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To the List,
Perhaps it is time to stop talking about lawyers and resume talking
about trawlers and cruising again.
The following is an email that I sent to a magazine that shall remain
nameless in response to an article about MOB.
Any comments or discussion would be welcome.
> I enjoyed the MOB article but I must point out that unless seas are calm
> and there is more than one strong person remaining aboard, rescue is
> extremely problematic. In calm seas or in the harbor, as demonstrated in
> the article, rescue should present no problem providing there are at
> least two persons remaining on board and the MOB is able to assist.
> It is my contention that for the usual mom and pop team at sea in rough
> weather, rescue is essentially impossible. It would be very difficult
> for Mom to operate the boat, watch the MOB, throw the Life Sling and
> hoist the person back on board entirely by herself. It would probably
> be just as difficult for Pop. If the seas were over five to six feet it
> would be virtually impossible. The swim step would kill you if it came
> down on your head and if the boat was rolling in the trough the M O B
> would be repeatedly slammed against the side provided he could be lifted
> from amidships. Climbing up a makeshift ladder under these conditions
> would be a feat for a gymnast and almost impossible for an exhausted and
> perhaps injured person in the water.
> I would think most M O B situations happen in rough weather when
> the boat is moving about. This would make it most difficult to see the
> person in the water and as I said make it almost impossible to affect a
> rescue. The other major danger is for men relieving themselves over the
> rail. Many M O B victims are said to be found with their fly unzipped.
> I feel that the most realistic solution is to stay on the boat in the
> first place. How do you do this? First buy a safe boat. By this I mean a
> boat with side rails that are high enough and strong enough to prevent
> someone thrown against them from going over. Make sure also that you
> can't slip under the railing to fall overboard. If there is a fly bridge
> make sure there is internal protected access or don't use it in rough
> weather. If there is a pilot house make sure that a slip and fall
> through the door won't send you overboard. If it will, consider a Dutch
> door and keep the lower half shut while at sea.
> Second have, and follow, a set of rules for behavior on the boat.
> We will strongly discourage use of alcohol to the point of inebriation
> when at anchor, there is no alcohol use at all when we are under weigh.
> No "recreational" drug use at all. No peeing over the side, drunk or
> sober good weather or bad.
> Both, (all), watch standers must be able to maneuver the boat and be
> able to operate the GPS and know what the M O B button is for and how it
> is used.
> At night or when watch standing alone do not go "outside" the boat.
> Standing behind our large protected Portuguese bridge is allowed but no
> one is to venture onto the fordeck or go out from the protection of the
> Portuguese bridge. If there is a valid reason for going on deck the
> other person is wakened to observe and the person going on deck wears a
> harness and clips on unless the sea is absolutely flat. (There is really
> never a reason to go on deck at night unless some of the gear has come
> loose, this would only happen in adverse conditions and require the use
> of a harness). The sole remaining person on the boat should never leave
> it and enter the water to assist the M O B, a sure way to make one
> victim into two. I am sure there are other reasonable precautions that I
> have neglected to include and rules need to be adapted to each
> particular boat and situation. But I think you get my drift.
> All of the above doesn't mean that we don't think about a M O B
> situation and haven't practiced returning to a life jacket thrown
> overboard, we have. My wife can and does run the boat and we do follow
> our own rules.
>
> Stay dry,
>
> Dolph and Bev McCranie
> M/V The Right Whale
>
