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<I'm sorry to go on at such length on such a depressing subject, but I've
yet to see an MOB retrieval procedure in which I'd place much confidence. I
know it's been done, but I wouldn't rely on it. Wear a harness, stay on the
boat.<snip>
Robert, I can't agree with you more!
I have been pitch-poled( that's when the back of the boat goes over the
front of the boat) and rolled twice in my sailing days in heavy weather.
Unfortunately not in the same incident :-( These were all offshore >500
miles so safe haven was not an option. I'm still here to write this because
I wear a safety harness AND was tethered to the boat. 6' tether and jack
line do keep the boat in sight, in your face actually ;-), at all times and
you don't have to worry about being found. Can't drag far in the water as
you barely reach it. Also in heavy weather there is no "lee side".
Everything is bouncing and rolling every which way.
That said I strongly recommend the Sospender's type of harness with
inflatable for the medium stuff and a tether with attachment point whenever
one is outside the safety of the cabin in the rough stuff. Where those
thresholds are depend not on the person but the boat, weather and the sea
state. Rough weather in a canoe is much different than on a tanker.
I also have found that the wearable survival suits, Sterns & Mustang are
examples, give you a tremendous amount of impact resistance...sort of like
being surrounded by a bumper. If you slip and slide into something that
would normally cut or bruise you, you just bounce off and keep working. Plus
again the generally have harnesses built in an you float like a sea otter
:-)
I haven't yet seen a MOB retrieval system that works with one person aboard
in foul seas. Drive the boat, watch the MOB, deploy, the MOB gear, keep it
out of the props, watch the MOB, drive the boat, check the MOB, shut the
boat down, tried to retrieve the MOB, drift past the MOB, start the
boat....on and on. No thanks, I'll stay aboard.
We still carry both a lifesling and a MOM (Man Overboard Module) to deal
with other less fortunate MOB's which we hope to never come across.
Joe, can you email us the plans for your "twit filter"? We sure could use
one as we seem to get our share. It would be nice to be able to identify
them 'before' they step aboard. Is yours the automatic version or do you
have to manually paint the word on them? <VBG>
My 2 cents from our nice warm dry saloon :-)
Dave & Nancy
Swan Song
Roughwater 58'
Tortola, BVI
