usually in good weather when you least expect it.
crew training
I teach new boaters for a national boating club ,and the thing I can't stress enough is to wear your pfd and let everyone onboard know what to do if someone goes ob. Knowing how to use the MOB feature on a gps ,having a throw device in the cocpit ' not below , and having the spotter point and hold the mob position, and keep pointing until your sure you can get him . I did several MOB exercises in the navy on a small boat. After not locating the dummy one day , we had no problem wearing our pfds after that !
I teach new boaters for a national boating club ,and the thing I can't stress enough is to wear your pfd and let everyone onboard know what to do if someone goes ob. Knowing how to use the MOB feature on a gps ,having a throw device in the cocpit ' not below , and having the spotter point and hold the mob position, and keep pointing until your sure you can get him . I did several MOB exercises in the navy on a small boat. After not locating the dummy one day , we had no problem wearing our pfds after that !
NOT SO LUCKY!!
Does YOUR crew know how do do a MOB for YOU? Rocky Mountain News, Denver, CO May 11, 2007 The body of a 62-year-old Englewood man was recovered late Wednesday from Cherry Creek Reservoir, three hours after he fell from a sailboat. The victim, who was sailing with four friends, was identified by the Arapahoe County coroner's office as Robert Snare. Snare's body was found by members of the Metro Dive Team, using sonar devices, about 20 feet underwater and 400 to 500 yards offshore on the northeast side of the reservoir. Witnesses told Cherry Creek State Park rangers that Snare was adjusting a sail at the front of the boat when strong winds caused him to fall into the water, according to Andy Lyon, a spokesman for South Metro Fire Rescue. The other people on the boat began to lower the sail, start the motor and head toward the location where Snare had fallen in, but he disappeared under water before they could get to him, according to Lyon. A 911 call was placed about 7:30 p.m. Snare wasn't wearing a life jacket, authorities said. END OF NEWS ARTICLE ........... Lake water at 5000 feet in early May at 730pm is COLD!!! lifejacket = tratement for hypotermia.
Does YOUR crew know how do do a MOB for YOU? Rocky Mountain News, Denver, CO May 11, 2007 The body of a 62-year-old Englewood man was recovered late Wednesday from Cherry Creek Reservoir, three hours after he fell from a sailboat. The victim, who was sailing with four friends, was identified by the Arapahoe County coroner's office as Robert Snare. Snare's body was found by members of the Metro Dive Team, using sonar devices, about 20 feet underwater and 400 to 500 yards offshore on the northeast side of the reservoir. Witnesses told Cherry Creek State Park rangers that Snare was adjusting a sail at the front of the boat when strong winds caused him to fall into the water, according to Andy Lyon, a spokesman for South Metro Fire Rescue. The other people on the boat began to lower the sail, start the motor and head toward the location where Snare had fallen in, but he disappeared under water before they could get to him, according to Lyon. A 911 call was placed about 7:30 p.m. Snare wasn't wearing a life jacket, authorities said. END OF NEWS ARTICLE ........... Lake water at 5000 feet in early May at 730pm is COLD!!! lifejacket = tratement for hypotermia.
I'm Gonna die!
Although I believe I could retrieve a MOB if I were on board, I have much less confidence that I would be retrieved if I were the MOB. Most of my sailing is with myself & my wife on board, and although she is pretty good crew when it comes to working the sails, she is Very bashfull about working the tiller, and if I were to go over the side she would have little experience controlling the boat. Oh well, nobody lives forever!
Although I believe I could retrieve a MOB if I were on board, I have much less confidence that I would be retrieved if I were the MOB. Most of my sailing is with myself & my wife on board, and although she is pretty good crew when it comes to working the sails, she is Very bashfull about working the tiller, and if I were to go over the side she would have little experience controlling the boat. Oh well, nobody lives forever!
Inexperienced crew
The fact that most of us sail with inexperienced crew, whether that be the wife/husband or simply a daysail with friends, it seems that we all take risk. If we are the ones that need to survive to sail the boat again, we should be taking better precautions ourselves. I don't know that my regular crew could do a MOB maneuver without me, not yet anyway. I was just out on a cold lake last week-I wore a life jacket and wetsuit. When I single hand a boat I always wear a harness too and clip to a jackline.
The fact that most of us sail with inexperienced crew, whether that be the wife/husband or simply a daysail with friends, it seems that we all take risk. If we are the ones that need to survive to sail the boat again, we should be taking better precautions ourselves. I don't know that my regular crew could do a MOB maneuver without me, not yet anyway. I was just out on a cold lake last week-I wore a life jacket and wetsuit. When I single hand a boat I always wear a harness too and clip to a jackline.
I started doing MOB drills
with my wife who'd never take the tiller. I had her run the boat completely while I sat and coached (if I fell off she's have to do it herself). After a few comical attempts, she got pretty good at it both running up and downwind. She also decided she liked to drive and really enjoyed the sailing that day in winds that would normally make her nervous but not while she was driving. Now I make it a point to do MOB's with new crew or have at least one person on the sail who's practiced MOB's with me before. When I'm single, I tether up.
with my wife who'd never take the tiller. I had her run the boat completely while I sat and coached (if I fell off she's have to do it herself). After a few comical attempts, she got pretty good at it both running up and downwind. She also decided she liked to drive and really enjoyed the sailing that day in winds that would normally make her nervous but not while she was driving. Now I make it a point to do MOB's with new crew or have at least one person on the sail who's practiced MOB's with me before. When I'm single, I tether up.
Now What ?
This got me to thinking how would I get the wife back on-board. I know she couldn't climb the ladder, and probably neigher could I, without some assistance. Could something like a spinnaker halyard be used to help assist someone up a ladder located near the shrouds ? Clip the halyard to a ring on a safety harness ? The use the winch to help lift .... Any thoughts ?
This got me to thinking how would I get the wife back on-board. I know she couldn't climb the ladder, and probably neigher could I, without some assistance. Could something like a spinnaker halyard be used to help assist someone up a ladder located near the shrouds ? Clip the halyard to a ring on a safety harness ? The use the winch to help lift .... Any thoughts ?
Final results
Final results for the Quick Qiz ending May 13, 2007: MOB procedures on my boat: 43% Are practiced irregularly 38% Are not practiced 11% Are practiced regularly 08% What's MOB mean?
Final results for the Quick Qiz ending May 13, 2007: MOB procedures on my boat: 43% Are practiced irregularly 38% Are not practiced 11% Are practiced regularly 08% What's MOB mean?
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