"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
ups.com...
Might is the operative word.


Might is a better word than NOT. As I said, the platform is one more
option which is better than one less.

Sure, and should is an even more operative word. Most of the time, a swim
platform will not be better for MOB recover, and when it's not appropriate,
may temp someone to use it. There's nothing wrong with having a swim
platform, but to claim that it should be used for an MOB is just
wrong-headed.

It's easy to say "might" in situations. You might fall off a horse, but the
chances of that happening in the next 10 minutes are pretty low.


As I said, for distance travel, you have no place to put it.

I can stow it aboard in the locker or place it on the fordeck. It's
rolled in that locker now and there's still room for a tea party in
there. I also know of folks who tow their dinghies on long cruises. No
big deal.

Actually, it is a big deal for several reasons. If you have to "stow" it
that means you'll have to unstow it when you want to use it. I know (well,
used to know) folks who shot heroin, but that doesn't make it smart.

It's a matter of length. A proper tether
will save your life. An improper tether will end it prematurely.

Too much slack was a reference to length. In any case, people make
mistakes. And again, the swim platform is one MORE option. Nothing
changes that, Jonathan. In a perfect world you don't fall off the boat,
you have the tether set correctly, we don't fall off a boat in calm
seas, the water is warm, the crew can get a MOB up on the
beam....except sometimes none of the above is true. I'll take that swm
platform....for it's fun factor, practicality and safety.
Now if my boat interior was smaller than other 35 footers with no swim
platform I might see another side. But that's not the case. The 35s5
and some others, such as the C&C 99 or C&C 34 XL let you have the cake
and eat it too.

It's a minor option for safety during MOBs. We're not talking about a
perfect world. We're talking about being prepared and smart enough to know
what to do, so that a MOB is unlikely.

For the fun factor and practicality, I have no argument at all. I will even
stretch and say that there is some limited safety factor, but not for an
MOB. It's not safe for that when an MOB is likely.

There's nothing wrong with having a swim
platform, but to claim that it should be used for an MOB is just
wrong-headed.

Nobody anywhere has said that it should be used as such. I only
correctly pointed out that, as in the case of the Comotion rescue of
divers, it can work safely. No part of a boat is "safe" unless used
properly. Just because some putz might shoot himself in the foot with a
flaregun is no reason not to have one aboard. A swim platform can serve
as a rescue device in certain rare instances, just like a tether or a
flare gun. The difference here is that I know someone who was saved by
a platform and there's a recent case of it posted online where three
people were saved, so it's a fact...however uncomon. The platform CAN
and HAS served as a usable MOB device.

Actually, it is a big deal for several reasons. If you have to "stow" it
that means you'll have to unstow it when you want to use it.

And this is a problem for who? Lots of cruisers stow the dinghy to make
better speed. Lighter faster cruisers do best that way. It takes me 15
minutes to inflate the dinghy, less if I use the electric compressor.
It's an airdeck so it's fantastic for that.

It's a minor option for safety during MOBs. We're not talking about
a
perfect world. We're talking about being prepared and smart enough to
know
what to do, so that a MOB is unlikely.

I'm sorry, Jonathan. That "minor option" can and HAS saved lives. The
crew of Comotion got a medal for it. Last season, some idiot was saved
by a platform not far from my club. I guess it would be best if
everyone did the exact right things aboard, but as we both know...it's
just not reality. Those divers and that guy wouldn't call a platform a
"minor option." There's simply no such thing. When it comes to safety
you start with the best methods and when those fail, you try every
option available. The last could be the one that saves a life. A good
case was a fellow who fell off his IP in the slip at Capri. It was
March and he was elderly, the cold water hit him fast. Guess what saved
him?
A swim platform is a MUCH easier way to board a boat from the water.
There are plenty of situations where that can become a safety feature.
No one's saying it's the best way, but when someone goes overboard I'll
take every option available and take none lightly.
Sorry, Jonathan. You're simply dead wrong about this, factually and
historically. In addition to the case of Comotion, here's yet another
rescue using a swim platform...and medal awarded.

http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleas...ABHVoyager.htm

And the 35s5 swim platform rescue

http://www.ussailing.org/Pressreleas...HCommotion.htm

RB
35s5
NY

Oh..and as a friend recently pointed out....

Many a tired swimmer has been pulled aboard or pulled themselves aboard
a swim platform, grateful for the feature. It's actually likely that
the swim platform has served as a safety feature countless times.

RB
35s5...the safer boat
NY

But, what you're saying is that this option was a prime consideration in
your purchase of your boat because of its safety feature.

Hate to tell you, but I'm dead right... the link below describes a trawler,
not a sailboat. He also used a lifesling.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
oups.com...
There's nothing wrong with having a swim
platform, but to claim that it should be used for an MOB is just
wrong-headed.

Nobody anywhere has said that it should be used as such. I only
correctly pointed out that, as in the case of the Comotion rescue of
divers, it can work safely. No part of a boat is "safe" unless used
properly. Just because some putz might shoot himself in the foot with a
flaregun is no reason not to have one aboard. A swim platform can serve
as a rescue device in certain rare instances, just like a tether or a
flare gun. The difference here is that I know someone who was saved by
a platform and there's a recent case of it posted online where three
people were saved, so it's a fact...however uncomon. The platform CAN
and HAS served as a usable MOB device.

Actually, it is a big deal for several reasons. If you have to "stow" it
that means you'll have to unstow it when you want to use it.

And this is a problem for who? Lots of cruisers stow the dinghy to make
better speed. Lighter faster cruisers do best that way. It takes me 15
minutes to inflate the dinghy, less if I use the electric compressor.
It's an airdeck so it's fantastic for that.

It's a minor option for safety during MOBs. We're not talking about
a
perfect world. We're talking about being prepared and smart enough to
know
what to do, so that a MOB is unlikely.

I'm sorry, Jonathan. That "minor option" can and HAS saved lives. The
crew of Comotion got a medal for it. Last season, some idiot was saved
by a platform not far from my club. I guess it would be best if
everyone did the exact right things aboard, but as we both know...it's
just not reality. Those divers and that guy wouldn't call a platform a
"minor option." There's simply no such thing. When it comes to safety
you start with the best methods and when those fail, you try every
option available. The last could be the one that saves a life. A good
case was a fellow who fell off his IP in the slip at Capri. It was
March and he was elderly, the cold water hit him fast. Guess what saved
him?
A swim platform is a MUCH easier way to board a boat from the water.
There are plenty of situations where that can become a safety feature.
No one's saying it's the best way, but when someone goes overboard I'll
take every option available and take none lightly.
Sorry, Jonathan. You're simply dead wrong about this, factually and
historically. In addition to the case of Comotion, here's yet another
rescue using a swim platform...and medal awarded.

http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleas...ABHVoyager.htm

And the 35s5 swim platform rescue

http://www.ussailing.org/Pressreleas...HCommotion.htm

RB
35s5
NY

But, what you're saying is that this option was a prime consideration
in
your purchase of your boat because of its safety feature.


NEVER EVER did I post such a thing, Jonathan. I like the swim platform
mainly because they are a ton of fun, especially for the kids.
In fact...in every response to you I've stated that in NO WAY is the
platform a prime safety feature. Yet history shows it has been used
again and again to save lives and obviously many times not recorded.
It's silly to argue otherwise. No one is suggesting the platform be
used instead of SOP, only that a swim platform COULD and HAS been a
viable option. That gives a 35s5 one more way to save a life in
experienced hands.

Hate to tell you, but I'm dead right... the link below describes a
trawler,
not a sailboat. He also used a lifesling.

This is getting pretty silly. Trawler, sailboat or Multihull....the
swim platform CAN and HAS saved lives. Using it with a lifesling
doesn't mean they were able to get the victim aboard without the
platform. Clearly they did what worked, which meant using the sling
COMBINED with the platform.
You're just not making any sense. It's as if you're pretending that I'm
saying the platform is the best MOB device, which I never said or
implied anywhere. You can't argue with history. Or you can...but not
with me.

Here's another rescue...keep in mind that the swim platform should
never be used during a passive recovery of course.

http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Resc...01_erie_oh.htm

History, Jonathan. The swim platform HAS saved lives. Is it the best
course of action? No one has said that it is.

Hell...the swim platform can even save your dog!!!!

http://www.pembrokecorgi.org/art_boating.html



RB
35s5...the safer boat
NY

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
ps.com...

NEVER EVER did I post such a thing, Jonathan. I like the swim platform
mainly because they are a ton of fun, especially for the kids.


Kids really don't like playing in water over their heads until they are
SEVERAL years old. So how are you going to back that pig up to the shore?

Are you going to tow them in some type of tube behind the boat?

Amen!

Kids really don't like playing in water over their heads until they are

SEVERAL years old.


Ever hear of flotation devices and water swimming aids for children?
Ever see toddler and infant swimming lessons? The water is over their
heads. My best friend's 1 year old daughter had a blast in deep water
last summer.
Stop making dumb stuff up!
You were right about the Sea lions though.

RB
35s5
NY

Yuck!


"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
oups.com...
Kids really don't like playing in water over their heads until
they are

SEVERAL years old.


They can grab on to a floating turd and
drift in.

RB
35s5 the limo version of the Mac26X

Ok. I stand corrected. However, claiming that it has been used again and
again to "save lives" is a gross exaggeration.

I don't think it's silly at all. It seems like a pretty important
discussion... especially if someone is mislead into thinking that a swim
platform is position of choice to recover someone from the water in all but
the most benign conditions.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Capt. Rob" wrote in message
ps.com...
But, what you're saying is that this option was a prime consideration
in
your purchase of your boat because of its safety feature.


NEVER EVER did I post such a thing, Jonathan. I like the swim platform
mainly because they are a ton of fun, especially for the kids.
In fact...in every response to you I've stated that in NO WAY is the
platform a prime safety feature. Yet history shows it has been used
again and again to save lives and obviously many times not recorded.
It's silly to argue otherwise. No one is suggesting the platform be
used instead of SOP, only that a swim platform COULD and HAS been a
viable option. That gives a 35s5 one more way to save a life in
experienced hands.

Hate to tell you, but I'm dead right... the link below describes a
trawler,
not a sailboat. He also used a lifesling.

This is getting pretty silly. Trawler, sailboat or Multihull....the
swim platform CAN and HAS saved lives. Using it with a lifesling
doesn't mean they were able to get the victim aboard without the
platform. Clearly they did what worked, which meant using the sling
COMBINED with the platform.
You're just not making any sense. It's as if you're pretending that I'm
saying the platform is the best MOB device, which I never said or
implied anywhere. You can't argue with history. Or you can...but not
with me.

Here's another rescue...keep in mind that the swim platform should
never be used during a passive recovery of course.

http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Resc...01_erie_oh.htm

History, Jonathan. The swim platform HAS saved lives. Is it the best
course of action? No one has said that it is.

Hell...the swim platform can even save your dog!!!!

http://www.pembrokecorgi.org/art_boating.html



RB
35s5...the safer boat
NY

especially if someone is mislead into thinking that a swim
platform is position of choice to recover someone from the water in all
but
the most benign conditions.


Benign conditions, especially in very cold water, have led to deaths.
So we can agree than in certain conditions a swim platform MIGHT come
in handy...which is all I ever said.
Still, I know someone who would have died without one.

RB
35s5
NY