Having fallen off of my tuna underway with no one except my cat on board to retrieve me (he was not as dextrous as I had hoped) I can tell you that it is NOT simple to get back on board a tuna. The guys that fell off of Bonito on Sunday still had two other strong men on board to help pull them in and they were able to climb back at the large transom motor cut out with help. The cut-outs on the new production tunas are larger and lower to the waterline to better fit 4 strokes. On old tunas, though, the cut out is not low or wide enough to climb through, unless it has been modified. Mine isn't. Men also typically have better upper body strength than women.
When I fell out I was wearing a manual inflatable. I did NOT inflate it, instead I swam like a MF'er to catch up to my boat still sailing away though luckily not faster than my full on adrenline induced swim speed. With my PFD inflated I probably would have been SOL on the requisite swim speed.
My outboard was mounted and in hindsight I MIGHT have been able to pop the shaft down and use the cavitation plate as a step. That is easier said than done though, without smashing the prop or shaft on your head when you are below it trying to trip the lever and still saving one hand to hold on to the moving boat and gybing by kicking the rudder from underneath the hull to avoid sailing into rocks. So that may not have worked either, but it was one idea I didn't think of at the time. If the shaft had been in the water already, maybe. It usually isn't when you are sailing.
I now have an inexpensive SeaDog emergency ladder sold at any West Marine that works well enough for me to get a foothold high enough to lift my torso up over the edge. It has stiff plastic rungs and plastic side tubes that fold out around rope. I practiced overboard testing it in various locations on the boat and it is still not easy, but was better than nothing - the easiest was having the back stay to pull up on when climbing up with the ladder hanging off the transom- this was in no chop. Still need good upper body strength. The stiffer the ladder, of course, the better, but the plastic one will do as long as you have some strength left, and the benefit of adrenaline. I plan to evaluate if I can place a portable aluminum ladder.
Bottom line - don't fall off the damn boat unless there are cool people like PhotoBoy around to pick your ass up.
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I used to wear, and swear by my WM inflatable unit with the built-in harness when I was singlehanding keelboats Tom Kirschbaums tragic accident had me seriously reconsider that. Tom almost certainly slipped out of his harness/inflatable. Without a crotch strap, I have my doubts about how effective the whole thing is and the idea of a crotch strap make my privates go
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Yes, I know that Mustang makes a seriously pricey offshore job with leg straps. @ $325, that's a lot of dough for a lifejacket. Of course, when you need it, it's worth it, but.....
Now that I'm sailing a much smaller boat that doesn't have an autopilot and in all likelihood won't sail away from me at 6 knots if I fall out if it, or capsize it, I've decided that foam is the way to go. It IS bluidy hot on a hot day, tho.Leave a comment:
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Never have liked the inflatables, especially the choking aspect of them.
Plus you look like a moron coming back to the dock with the inflated horse collar around your neck.Leave a comment:
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The guy was inflatable, but his life jacket was not. I just grabbed him at the shoulders/arm holes.
Different topic, but I think good ole foam is the best for bouy racing in the bay. Nice padding, and always inflated. I don't have much (any) experience with inflatable but I'd be worried about them inflating/not inflating at the right/wrong time.Leave a comment:
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I was asking Some Dude if his MOB was inflatable or not, but nice job on the recovery!
As far as rope ladder, if somebody got tangled, could you not just cut them free? I always have
a knife for entanglements, cutting salami and cheese, bar fights etc.Leave a comment:
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Here's what I have:Originally posted by Tonapah Low View Post
Plastimo E-Ladder
If the MOB is injured or low on energy, you'd still need a Lifesling or harness w/D-rings, and a spare halyard.Leave a comment:
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He had on an inflatable (with a manual release). As I was sailing away getting ready to head back up toward him, I started panicking (as if I needed to panic any more than I already was) because his life jacket wasn't inflating. He finally inflated it and after the rescue complained that it actually made it harder to swim and hindered him in the unsuccessful attempt to get back on the boat.
I am so glad that he's ok and we're now laughing about his rather graceful reverse swan dive off the bow...Leave a comment:
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We had an unscheduled MOB drill a few years ago and I was able to stand on the leeward seat, crouch down and grab his lifejacket, and kind of lunch backward, dragging up the side of the boat.
Props to all on this oneLeave a comment:
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Rope ladder while underway
I'd be a little concerned that a cold, tired MOB could get their foot caught in a stirrup, lose grip with his hands (which kept happening here apparently), and then be dragged by one foot alongside the boat until something REALLY BAD happened...like flush drowning.
I'd try to get the boat stopped if I could. Spare halyard?
Nice save PB.Leave a comment:
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Glad Colin is OK! Props for getting back on the boat on Sunday, Colin!Leave a comment:
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A rope swim ladder you can drape over a cleat or winch can help MOB gain leverage.
Needs weight at bottom to be useful in those conditions.Leave a comment:
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We did get to Colin quickly yet we were being bounced around so much that the boat more or less turned itself back around downwind and started to sail off before we could fully pull him on the boat
In retrospect, I would have made an attempt to slow my heart rate down, and taken a couple deep breaths before attempting the rescue. I am grateful to Photoboy for his assistance and to Colin for showing back up to race on Sunday!Leave a comment:
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