Inflatable Preservers

[True North]

People are actually more likely to fall overboard when in smoother waters, because they let their guard down. Also the fly zipper. So the watchword is always one hand for the boat and one hand for you (to hang on with). Also if you have to pee, use a urinal or bucket.

The other thing to think about is how to get back aboard the boat. We had practiced using our dinghy hoist to get a person back aboad. You really want ladder you can deploy from the water, plus long enough to get a foot onto. Putting a Sea Sucker on the engine cowl by the swim step, and a 8" handle on the inside of the splash well help getting up from the ladder.

We did have a Lifesling on the Tom Cat. Life slings are a good piece of kit to have aboard if someone falls overboard. Also a good throwing rope, with a practiced way to throw it 50 feet. Also teach all members of the family to maneuver the boat. Take a one gallon milk jug and tie a line with weight on the handle---Have all members of the crew practice bringing the boat safely along side the milk jug (simulated MOB). You want the boat to windward, and let if drift down on the POB--because the boat will drift faster than a person in the water. The exception to that is when there is a heavy current. The other danger is electrocution from badly wired boats or docks. The latest dock fixtures with a very sensative ground fault interruptor will help preserve lives.

Bob, I'm researching how to get an unconscious MOB back aboard a C-Dory 25' and was struck by your stating that you practiced with your dinghy hoist. My husband and his wet clothes would weigh about 225 lbs if he were the MOB. If unconscious, he would need to be winched aboard somehow and a dinghy davit seems to be the only way to do this.

So... many questions: Where was the base mounted on the boat How much did the boat heel when you were lifting and swinging aboard the MOB? Can the MOB be swung into the cockpit? Could you have attached a "net" to the davit arm so that you could lift the MOB horizontally (to prevent circum rescue collapse)?

I have read that you are not C-Dorying any longer but hope you are still on the water on occasion!

 

[robhwa]

Fellow C-Dorians; Bringing a "dead-weight" (i.e. can't help in their rescue) heavier person over a ledge is a common problem practiced and unfortunately sometimes done in mountaineering rescue. I had the opportunity many years ago to participate in such a rescue on Mt Rainier. Approaching it with a fiberglass "ledge" on a C-Dory poses a similar problem to bringing the person over the edge of the crevasse. I also recently helped pull a 170 lb halibut into a boat, not a C-Dory but with similar relatively low gunwales. One person tried but couldn't lift into the boat themselves. 2 people couldn't easily either. I was surprised that it took three people to wrest it over the side. Basically, you're going to need "mechanical advantage" with a pulley system and a firm place to anchor it. I've practiced doing this with 250 lb people over the edge of crevasses using a 3:1 mechanical advantage "Z-system". Not easy but doable if you place a pack at the edge of the crevasse so the rope doesn't dig in. You are able to use your legs, which might not be easy on the boat. I wonder if such a system might be adapted to rescue on a C-Dory? The crux of the problem is probably bringing the person over the gunwales of the boat. Has anyone tried this in real life?

 

[True North]

I'm glad you responded, Rob. I am going to start a new thread, "Bring Unconscious MOB Aboard" I will copy my question and your response there, and hope other C-Dorians will share what they've done.