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Just a reminder to everyone to be mindful at ALL times of "situational
awareness" My partner has been out with a triple hernia this spring so I
have been on the road doing the work of two, so my major projects and
spring cleaning list are WAY behind. It was a beautiful Memorial day
weekend here in Baltimore so the Admiral wanted to get on the boat for
some sun and I had plenty of small projects to dig into. Sunday most of
the plumbing "issues" were resolved and Monday I wanted to get the
isinglass on the bridge cleaned up. I worked my way around from
starboard to port standing on the rails to get high enough (1 1/8"
welded stainless plenty strong for my 300 lbs.) when on the rails I was
very cautious, then while standing on the foredeck doing the lowest
panels portside I stepped back, missed the edge of the step, hit the
edge of the foredeck rail and went right out the gate, HEADFIRST! The
next thing I know I'm in the water and not really sure if I'm dreaming
or not, once I finally broke surface I did the usual "all body parts
still here?" check with the legs telling me they sustained damage but
were functional, then I swam to my swim platform and swung the ladder
down and pulled myself out. My wife was coming to look for me as she and
the dogs heard me go in but didn't know what it was. My left thigh is
really badly bruised and my right knee is swollen and feels like rubber,
but I will survive.
I debated whether or not to post this but I think it has some value for
the list. The first lesson I have learned is NEVER be complacent, I was
tied up to the dock, beautiful day, what could go wrong! The second
lesson is to install gate bars or doors at the gates that are as strong
as the rest of the rail, I still would have fallen but I would have
stayed on board (My slip has floating finger piers on both sides but the
boat is tied closer to starboard, this left the gap for me to fall
through. My blood runs cold when I think what would have happened if I
hit the pier headfirst) The final lesson is the need for self rescue on
your boat, I know we just went through the whole life sling/pulling
people from the water thread, and reading that thread I thought about
what I would do and that was the first thing that came to me as my head
cleared, get to the stern and flip the ladder down ( I used to keep this
tied up in place). I am also amazed (and if truthful, grateful as this
is pretty embarrassing to me) that I was able to go into the water from
the bow of my boat (we're tied bow in), on the main pier of a busy
marina, on MEMORIAL DAY no less, and not a soul saw me, this could have
ended far far worse than it did and I thank the God Lord for once again
watching over Fools.
Tom Penner
Londoner
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