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

Roger Long wrote:
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?

Good discussion points. I am negligent in practicing MOB on my boat.
While I do it regularly professionally, I rarely do it personally.

My thinking with regards to recovering someone from the water (me) is to
use the main boom and the vang. I can't climb aboard my boat from the
water without a ladder. My wife wouldn't be able to lift me without
significant mechanical advantage. In a panic halyards and winches would
be beyond her. Our plan is to undo the bottom of the vang and clip it
to the MOB. That would give a five to one advantage to get the MOB
aboard. The vang hangs directly over the side of the boat at midships.

Of course we normally drag a dinghy and that would be another place to
get out of the water and then back on the boat.

I think in your case, the angle of the backstay to the boat's side might
make it tough to work a tackle. I think a single line and block fails
the mechanical advantage requirement.

"Gary"

My thinking with regards to recovering someone from the water (me)
is to use the main boom and the vang.

I'm reluctant to advocate getting involved with the mainsail. Getting
an engine started when things are tense introduces a lot of
distraction and delay. If it ever isn't going to start, that will be
the time. You need the mainsail to be a sail. Getting the main down
is also not an operation I would want to undertake while trying to
keep an eye on that little head.

Circling around to make best use of a lifesling is a jibing maneuver
and everyone is going to be standing up and looking around. Bad time
to be vangless. Then, when you get the POB attached to the vang,
inattention by the helmsman could lead to a jibe. How would you like
your ribs to be the vang anchor in 30 knots of wind?

Your SOP should be as workable as possible in extreme conditions
because that's when you'll probably need it.

I think in your case, the angle of the backstay to the boat's side
might make it tough to work a tackle.

The backstay lines right up with the transom which is fairly smooth.
The boarding ladder is off to one side. I think it would be like
dragging a net of fish up the stern ramp of a dragger. Not pretty and
probably bruising to the ribs but the POB wouldn't be swinging around
and someone on the ladder could offer lots of assistance. I think it
would work except in a big seaway where the ladder and lower edge of
the transom would be a hazard as the boat pitched.


I think a single line and block fails the mechanical advantage
requirement.

Certainly. But, led to the big sheet winch? I would permanently mount
a block at the base of one of the backstay legs. The line would go up
to the hoisting block and back to the chainplate siezed to the
backstay leg at a couple of points. The coil would be taped or seized
with breakable stuff to a stern pulpit stanchion. It would just be a
matter of breaking all the light twine and pulling out less than two
feet of slack to clip into the lifesling. Then, around the winch and
crank.

I like this idea more as I think about it. Adding blocks to turn it
into a tackle makes it something that needs to be stored in a locker.
Then, you are rummaging instead of rescuing. It's also quicker to
pull out a single part if you need more slack to get to another
location, say the lifesling ends up on the quarter, than to extend a
tackle.

If I had a boat with a conventional transom and no boarding ladder,
I'd be thinking of something different although probably not the vang.

I think every boat should have a boarding ladder. What about a
portable one that goes over the side?

--

Roger Long

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

On Sat, 11 Mar 2006 01:05:41 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:

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'd vote for mid-ship retrieval using a halyard led to a winch. One
problem with any strategy is retrieving a semi concious person who may
not be able to clip on by themselves. You almost have to put a second
person over the side in that case to assist, which means using two
halyards to do it safely.

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...

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

For a stern retrieval? Hmmm... it would have to be very calm conditions for
me to try it. That said, you have the backstay, I would have some line
handy. Of course, if the person is unable to help, you'll have trouble with
that method.

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

Capt. JG wrote:
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...

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


For a stern retrieval? Hmmm... it would have to be very calm conditions for
me to try it. That said, you have the backstay, I would have some line
handy. Of course, if the person is unable to help, you'll have trouble with
that method.



In our AP calss they showed us how to tie a 'bowline on a bight' to help
retrieve a man overboard. Hopefully you could slip both legs through
the double loups and hang on.

Don White wrote:
Capt. JG wrote:
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...

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


For a stern retrieval? Hmmm... it would have to be very calm
conditions for me to try it. That said, you have the backstay, I
would have some line handy. Of course, if the person is unable to
help, you'll have trouble with that method.



In our AP calss they showed us how to tie a 'bowline on a bight' to
help retrieve a man overboard. Hopefully you could slip both legs
through the double loups and hang on.

If he's hanging onto the toerail for dear life, it would be necessary for
you to jump in alongside him to get his legs thru the bowline loops. Then
somone would have to do the same for you. Good practice though!

Dennis.

Capt. JG wrote:
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...

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


For a stern retrieval? Hmmm... it would have to be very calm conditions for
me to try it. That said, you have the backstay, I would have some line
handy. Of course, if the person is unable to help, you'll have trouble with
that method.

While sailing this weekend I was looking at this problem. Roger is
right and using the vang would be difficult. I then thought about the
lee runner. It is loose, has a four to one purchase and a snap shackle.
It would be pretty easy to put a sling on it and lower it to a man in
the water.

Comments?

Sound's perfect.

I wish I had runners (and the self tacking staysail to go with them

--

Roger Long



"Gary" wrote in message
news:A1BRf.143636$B94.105427@pd7tw3no...
Capt. JG wrote:
"Roger Long" wrote in message
...

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


For a stern retrieval? Hmmm... it would have to be very calm
conditions for me to try it. That said, you have the backstay, I
would have some line handy. Of course, if the person is unable to
help, you'll have trouble with that method.

While sailing this weekend I was looking at this problem. Roger is
right and using the vang would be difficult. I then thought about
the lee runner. It is loose, has a four to one purchase and a snap
shackle. It would be pretty easy to put a sling on it and lower it
to a man in the water.

Comments?