|
After the Splash —
How to Get Back Aboard
Much has been made of the
procedure to retrieve a man-overboard (MOB) in the water,
but I don’t think enough thought has been given
to getting oneself out of the water and back on deck.
I see two problems. Many boats have no way for a person
to reboard without help from someone already aboard. Others
seem not to have a practical way to lift someone from
the water.
An example is a couple we
know who had a close call. Bob and Betty (not their real
names) were anchored in Desolation Sound one fine summer
day and decided to enjoy a skinny-dip. When they had had
enough, they discovered they had forgotten to lower the
swim ladder before jumping over the rail. They thought
about swimming to shore or to another boat (a distance
away!) for help. Finally, Bob managed to get a firm hold
on the bracing under the swim step so Betty could climb
onto his shoulders and then onto the swim step. When the
story is told at happy hour we hear there were threats
about the consequences if Bob looked upward. However,
the point to this story is that a simple activity could
have had a tragic result.
|
July 11, 2006
HI Don,
I wanted to share a recent experience that
occurred at the Port Angeles Marina.
This experience correlates with the Inside
Passage News Article “After the Splash
– How to Get Back Aboard”.
We had traveled from Ilwaco, WA. to Port
Angeles on Port Madison, my 57’ Monk
Design Trawler on Saturday June 3, 2006. After
an 18 hour trip up the coast and down the
straits to Port Angeles we secured the boat
at the guest dock in Port Angeles Marina.
The crew and I had dinner and an early bedtime.
I got up the next morning, walked out on the
back deck and stepped off on the guest dock
to check the bow and spring lines. When I
stepped on the swim platform I felt my right
foot slip and knew I was going into the water.
I leaned my body toward the water behind the
boat so I would not hit the dock. In doing
so I banged my right chin against the swim
platform and put a knot the size of a grapefruit
on the bone. And of course black and blue
almost from my knee to the end of my toes.
In fact the knot is about the size of a peach
today.
When I hit the water I began hollering for
the other crew members who were either sleeping
or in the head. No one heard me, but I had
installed a self-deploying four-rung swim
ladder under the swim platform. My original
intent for this ladder for swimming in Mexico
and other warmer waters, not swimming in the
Pacific Northwest or Port Angeles Marina,
I pulled the ladder out and down climbed up
and did a strip show on the back deck. No
one threw money or cheered.
I agree with the author’s comment
in the article “Examining many boats,
I see too many deficient in reboarding equipment”.
If I had not installed the swim ladder under
the swim platform I might have gone into hypothermia
before any of the crew missed me. Was I wearing
a PFD? No. Lesson learned.
Another piece of equipment I recently ran
across is the SAVE-A-SOUL EMERGENCY LADDER
by C. Sherman Johnson Co. Inc. and found on
their website www.cshonson.com. I purchased
this ladder and carry it on the side of my
boat when the swim step con not be used for
various reasons. This ladder is primarily
made for sailboats but easily adapted to powerboats,
a crafty person could make one in a home workshop
fairly quickly.
I really enjoy your informative website.
Weldon Burton |
|
Examining many boats, I
see too many deficient in reboarding equipment. Although
many have some sort of ladder, it is frequently not available
to the person already in the water and must be positioned
by someone aboard. The worst are sailboats with high freeboard
and no swim step.
If you find yourself in
the water, and no one is aboard to help, you are likely
to die. Many boaters have given thought to this and have
installed a hinged swim ladder that can be deployed by
a line the swimmer can reach. When I recognized this problem,
myself, I added a swim ladder to the bottom of the swim
step on our trawler. A swimmer can deploy three steps
by releasing a snap and giving the bottom rung a pull.
I could also have rigged a line to release the latch holding
the old swim ladder to the transom. The dinghy mounted
on the swim step made that a poor solution. If a permanent
hinged ladder is not practical then every time the boat
comes to a stop a ladder should be set for reboarding
in case someone falls in. This will solve the problem
for those of us who are healthy and athletic enough to
swim a few strokes and climb the ladder.
If you can’t swim
and climb a ladder you need help from crew aboard. Several
years ago, I think about 1995; two couples took a powerboat
out into rough water. One of the men was ejected from
the pilothouse over the side. The boat was maneuvered
quickly back to the MOB. Then real problems began. The
man was reported to be “large” and after a
long struggle by the two women at the swim step he was
lost. I do not know what equipment was available that
may have helped but the point is none was used. The usual
drill where we throw something in the water and shout,
“man overboard” doesn’t go far enough.
Mission is not accomplished when the boat arrives at the
object and congratulations are exchanged.
Remember, hypothermia can
cause strong athletic people to loose their ability to
help themselves. Therefore you must be able to hoist a
MOB aboard with a mechanical device. If you have a sailboat
you can use the boom with a “lifesling” or
rescue collar. Many powerboats also have booms that will
do the job. Mine is one of those with no boom but I have
a block and tackle for raising the dinghy that will work
for a MOB also. Through no particular superior planning
on my part it seems the hard point for the dinghy lift
lines up with the transom door and stbd corner of the
swim step. If the MOB is able to get the sling under his
arms it will be simple for one person to pull him to the
swim step. I tied a loop in the sling line about five
feet from the sling and the block and tackle can be attached
to that without anyone needing to go onto the swim step.
Then with the block and tackle the crew can drag the MOB
over the swim step and through the transom door into the
cockpit. He might get beat up a bit but will be out
of the water. Every boat is unique and you need
to devise some system for yours.
There is no end to possibilities
and scenarios. Here are a few other points to ponder.
In rough seas the stern
is a poor place to try to recover a MOB. The pitching
can beat up the MOB with the swim step not to mention
the rudder(s) and prop(s) and make things generally tough
on all involved. If possible you should devise a hoist
system that is amidships.
If the MOB is not able
to get into the sling then you have a tough decision to
make. That is to put someone into the water to help. It
should be a last resort and be certain the rescuer is
tied to the boat and is wearing a PFD.
People fall in sometimes
while docking and undocking. I hope everyone wears a PFD
at those times. A major hazard at those times is getting
caught or crushed between the boat and dock. Broken limbs
and bad cuts have occurred so be careful and no
jumping allowed.
Also, people have drowned
right in marinas. If you are working alone at the boat
be sure there is a swim ladder either on your boat or
next to the slip just in case. If you find yourself in
the drink the first instinct is to try and claw your way
onto the float. It’s pretty tough without a foothold.
A diver showed us how he does it. You have to push yourself
under as far as your arms allow and then using your buoyancy
and momentum pull for all you are worth to flop your belly
onto the float.
Speaking of PFD’s,
did you know they could cause trouble too? A friend was
taking a demo in a kayak once and managed to flip it.
He got out and his inflatable PFD blew up as advertised.
He was in a marina but had gotten into an unused and locked
portion before he flipped. With the PFD in his face he
was not able to swim very well and certainly not to pull
himself out of the water. He was starting to experience
hypothermia before the salesman finally was able to help
him onto the float. So, when you do get to the swim ladder
you may have to consider removing the PFD in order to
climb out of the water.
And here’s another
situation to think about. You are anchored in a beautiful
spot and all is well with the world. Your spouse is taking
a nap and you are reading a book on the aft deck. Time
for another beer and you head for the icebox. On the way
you miss a step, bounce off the rail and SPLASH. Seems
there is always a bit of current so you start drifting
away from your boat. Can you swim to the stern and use
the ladder? Have you ever tried to swim with clothes,
especially shoes on? If that doesn’t work can your
spouse throw a line and float to you before you are out
of range? Too late, now does she/he launch the dinghy
and come after you? They can operate it, right? Can you
climb into the dinghy without swamping it and killing
you both? How about weighing anchor and getting the boat
underweigh to retrieve you? This is all to point out how
much do-do you will be in if you fall in while anchored.
Other than being real careful, I only have one suggestion
that I heard of from some fishermen who single hand. That
is to trail a floating line while anchored. It could be
a poly line with a PFD at the end and a few loops tied
in to help pull you back to the swim ladder.
I hope each of you reading
this takes a long look at your boat with a swimmer in
mind. Also think about how you would lift someone aboard.
Even if you are sure you will never fall in you may be
called upon to rescue someone else.
|
