Roger,, what is the proper place to attach the safety line,, which you then
attach yourself too?

Should there be separate lines, port and starboard?

Figured I'd ask since you kinda are on that subject.

As for retrival? Probably would be easier from the side as the boat topside
is lower to the water that the stern, in most cases.

This is one of those duties that most pleasure boat captains,, I've never
done it,,, don't get around to practicing.

===========

I would think a line to the swimmer and then wrap that line around the
winch. Get the swimmer to the boat and get a second line on the swimmer. A
secure line. Now that you know the swimmer isn't going anywhere ,,, start
using the winch and get him/her into the boat. With a little luck,, a wave
might help you out.

----
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
This is always a good time of year to think over your standard operating
procedures and decide what changes could increase your safety and boating
enjoyment. Here's a link to the description of one thing I'm going to do
differently this year:

http://home.maine.rr.com/rlma/Strider0603.htm#lifesling

Which brings up one of those questions without a clear-cut answer that
usually set off nice long newsgroup threads. What is the best way to get
the sopping wet idiot who went over the side back on board after you've
dragged him back to the boat with the lifesling?

I can't see myself paying a hundred and twenty bucks for seventy dollars
worth of blocks and line just because they come in a cute little bag. I
do want to have something dedicated and always stowed in the same spot so
I can teach people how to use it and do it myself while panicked in the
dark.

I've got an adjustable backstay so there is a nice convenient attachment
point well up the stay and just within reach. The reverse transom on my
boat makes it quite conducive to dragging someone aboard that way. I'm
trying to decide whether to make tackle to keep in a nearby locker to clip
on the backstay above the adjuster legs or to just put a single block on a
short whip with a snap shackle and run a line to a deck winch. Tackles
can tangle and be a lot of work to extend when you are in a hurry. The
single line could probably be unobtrusive enough that it could be
stoppered off with light stuff and instantly ready for use. OTOH it might
mean teaching someone how to tail and crank a winch at an awkward moment.
With the tackle, I could go down the boarding ladder and pull and assist
at the same time if I was the only one remaining aboard.

With a sea running and the boat pitching, the stern is probably too
dangerous; especially with the boarding ladder down. In that case, I
probably would opt for the spinnaker halyard and a midships retrieval. I'd
be using a winch in any event in that case.

What's your vote for the stern retrieval, three part tackle or line coiled
and ready to be led to a sheet winch?

--

Roger Long