The compiled results of a few weeks' research into recommended MOB
prodecures from a variety of sources.......

Mentioned this topic briefly before.


Man Overboard!


A news-byte the day after Seattle's Seafair celebration was
disheartening. "A 54-year old boat owner is missing and presumed
drowned in Lake Washington. The man was last seen diving from his boat
to assist a swimmer in distress. Police say the man was not wearing a
life jacket, and they are searching for his body in 200-feet of water.
The distressed swimmer was wearing a life jacket, and was successfully
rescued."

Selfless heroics aside, leaping into the water to assist a man
overboard (MOB) is normally the worst option, and with a few specific
exceptions should be considered only as a last resort. Greater
attention to proper MOB procedures might prevent similar tragedies in
the future. Had the 54-year old boat owner been familiar with proper
rescue and recovery techniques, he would probably have made a
different choice and enjoyed a different result.

Distilling useful MOB advice from a number of authoritative and expert
sources allows us to prepare the following list of considerations.

Preparation:

We never get a second chance to make a first impression, nor to
prepare in advance for an emergency. Decisions made in at atmosphere
bordering on panic will seldom be as appropriate as those made during
deliberate training. Having the proper equipment available for use in
a MOB emergency and knowing how to use it effectively can easily and
literally be the difference between life and death.

In dark or foggy conditions, or in confused seas, it may be difficult
to maintain visual contact with a MOB. Professional mariners equip
PFD's with whistles, to allow a MOB to assist in establishing his or
her location relative to the rescuers. Adding a whistle to every PFD
onboard is a relatively inexpensive upgrade to most standard issue
life vests. Small flashlights or strobe lights suitable for signaling
position after dark are available beginning at prices under $15, and
even an iridescent "glow stick" would be better than no visual
indicator at all. Of course, if the MOB isn't wearing a PFD then an
arsenal of whistles and signaling devices attached would be of little
use.

USCG safety requirements require a "Type IV throwable device" aboard
every boat over 16-feet in length. A "Type IV" device can be as basic
as a floating boat cushion, and no throwable device of any greater
sophistication will be found aboard many pleasure boats- even into the
40-60 foot categories. A ring buoy or horseshoe buoy would be a better
choice, and when marked with reflective tape such a device may be more
visible after dark. At least one throwable device should be attached
to a length of polypropylene rope. A "poly" line will float, keeping
it away from the propellers during recovery and providing something to
which a MOB can cling should the device itself be overthrown.
A device thrown without a line is better than nothing at all, but far
less useful than it could be with a floating line attached.

Offshore racing associations require participants to carry flag
floats. Such a float consists of a pole 6-8 feet in length, ballasted
at the bottom and marked with a highly visible flag at the top.
Maintaining visual contact with the location of a MOB is a crucial
step in recovery. Some boaters aren't willing to stow a 6-foot pole,
but a floating orange smoke flare could be thrown overboard as a MOB
incident begins, and may attract some additional help from nearby
boaters.

Every boat owner should contemplate the challenges of getting a
possibly injured or unconscious person back aboard the boat once
recovered. Instinct seems to suggest the swim platform as a preferred
location for extracting a person, but in anything less than perfectly
calm seas there is an ever present danger of the platform smashing
down onto a victim in the water. The same equipment used to haul a
dinghy aboard can often be adapted to assist the retrieval of a MOB,
but the procedure should be thought through and rehearsed in advance.
Rope ladders deployed over the side may be useful on boats without
swim platforms or when conditions make use of the swim platform too
risky.


In summary, recommended gear will minimally include:

1. Properly sized personal flotation device for each passenger.
2. Sound and light signaling devices attached to PFD.
3. At least one Type IV throwable device
4. Floating line attached or instantly connectable to Type IV
throwable
5. MOB flag float and/or floating smoke flare to assist in marking
vicinity



Execution:

When a person goes over the side, the first person to notice the
situation should immediately cry out, "Man Overboard!" Additionally
calling out whether the victim has gone over the port or starboard
rail will reduce confusion, and improve chances that visual contact
will be established and maintained.

Assuming there is sufficient crew aboard, experts universally
recommend assigning one crew person to do nothing except maintain
visual contact with the MOB victim- doing so will be crucial to
successful recovery. Position the lookout where he or she can be seem
by the helmsman, and instruct the lookout to point continuously toward
the MOB.

Powerboat skippers should immediately throttle back and shift to
neutral. A high speed runabout or express cruiser may have traveled a
considerable distance in the few seconds it can take for the alarm to
reach the helm, but a slower boat may not yet have advanced beyond the
length of a floating line attached to a Type IV device or farther than
the distance the strongest arm aboard can heave it.

Unless the MOB can be recovered almost immediately, it is prudent to
deploy the flag float or floating smoke flare. Should the first or
second recovery attempt fail, wind and current may begin separating
the rescue vessel from the victim. Most GPS plotters have a MOB
feature, and once activated will mark the original coordinates of the
incident. A flag or flare enjoys the additional advantage of drifting
in the current (away from the original coordinates) in the same speed
and direction as the MOB victim, with the MOB feature of a GPS doesn't
account for subsequent drifting.

If there is any doubt that the MOB will be immediately recovered, or
if it is apparent that the victim will require medical attention, a
"mayday" broadcast on the VHF is appropriate.

In the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest, a speedy response is
crucial. Hypothermia will render some body types unconscious in less
than 30 minutes, and may seriously impair a victim's strength and
ability to assist in his or her own rescue in substantially less time
than that. A deliberate, thoughtful, properly rehearsed approach will
normally make effective help available faster than hasty panic.

Assuming the MOB victim isn't bobbing around within a boathook's
length of the vessel, the best solution will typically involve getting
a throwable device and line out to the victim and then hauling them
back to the boat. Everyone on deck during the recovery should be
wearing a PFD, as well as a harness and a lifeline if the boat is so
rigged. It will be important to prevent crew from being pulled into
the water while assisting in bringing the original MOB victim back
aboard. When throwing a life ring or other weighty device, it is
better to aim for a spot very near the MOB rather than risk knocking
the victim unconscious with a lob aimed directly at the head.

If the boat has traveled beyond the range of a throwable device, it
will be necessary to reposition the boat for rescue. The experts all
advise against backing down on a MOB, there is far too much additional
danger from the props.

The most frequently recommended technique for returning to the
position where a victim has fallen overboard is called the "Willamson
turn". To perform this maneuver, the helmsman first makes a mental
note of the compass reading when the "man overboard" alarm is raised.
Assuming the boat needs to be repositioned to be within throwable
device range of the victim, the helm is taken hard to starboard until
the compass reading has changed by (typically) 60-degrees, and then
moved hard aport until the compass reading is 180-degrees opposite the
reading noted when the alarm was raised. The 60-degree turn to
starboard is a generalization, depending on turning radius and speed.
To be entirely certain that 60 to starboard and then hard to port will
put a specific vessel on a reciprocal heading, the Williamson turn
should be practiced in advance.

One source recommended ripping pages from a magazine and creating a
"paper trail" as an additional visual guide for returning to the site
of the MOB incident. It's probably better to use one system too many
than one system too few when tracking the exact location of a victim
in the water.

Opinions vary regarding the advisability of a windward or leeward
approach to the victim. Approaching from windward will block some of
the wind and wave action and create a calmer area from which to haul
the victim back aboard. The disadvantage of a windward approach is
that the boat may be blown over the person in the water. A leeward
approach involves less risk of running over the MOB. An evaluation of
the specific weather and sea conditions as well as the physical
condition of the person in the water may obviate the correct approach,
but in either case it is considered preferable to stop the boat a
short distance away from the victim and heave a line, rather than
attempt to bring the vessel immediately alongside. The MOB must be
kept clear of the props, which should be disengaged when close enough
to throw a line.

Some MOB procedures involve towing a floating device on a floating
line behind a boat circling the victim. This technique may be favored
by short handed crews, and can effectively deliver a rescue line to a
person in the water.

If the victim cannot be reached with a boat hook or throwable device,
another recommended rescue technique involves rowing out to the MOB in
a dinghy.
Inflatables are good choices for this duty, as one tube can be
partially deflated (if need be) to allow an injured or unconscious MOB
to be literally "rolled" aboard from the water.

When all else fails;

Jumping in after a MOB is always a last resort, seldom the best
option.
In many situations, the "hero" merely creates one more victim that
needs to be rescued.
Exceptional situations might include rescuing a very young or elderly
person, or anyone unable to assist her or himself by grabbing a
flotation device. Before diving in, the rescue swimmer should always
don a PFD- the additional flotation will be useful should a panicked
victim instinctively try to "fight off" the rescuer. It is also
extremely helpful if the swimmer can haul a line to the victim, making
it easier for those remaining aboard to haul the rescuer and the MOB
back to the boat.

Maintaining the greatest number of options is critical. Rescuers will
have more choices available to them aboard the rescue vessel than in a
dinghy, and more choices in a dinghy than in the water. The American
Red Cross recommends "Reach, throw, row, and go" (as in "go overboard
to assist") in descending order to desirability.

Practice and Rehearse:

Recovering a MOB is best accomplished by more than a single person. If
the skipper is the only person aboard with the knowledge or skills
required address the situation, valuable time can be lost while he or
she attempts to explain the procedure to an untrained crew. Boaters
who sail or cruise with a fairly regular crew should conduct a MOB
drill, (using a fender or other floating device as a surrogate
"victim"), once or twice a year. During the drill, one person aboard
should stand down and not participate- simulating the absence of a
crew member lost overboard. Sometimes, the non-participant should be
the skipper: nothing assures that the MOB will always be a passenger
or a guest.

Additional information:

We don't imagine that this brief article will address every possible
MOB situation or rescue technique. We would encourage all boaters to
flesh out the details and delve into the matter in greater depth
through training or a refresher course conducted by USPS, the USCG
Auxiliary, the American Red Cross, or other certified safety education
agency.
Each boater will naturally need to assume responsibility for the MOB
procedure aboard his or her boat, and must be responsible for
scheduling regular drills.


Sidebar:

Considerations for MOB Victims

What if you're the one in the water following that fateful splash?

1. Look for a life ring or other throwable device that may be tossed
nearby. Reach the life ring if possible.
2. If wearing a life jacket equipped with a whistle and/or light, use
these devices to help the rescue boat confirm your position.
3. In rough conditions, position your back to the waves and minimize
the amount of water beating against your mouth and nose.
4. Do not attempt to "swim after" the boat, swimming will accelerate
the onset of hypothermia. Any swimming should be limited to very short
distances required to reach a floating device or rescue line.
5. If wearing clothing with adjustable wrist and or ankle straps,
tighten up the cuffs and sleeves to reduce the flow of cold water
under the clothes.

On Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:29:13 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

The compiled results of a few weeks' research into recommended MOB
prodecures from a variety of sources.......

Nice job - well done.

Side note: The Williamson Turn may be the most common, but there are
others that are situational for wind, waves and such.

You might want to mention those.

Otherwise, no complaints.

On Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:29:13 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

The compiled results of a few weeks' research into recommended MOB
prodecures from a variety of sources.......

Mentioned this topic briefly before.


Man Overboard!


Good article, Chuck. Very informative. Thanks.

Thanks Chuck.

--Mike

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
The compiled results of a few weeks' research into recommended MOB
prodecures from a variety of sources.......

Mentioned this topic briefly before.


Man Overboard!


A news-byte the day after Seattle's Seafair celebration was
disheartening. "A 54-year old boat owner is missing and presumed
drowned in Lake Washington. The man was last seen diving from his boat
to assist a swimmer in distress. Police say the man was not wearing a
life jacket, and they are searching for his body in 200-feet of water.
The distressed swimmer was wearing a life jacket, and was successfully
rescued."

Selfless heroics aside, leaping into the water to assist a man
overboard (MOB) is normally the worst option, and with a few specific
exceptions should be considered only as a last resort. Greater
attention to proper MOB procedures might prevent similar tragedies in
the future. Had the 54-year old boat owner been familiar with proper
rescue and recovery techniques, he would probably have made a
different choice and enjoyed a different result.

Distilling useful MOB advice from a number of authoritative and expert
sources allows us to prepare the following list of considerations.

Preparation:

We never get a second chance to make a first impression, nor to
prepare in advance for an emergency. Decisions made in at atmosphere
bordering on panic will seldom be as appropriate as those made during
deliberate training. Having the proper equipment available for use in
a MOB emergency and knowing how to use it effectively can easily and
literally be the difference between life and death.

In dark or foggy conditions, or in confused seas, it may be difficult
to maintain visual contact with a MOB. Professional mariners equip
PFD's with whistles, to allow a MOB to assist in establishing his or
her location relative to the rescuers. Adding a whistle to every PFD
onboard is a relatively inexpensive upgrade to most standard issue
life vests. Small flashlights or strobe lights suitable for signaling
position after dark are available beginning at prices under $15, and
even an iridescent "glow stick" would be better than no visual
indicator at all. Of course, if the MOB isn't wearing a PFD then an
arsenal of whistles and signaling devices attached would be of little
use.

USCG safety requirements require a "Type IV throwable device" aboard
every boat over 16-feet in length. A "Type IV" device can be as basic
as a floating boat cushion, and no throwable device of any greater
sophistication will be found aboard many pleasure boats- even into the
40-60 foot categories. A ring buoy or horseshoe buoy would be a better
choice, and when marked with reflective tape such a device may be more
visible after dark. At least one throwable device should be attached
to a length of polypropylene rope. A "poly" line will float, keeping
it away from the propellers during recovery and providing something to
which a MOB can cling should the device itself be overthrown.
A device thrown without a line is better than nothing at all, but far
less useful than it could be with a floating line attached.

Offshore racing associations require participants to carry flag
floats. Such a float consists of a pole 6-8 feet in length, ballasted
at the bottom and marked with a highly visible flag at the top.
Maintaining visual contact with the location of a MOB is a crucial
step in recovery. Some boaters aren't willing to stow a 6-foot pole,
but a floating orange smoke flare could be thrown overboard as a MOB
incident begins, and may attract some additional help from nearby
boaters.

Every boat owner should contemplate the challenges of getting a
possibly injured or unconscious person back aboard the boat once
recovered. Instinct seems to suggest the swim platform as a preferred
location for extracting a person, but in anything less than perfectly
calm seas there is an ever present danger of the platform smashing
down onto a victim in the water. The same equipment used to haul a
dinghy aboard can often be adapted to assist the retrieval of a MOB,
but the procedure should be thought through and rehearsed in advance.
Rope ladders deployed over the side may be useful on boats without
swim platforms or when conditions make use of the swim platform too
risky.


In summary, recommended gear will minimally include:

1. Properly sized personal flotation device for each passenger.
2. Sound and light signaling devices attached to PFD.
3. At least one Type IV throwable device
4. Floating line attached or instantly connectable to Type IV
throwable
5. MOB flag float and/or floating smoke flare to assist in marking
vicinity



Execution:

When a person goes over the side, the first person to notice the
situation should immediately cry out, "Man Overboard!" Additionally
calling out whether the victim has gone over the port or starboard
rail will reduce confusion, and improve chances that visual contact
will be established and maintained.

Assuming there is sufficient crew aboard, experts universally
recommend assigning one crew person to do nothing except maintain
visual contact with the MOB victim- doing so will be crucial to
successful recovery. Position the lookout where he or she can be seem
by the helmsman, and instruct the lookout to point continuously toward
the MOB.

Powerboat skippers should immediately throttle back and shift to
neutral. A high speed runabout or express cruiser may have traveled a
considerable distance in the few seconds it can take for the alarm to
reach the helm, but a slower boat may not yet have advanced beyond the
length of a floating line attached to a Type IV device or farther than
the distance the strongest arm aboard can heave it.

Unless the MOB can be recovered almost immediately, it is prudent to
deploy the flag float or floating smoke flare. Should the first or
second recovery attempt fail, wind and current may begin separating
the rescue vessel from the victim. Most GPS plotters have a MOB
feature, and once activated will mark the original coordinates of the
incident. A flag or flare enjoys the additional advantage of drifting
in the current (away from the original coordinates) in the same speed
and direction as the MOB victim, with the MOB feature of a GPS doesn't
account for subsequent drifting.

If there is any doubt that the MOB will be immediately recovered, or
if it is apparent that the victim will require medical attention, a
"mayday" broadcast on the VHF is appropriate.

In the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest, a speedy response is
crucial. Hypothermia will render some body types unconscious in less
than 30 minutes, and may seriously impair a victim's strength and
ability to assist in his or her own rescue in substantially less time
than that. A deliberate, thoughtful, properly rehearsed approach will
normally make effective help available faster than hasty panic.

Assuming the MOB victim isn't bobbing around within a boathook's
length of the vessel, the best solution will typically involve getting
a throwable device and line out to the victim and then hauling them
back to the boat. Everyone on deck during the recovery should be
wearing a PFD, as well as a harness and a lifeline if the boat is so
rigged. It will be important to prevent crew from being pulled into
the water while assisting in bringing the original MOB victim back
aboard. When throwing a life ring or other weighty device, it is
better to aim for a spot very near the MOB rather than risk knocking
the victim unconscious with a lob aimed directly at the head.

If the boat has traveled beyond the range of a throwable device, it
will be necessary to reposition the boat for rescue. The experts all
advise against backing down on a MOB, there is far too much additional
danger from the props.

The most frequently recommended technique for returning to the
position where a victim has fallen overboard is called the "Willamson
turn". To perform this maneuver, the helmsman first makes a mental
note of the compass reading when the "man overboard" alarm is raised.
Assuming the boat needs to be repositioned to be within throwable
device range of the victim, the helm is taken hard to starboard until
the compass reading has changed by (typically) 60-degrees, and then
moved hard aport until the compass reading is 180-degrees opposite the
reading noted when the alarm was raised. The 60-degree turn to
starboard is a generalization, depending on turning radius and speed.
To be entirely certain that 60 to starboard and then hard to port will
put a specific vessel on a reciprocal heading, the Williamson turn
should be practiced in advance.

One source recommended ripping pages from a magazine and creating a
"paper trail" as an additional visual guide for returning to the site
of the MOB incident. It's probably better to use one system too many
than one system too few when tracking the exact location of a victim
in the water.

Opinions vary regarding the advisability of a windward or leeward
approach to the victim. Approaching from windward will block some of
the wind and wave action and create a calmer area from which to haul
the victim back aboard. The disadvantage of a windward approach is
that the boat may be blown over the person in the water. A leeward
approach involves less risk of running over the MOB. An evaluation of
the specific weather and sea conditions as well as the physical
condition of the person in the water may obviate the correct approach,
but in either case it is considered preferable to stop the boat a
short distance away from the victim and heave a line, rather than
attempt to bring the vessel immediately alongside. The MOB must be
kept clear of the props, which should be disengaged when close enough
to throw a line.

Some MOB procedures involve towing a floating device on a floating
line behind a boat circling the victim. This technique may be favored
by short handed crews, and can effectively deliver a rescue line to a
person in the water.

If the victim cannot be reached with a boat hook or throwable device,
another recommended rescue technique involves rowing out to the MOB in
a dinghy.
Inflatables are good choices for this duty, as one tube can be
partially deflated (if need be) to allow an injured or unconscious MOB
to be literally "rolled" aboard from the water.

When all else fails;

Jumping in after a MOB is always a last resort, seldom the best
option.
In many situations, the "hero" merely creates one more victim that
needs to be rescued.
Exceptional situations might include rescuing a very young or elderly
person, or anyone unable to assist her or himself by grabbing a
flotation device. Before diving in, the rescue swimmer should always
don a PFD- the additional flotation will be useful should a panicked
victim instinctively try to "fight off" the rescuer. It is also
extremely helpful if the swimmer can haul a line to the victim, making
it easier for those remaining aboard to haul the rescuer and the MOB
back to the boat.

Maintaining the greatest number of options is critical. Rescuers will
have more choices available to them aboard the rescue vessel than in a
dinghy, and more choices in a dinghy than in the water. The American
Red Cross recommends "Reach, throw, row, and go" (as in "go overboard
to assist") in descending order to desirability.

Practice and Rehearse:

Recovering a MOB is best accomplished by more than a single person. If
the skipper is the only person aboard with the knowledge or skills
required address the situation, valuable time can be lost while he or
she attempts to explain the procedure to an untrained crew. Boaters
who sail or cruise with a fairly regular crew should conduct a MOB
drill, (using a fender or other floating device as a surrogate
"victim"), once or twice a year. During the drill, one person aboard
should stand down and not participate- simulating the absence of a
crew member lost overboard. Sometimes, the non-participant should be
the skipper: nothing assures that the MOB will always be a passenger
or a guest.

Additional information:

We don't imagine that this brief article will address every possible
MOB situation or rescue technique. We would encourage all boaters to
flesh out the details and delve into the matter in greater depth
through training or a refresher course conducted by USPS, the USCG
Auxiliary, the American Red Cross, or other certified safety education
agency.
Each boater will naturally need to assume responsibility for the MOB
procedure aboard his or her boat, and must be responsible for
scheduling regular drills.


Sidebar:

Considerations for MOB Victims

What if you're the one in the water following that fateful splash?

1. Look for a life ring or other throwable device that may be tossed
nearby. Reach the life ring if possible.
2. If wearing a life jacket equipped with a whistle and/or light, use
these devices to help the rescue boat confirm your position.
3. In rough conditions, position your back to the waves and minimize
the amount of water beating against your mouth and nose.
4. Do not attempt to "swim after" the boat, swimming will accelerate
the onset of hypothermia. Any swimming should be limited to very short
distances required to reach a floating device or rescue line.
5. If wearing clothing with adjustable wrist and or ankle straps,
tighten up the cuffs and sleeves to reduce the flow of cold water
under the clothes.

On Sep 7, 6:29 pm, Chuck Gould wrote:
The compiled results of a few weeks' research into recommended MOB
prodecures from a variety of sources.......

Mentioned this topic briefly before.

Man Overboard!

A news-byte the day after Seattle's Seafair celebration was
disheartening. "A 54-year old boat owner is missing and presumed
drowned in Lake Washington. The man was last seen diving from his boat
to assist a swimmer in distress. Police say the man was not wearing a
life jacket, and they are searching for his body in 200-feet of water.
The distressed swimmer was wearing a life jacket, and was successfully
rescued."

Selfless heroics aside, leaping into the water to assist a man
overboard (MOB) is normally the worst option, and with a few specific
exceptions should be considered only as a last resort. Greater
attention to proper MOB procedures might prevent similar tragedies in
the future. Had the 54-year old boat owner been familiar with proper
rescue and recovery techniques, he would probably have made a
different choice and enjoyed a different result.

Distilling useful MOB advice from a number of authoritative and expert
sources allows us to prepare the following list of considerations.

Preparation:

We never get a second chance to make a first impression, nor to
prepare in advance for an emergency. Decisions made in at atmosphere
bordering on panic will seldom be as appropriate as those made during
deliberate training. Having the proper equipment available for use in
a MOB emergency and knowing how to use it effectively can easily and
literally be the difference between life and death.

In dark or foggy conditions, or in confused seas, it may be difficult
to maintain visual contact with a MOB. Professional mariners equip
PFD's with whistles, to allow a MOB to assist in establishing his or
her location relative to the rescuers. Adding a whistle to every PFD
onboard is a relatively inexpensive upgrade to most standard issue
life vests. Small flashlights or strobe lights suitable for signaling
position after dark are available beginning at prices under $15, and
even an iridescent "glow stick" would be better than no visual
indicator at all. Of course, if the MOB isn't wearing a PFD then an
arsenal of whistles and signaling devices attached would be of little
use.

USCG safety requirements require a "Type IV throwable device" aboard
every boat over 16-feet in length. A "Type IV" device can be as basic
as a floating boat cushion, and no throwable device of any greater
sophistication will be found aboard many pleasure boats- even into the
40-60 foot categories. A ring buoy or horseshoe buoy would be a better
choice, and when marked with reflective tape such a device may be more
visible after dark. At least one throwable device should be attached
to a length of polypropylene rope. A "poly" line will float, keeping
it away from the propellers during recovery and providing something to
which a MOB can cling should the device itself be overthrown.
A device thrown without a line is better than nothing at all, but far
less useful than it could be with a floating line attached.

Offshore racing associations require participants to carry flag
floats. Such a float consists of a pole 6-8 feet in length, ballasted
at the bottom and marked with a highly visible flag at the top.
Maintaining visual contact with the location of a MOB is a crucial
step in recovery. Some boaters aren't willing to stow a 6-foot pole,
but a floating orange smoke flare could be thrown overboard as a MOB
incident begins, and may attract some additional help from nearby
boaters.

Every boat owner should contemplate the challenges of getting a
possibly injured or unconscious person back aboard the boat once
recovered. Instinct seems to suggest the swim platform as a preferred
location for extracting a person, but in anything less than perfectly
calm seas there is an ever present danger of the platform smashing
down onto a victim in the water. The same equipment used to haul a
dinghy aboard can often be adapted to assist the retrieval of a MOB,
but the procedure should be thought through and rehearsed in advance.
Rope ladders deployed over the side may be useful on boats without
swim platforms or when conditions make use of the swim platform too
risky.

In summary, recommended gear will minimally include:

1. Properly sized personal flotation device for each passenger.
2. Sound and light signaling devices attached to PFD.
3. At least one Type IV throwable device
4. Floating line attached or instantly connectable to Type IV
throwable
5. MOB flag float and/or floating smoke flare to assist in marking
vicinity

Execution:

When a person goes over the side, the first person to notice the
situation should immediately cry out, "Man Overboard!" Additionally
calling out whether the victim has gone over the port or starboard
rail will reduce confusion, and improve chances that visual contact
will be established and maintained.

Assuming there is sufficient crew aboard, experts universally
recommend assigning one crew person to do nothing except maintain
visual contact with the MOB victim- doing so will be crucial to
successful recovery. Position the lookout where he or she can be seem
by the helmsman, and instruct the lookout to point continuously toward
the MOB.

Powerboat skippers should immediately throttle back and shift to
neutral. A high speed runabout or express cruiser may have traveled a
considerable distance in the few seconds it can take for the alarm to
reach the helm, but a slower boat may not yet have advanced beyond the
length of a floating line attached to a Type IV device or farther than
the distance the strongest arm aboard can heave it.

Unless the MOB can be recovered almost immediately, it is prudent to
deploy the flag float or floating smoke flare. Should the first or
second recovery attempt fail, wind and current may begin separating
the rescue vessel from the victim. Most GPS plotters have a MOB
feature, and once activated will mark the original coordinates of the
incident. A flag or flare enjoys the additional advantage of drifting
in the current (away from the original coordinates) in the same speed
and direction as the MOB victim, with the MOB feature of a GPS doesn't
account for subsequent drifting.

If there is any doubt that the MOB will be immediately recovered, or
if it is apparent that the victim will require medical attention, a
"mayday" broadcast on the VHF is appropriate.

In the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest, a speedy response is
crucial. Hypothermia will render some body types unconscious in less
than 30 minutes, and may seriously impair a victim's strength and
ability to assist in his or her own rescue in substantially less time
than that. A deliberate, thoughtful, properly rehearsed approach will
normally make effective help available faster than hasty panic.

Assuming the MOB victim isn't bobbing around within a boathook's
length of the vessel, the best solution will typically involve getting
a throwable device and line out to the victim and then hauling them
back to the boat. Everyone on deck during the recovery should be
wearing a PFD, as well as a harness and a lifeline if the boat is so
rigged. It will be important to prevent crew from being pulled into
the water while assisting in bringing the original MOB victim back
aboard. When throwing a life ring or other weighty device, it is
better to aim for a spot very near the MOB rather than risk knocking
the victim unconscious with a lob aimed directly at the head.

If the boat has traveled beyond the range of a throwable device, it
will be necessary to reposition the boat for rescue. The experts all
advise against backing down on a MOB, there is far too much additional
danger from the props.

The most frequently recommended technique for returning to the
position where a victim has fallen overboard is called the "Willamson
turn". To perform this maneuver, the helmsman first makes a mental
note of the compass reading when the "man overboard" alarm is raised.
Assuming the boat needs to be repositioned to be within throwable
device range of the victim, the helm is taken hard to starboard until
the compass reading has changed by (typically) 60-degrees, and then
moved hard aport until the compass reading is 180-degrees opposite the
reading noted when the alarm was raised. The 60-degree turn to
starboard is a generalization, depending on turning radius and speed.
To be entirely certain that 60 to starboard and then hard to port will
put a specific vessel on a reciprocal heading, the Williamson turn
should be practiced in advance.

One source recommended ripping pages from a magazine and creating a
"paper trail" as an additional visual guide for returning to the site
of the MOB incident. It's probably better to use one system too many
than one system too few when tracking the exact location of a victim
in the water.

Opinions vary regarding the advisability of a windward or leeward
approach to the victim. Approaching from windward will block some of
the wind and wave action and create a calmer area from which to haul
the victim back aboard. The disadvantage of a windward approach is
that the boat may be blown over the person in the water. A leeward
approach involves less risk of running over the MOB. An evaluation of
the specific weather and sea conditions as well as the physical
condition of the person in the water may obviate the correct approach,
but in either case it is considered preferable to stop the boat a
short distance away from the victim and heave a line, rather than
attempt to bring the vessel immediately alongside. The MOB must be
kept clear of the props, which should be disengaged when close enough
to throw a line.

Some MOB procedures involve towing a floating device on a floating
line behind a boat circling the victim. This technique may be favored
by short handed crews, and can effectively deliver a rescue line to a
person in the water.

If the victim cannot be reached with a boat ...

read more »

very well, Chuck.

Thanks for sharing..

In article .com,
Chuck Gould wrote:

The compiled results of a few weeks' research into recommended MOB
prodecures from a variety of sources.......
....
In dark or foggy conditions, or in confused seas, it may be difficult
to maintain visual contact with a MOB. Professional mariners equip
PFD's with whistles, to allow a MOB to assist in establishing his or
her location relative to the rescuers. Adding a whistle to every PFD
onboard is a relatively inexpensive upgrade to most standard issue
life vests. Small flashlights or strobe lights suitable for signaling
position after dark are available beginning at prices under $15, and
even an iridescent "glow stick" would be better than no visual
indicator at all. Of course, if the MOB isn't wearing a PFD then an
arsenal of whistles and signaling devices attached would be of little
use.

The following article has some info on electronic devices that help from
the pratical boat owners magazine.
http://www.wavefinder.ch/en/presse/d...OtestNov04.pdf

Their own product seems to be simple and practical.
http://www.wavefinder.ch/en/
Ship chandlers over here started offering this device built right into
the PFD.

...In the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest, a speedy response is
crucial. Hypothermia will render some body types unconscious in less
than 30 minutes, and may seriously impair a victim's strength and
ability to assist in his or her own rescue in substantially less time
than that. A deliberate, thoughtful, properly rehearsed approach will
normally make effective help available faster than hasty panic. ...

Fully agreed, I would just like to emphasize how quickly hypothermia
strikes - 30 minutes seem to be rather optimistic in many cases, even in
warmer waters.

Marc

--
Switzerland/Europe
http://www.heusser.com
remove CHEERS and from MERCIAL to get valid e-mail

In article ,
Marc Heusser alid
wrote:

Fully agreed, I would just like to emphasize how quickly hypothermia
strikes - 30 minutes seem to be rather optimistic in many cases, even in
warmer waters.

Here is a link to some data that show how dangerous it is to be in the
water:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/TP/.../chapter-1.htm
(and next page)

Hypothermia is just one reason to die, cold shock and swimming failure
happen before that, and some 20% of the deaths occur during extraction
from the water or within hours after rescue.
eg Cold shock response begins below 25°C and peaks at 10-15°C.
On cold shock: "...However, if they abandon ship into cold water, unless
they are mentally and physically prepared for the cold shock, are
protected with a survival suit, a lifejacket and a spray hood, they may
drown in the immediate abandonment due to the inability to control
breathing in the first three minutes of immersion. It is not just a
problem of not being able to breath hold; if you are in choppy water,
there is an inability to coordinate and control breathing with wave
splash. ..."

Time to get back to the MOB is crucial, and is literally measured in
minutes. It seems that products like wavefinder's will help exactly
here, getting you back to the MOB as simply and quickly as possible.

Obviously, staying on board is the first and foremost issue.

Marc

--
Switzerland/Europe
http://www.heusser.com
remove CHEERS and from MERCIAL to get valid e-mail

On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:40:31 +0200, Marc Heusser
alid wrote:

Cold shock response begins below 25°C and peaks at 10-15°C.
On cold shock: "...However, if they abandon ship into cold water, unless
they are mentally and physically prepared for the cold shock, are
protected with a survival suit, a lifejacket and a spray hood, they may
drown in the immediate abandonment due to the inability to control
breathing in the first three minutes of immersion.

Having been in that situation once as a teenager, I can verify just
how serious it is. Until you acclimate over the course of a minute or
two it is physically impossible to take a complete breath of air.