The Theme For This Spring is Safety!

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Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Last year I was sailing single handed. I was struck by a sudden realization that I should be taking more safety measures that I have in the past.

For years I have been cruising and single handing. I have been out in some dogged weather without even having a harness aboard the boat. There have been legs on my trips where I was cruising with another boat. The past trip was with no other boats around.

Since I was struck by this sudden feeling of being vulnerable, I have decided to up the safety on my boat.

I just ordered the materials to make jacklines. I also have a harness kit coming.

The VHF Radio on my boat is at the Nav Station. I have just ordered a floating handheld VHF. I will probably make a special attachment on the harness so that if I go forward not only am I clipped in, but the vhf is secured to me in case something happens.

I will also be updating my first aide kit.

Have you ever gone through the process of evaluating your safety plan? What changes have you made? What changes would you like to make?
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Personal locator beacon or personal EPIRB. I added a link.
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
My wife wants me to get one but it may have to wait a season. It is a bit costly but probably worth it.
 
Sailm8

Sailm8

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Feb 21, 2008
1,751
Hunter 29.5 Punta Gorda
You did not mention wearing a PFD with a harness clip. I had this same safety epiphany 10 days ago. We were sailing and I left the cockpit on the lee side to untangle a snagged jib sheet. When I got back to the cockpit I realized my wife was sound asleep down below. I just did it without thinking. Had I slipped it would have been bye bye. I plan to wear my PFD every time I leave the cockpit from now on.
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
I have done similar. First, I have to comply with offshore racing rules. That means strobe, horseshoe and pole, etc. I have a harness inflatable. I run jack lines for over night races. I have an augmented first aid kit, waterproof portable VHF, flares, wooden plugs, night sticks, Leatherman, waterproof flashlight clipped to the vest and personal strobe.

However, I am basically schizoid about clipping in. I do when I am in the cockpit or at the mast, but I have tripped over the harness and especially when single handling, think of it as more of a hazard than protection. Besides, if the boat is on AP, I couldn't get back in anyway.
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
I read an article on Ocean Navigator yesterday that stated some boating deaths were due to someone being dragged along behind the boat. If you go in the water tethered, you better be able to stop the boat or easily release your tether. Which option you decide on is obviously based on the circumstances.
 
Scott B

Scott B

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Sep 20, 2006
2,953
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Tim R. said:
I read an article on Ocean Navigator yesterday that stated some boating deaths were due to someone being dragged along behind the boat. If you go in the water tethered, you better be able to stop the boat or easily release your tether. Which option you decide on is obviously based on the circumstances.
Click to expand

Remote control for the Autopilot.
 
chuckwayne

chuckwayne

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Mar 20, 2004
1,753
Hunter 356 and 216 Portland, ME
make sure the aft end of your jackline ends forward of the transom by six feet or so-that way if you do get washed over and get dragged to the stern you still can recover. Also, trail a knotted line, or boarding ladder to give yourself an assist
 
C

CaptChuck

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Sep 29, 2008
78
Catalina 320 Buffalo
The suggestions so far are spot on. One safety item often over looked is leaving a "Float Plan" with a responsible person ashore.
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Good Point...

chuckwayne said:
make sure the aft end of your jackline ends forward of the transom by six feet or so-that way if you do get washed over and get dragged to the stern you still can recover. Also, trail a knotted line, or boarding ladder to give yourself an assist
Click to expand
I leave a small line trailing from the aft swim ladder that I can pull to drop it to hopefully give me a way back aboard. However, that's just in the slip, mooring or drifters. I have no expectation I could pull myself back to the boat at over maybe two knots.
We had friends who had a Hobie 33 (low freeboard, ULDB) and the skipper rolled under the lifelines while on a motor back from a race. I can't remember what he was doing at the time. Anyhow, his wife and he laughed and thought it was no big deal, but she had a heck of a time helping him get back aboard even after she killed the outboard.
 
R

Ray Bowles

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Oct 6, 2008
857
Hunter, Island Packet, Catalina, San Juan 26,38,22,23 Kettle Falls, Washington
I sail alone almost every time now and wear my pfd with harness at all times. I clip in with my lanyard starting when I tie in a reef and continue with it until I shake the reef out. I call my wife when leaving the marina and tell her exactly where I'm going and the approx time of return. I call again if that changes.
I sail a fresh water lake behind Grand Coulee Dam and on week days there is virtually no one else there that moniters VHF. We face many of the same obstacles as salt water boats but to a lesser degree. The exception are our storms and the warning time. The mountains surrounding the lake only allow 5 to 10 minutes, at the most, to get ready for whatever Mother Nature has brewed up. I have seen wave heights of up to 4 feet but they are very close together and quite choppy.
I sail as hard as possible most of the time and will take risks with my boat that others might not but I don't take risks that might effect my wifes future.
 
Birdman737

Birdman737

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Apr 15, 2012
36
Catalina 400 Milwaukee, WI
I've sailed singlehanded quite a bit the last four seasons, and much of the advice here seems very good.

I've used a SPOT satellite communicator in lieu of a PLB. Arguments can be made that a satellite communicator is not a real replacement for a PLB, but I decided the SPOT was a more practical piece of equipment and it can be more affordable than a PLB.

This year I may upgrade to the DeLorme inReach satellite communicator for its two way satellite texting capabilities. Both SPOT and the inReach are pretty good not only for emergencies but also as a means of "checking in" with a friend shoreside (like whoever you left the float plan with). Both can report your position to friends on an automatic basis without using a cellphone signal. My SPOT has been very helpful when friends make plans on meeting me somewhere while cruising and can check my progress, and for reassuring them that things are fine when I'm all alone in the middle of Lake Michigan. I also like that since they are used frequently, I am constantly knowing that they are working... which can be difficult with some PLBs.
 
Johnb

Johnb

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Jan 22, 2008
1,505
Hunter 37-cutter Richmond CA
Something that costs next to nothing and is so simple - get a whole bunch of whistles and hang one on every person on board. The range over which you can be heard is so much further than voice can reach.
 
Warren Milberg

Warren Milberg

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Dec 1, 1999
2,391
Hunter 28.5 Chesapeake Bay
This is a timely theme. I'm always surprised to see so many boats at my marina (600+boats) with their boarding ladders secured to the stern rail. It makes me wonder how the captains of those boats would get back aboard if they happened to fall into the drink while single handling. ... For that reason, I keep a line looped around the ladder and down along the stern to almost the water line so I could pull the ladder down (and hopefully not on my head) should I go overboard while alone. Stuff happens so be careful out there.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,353
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Warren makes a good point. One other idea is to look around your marina and find motorboats with transom extensions, if you do fall in. If not, do as Warren suggests.
 
Sailvayu

Sailvayu

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Jul 25, 2007
320
-Irwin -Citation 40 Wilmington, NC
Warren makes a very good point and a surprising number of people drown in marinas. We tend to let our guard down this close to land. I wrote an article on just that subject a couple of years ago, my girl friend lost her father in this way so it hits home.

Additionally I think everyone should take at least half a day in the spring to inspect all their basic safety gear. As a surveyor I am surprised at just how often I have to write up the most basic things. Check your flares for expiration dates, portable fire extinguisher should be replace every 10 years or less (I have seen units more that 30 years old!) Check batteries in lights and other portable equipment, the list goes on but you get the point. Almost nobody ever takes the time to do this yet it can mean the difference between life and death. I have some other articles on safety equipment on my site for those that care to learn a bit more. Not the most exciting reading I admit but important none the less.

Capt. Wayne Canning, AMS
www.projectboatzen.com
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Warren is referring to a boat underway. His marina, and mine include dock ladders through-out. I believe it is Maryland regulation. If it isn't the insurer would want them. Drowned sailors are bad for business, and the bottom line :)
 
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