Cautionary tale: falling overboard while peeing

[Pelagic]

The alcohol bit on board is worth a discussion
Should we add it to this tale or start a new thread?

[Adventurebound]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

The alcohol bit on board is worth a discussion
Should we add it to this tale or start a new thread?

I'll drink to that

[Saleen411]

Geez....wanted to learn a thing or two about the issue and prevention of falling overboard, and the focus of this thread is about PEEING!!! ....rules of peeing, the art of peeing, artistic peeing in phosphorescence, peeing techniques on a mono vs a cat etc etc. Not that I don't find the posts entertaining and all....

Seriously....falling overboard whilst voyaging is something I've pondered about.....esp when kids and animals are aboard. I'm curious as to what most cruisers do, esp when sailing short handed. Here in the California Delta, going over the side is no big deal (usually)...day or night. On SF Bay, could be a serious issue due to the coldness of the water. Sadly, one of my friends lost one of his passengers after he fell overboard on his boat during the day. My traumatized friend actually gave up sailing after the accident.

So as not to appear to be a stick in the mud, and to address a previously asked question. I live on the water, have my own deck and dock, and YES, I pee off of BOTH because they're MINE!...and I CAN, at least when nobody's looking.

Jer

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by Saleen411

I'm curious as to what most cruisers do, esp when sailing short handed. Here in the California Delta, going over the side is no big deal (usually)...day or night. On SF Bay, could be a serious issue due to the coldness of the water. Sadly, one of my friends lost one of his passengers after he fell overboard on his boat during the day. My traumatized friend actually gave up sailing after the accident.

Old thread but it's a subject worth constant review for the simple fact that a lot of people just don't get it.

It's situational. If there is *any* risk of falling overboard being an issue, either because I'm alone or because of weather, I use the head. If I can't use the head I pee in the cockpit and wash it down the scuppers.

The worst of the bunch about this are racers. The captain can say "no peeing over the side" but they just have to do it, like it's some machismo thing. I don't know how many I've seen almost go over the side and recover, laughing, in the middle of the ocean, even though they know damn well that by the time we get the boat stopped, turn around, and find them that they'll likely be frozen to death. It's just nuts.

[Steve1944]

Originally Posted by Saleen411

Seriously....falling overboard whilst voyaging is something I've pondered about.....esp when kids and animals are aboard. I'm curious as to what most cruisers do, esp when sailing short handed. Here in the California Delta, going over the side is no big deal (usually)...day or night. On SF Bay, could be a serious issue due to the coldness of the water. Sadly, one of my friends lost one of his passengers after he fell overboard on his boat during the day. My traumatized friend actually gave up sailing after the accident.
Jer

Yeah, falling overboard is a serious question; and I've been sailing since I was 9, that's over 61 years ago. So, when I decided to get some papers in order to be qualified to buy a boat overseas -- just in case -- I was shocked at myself at what I didn't know.

The idea is to encourage everyone who goes out in a sailboat to take the courses and avoid that tragedy of your friend who killed his pal.

I have become such an advocate of the ASA (American Sailing Association) and their classes, I just couldn't have imagined.

Own your own dock or not, do you know how to heave to?

We can do that anywhere on the ocean. Did you know? I don't think you did because of the question you asked.

Join, take the courses, learn, live, sail and Piss be in the ocean, not be on ya.

[Saleen411]

Own your own dock or not, do you know how to heave to?

We can do that anywhere on the ocean. Did you know? I don't think you did because of the question you asked.

I was thinking more of personal safety equipment and it's usage. Every skipper has his rules, besides the obvious common sense ones.

[arsenelupiga]

i can also testify that pieing overboard is a dangerous thing to do.

idea of toilet or peeing in cockpit if impossible in toilet makes sense and will use it from now on.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Saleen411

I was thinking more of personal safety equipment and it's usage. Every skipper has his rules, besides the obvious common sense ones.

There is a small personal AIS sender (Mcmurdo is one manufacturer) that sends up to about 4-5nm. If you fall in and your boat has AIS - you can spot your errant crew on your AIS and return to pick them up.

There are other peices of equipment, but for immediate return and pick up this is probably one of the best.

Although unless it is hooked to your PFD (assuming you are wearing one) then it won't do much good.

Don't have AIS? - better hope the persons remaining on the boat can keep a very sharp lookout

[Chris66]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Only one place to pee over the side.. lee shrouds with an arm round each side..

Apparently this method is unacceptable when standing on the spreaders. Some people have no sense of humour.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Chris66

Apparently this method is unacceptable when standing on the spreaders. Some people have no sense of humour.

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

[Tbrad]

I'm well onto the cusp of my "Geezerhood" so I am sad to say that I can't generate enough pressure to clear the side anymore. So I'm never in any danger in this regard.

[Privilege]

I don't have a water-temperature sensor or a depth-sounder on my boat so peeing over the side kills three birds with one stone!

[Rhwins]

A laundry detergent container works well, too. I recommend "Tide".

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Tbrad

I'm well onto the cusp of my "Geezerhood" so I am sad to say that I can't generate enough pressure to clear the side anymore. So I'm never in any danger in this regard.

That's why I started using seaboots instead of barefoot

[StuM]

Originally Posted by boatman61

That's why I started using seaboots instead of barefoot

So now you subscribe to the old pirate adage: "Fill yer boots!"