I'm Suffering My Most Common Boating Injury Again

[SURV69]

Just fell in my Bristol 29, 3 days ago.

Was backing in while holding on a grab(on rear/cockpit), handhold and the handhold on the corner of the galley(starboard).

Evidently, I stepped on something ... not sure what, but the handhold on the galley broke clean off and I lost my grip in the bulkhead/cockpit handhold.

Fell about 7 feet toward the bow and hit my back on the edge of the setee and had forethought enough to turn my head to slightly lessen the head hitting the midship bulkhead.

Right now I'm sporting a blood seeping 14-15 inch diameter purple/black bruise(back), and a large knot on my head.

The hit was enough to break the latch mechanism on the head door ... on the other side of the compression post ... so I must've flexed the compression post.

Now I'm sitting here looking at all the handholds I have ... five, not including the broken one, and I'm thinking that 1" of rounded mahogany probably wouldn't help a 250 pound person in a "real" time of need.

I'm seriously looking at removing ALL my handholds in favor of a much harder mahogany, for bases and stainless steel for the actual hand holds.

[dahshore]

What broke, wood,screws came out and where all handholds "back plated" if possible. If not possible they should be moved, especially the critical ones on deck. Last suggestion is take up another hobby !

[SURV69]

"Last suggestion is take up another hobby !" ...?

Where's that come from?

AND no the screws did not pull out ... The holds are in with bolts completely through the bulkhead ... the actual rounded area of the hand hold itself broke.

I tend to think that a basically 1" round dowel is not much substance excepting as a "aide". I wonder if most handholds, in a violent situation would actually break ... regardless of the quality of the back plates.

I intend to make the internal handholds more substantial and with substantial backing plates that will actually show from the cockpit bulkhead.

[Terra Nova]

1" dowel will do the job if it is short and well supported.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by SURV69

Just fell in my Bristol 29, 3 days ago.

Was backing in while holding on a grab(on rear/cockpit), handhold and the handhold on the corner of the galley(starboard).

Evidently, I stepped on something ... not sure what, but the handhold on the galley broke clean off and I lost my grip in the bulkhead/cockpit handhold.

Fell about 7 feet toward the bow and hit my back on the edge of the setee and had forethought enough to turn my head to slightly lessen the head hitting the midship bulkhead.

Right now I'm sporting a blood seeping 14-15 inch diameter purple/black bruise(back), and a large knot on my head.

The hit was enough to break the latch mechanism on the head door ... on the other side of the compression post ... so I must've flexed the compression post.

Now I'm sitting here looking at all the handholds I have ... five, not including the broken one, and I'm thinking that 1" of rounded mahogany probably wouldn't help a 250 pound person in a "real" time of need.

I'm seriously looking at removing ALL my handholds in favor of a much harder mahogany, for bases and stainless steel for the actual hand holds.

Just glad you didn't break your back or head. I hope you didn't stove in the cabin sole.

[Ocean Girl]

Hit my head on the bulkhead in the vberth, every week, never fails.

Dropped dinghy painter twice in the last 6 months, had to swim after the dinghy. We have two painters to avoid this scenario, yet I still manage to do this.

Keep a sharp eye on that splinter, soaking in Epsom is very good. But if it looks bad after 24 hours, it's dr time.

Erika

[dahshore]

Hi. The last comment on hobby was for a smile, but couldn't find how to put a smile on the reply. Sorry if you misinterpreted the comment, smile !!!

[StuM]

Originally Posted by dahshore

Hi. The last comment on hobby was for a smile, but couldn't find how to put a smile on the reply. Sorry if you misinterpreted the comment, smile !!!

Simplest way to put a smile is to type a : followed by a )

[JPA Cate]

dashore,

Or, you make your reply after clicking on "Go Advanced", if you do that, the smilies are all there. You place your cursor where you want the smiley to be, and click on the appropriate one. :-)

Ann

[SURV69]

As I sit here in pain, I really appreciate your post.

Sometimes meanings and interpretations are two different things.

Thankfully nothing's broken(except the handhold).

But my awareness of handhold locations and more "tensile", strength has me re-evaluating mine.

It's one thing to use a handhold for somewhat static support in a rocking boat, but obviously, it's a TOTALLY different situation in dynamic conditions, when a 250 pound person ... in motion ... exerts much more stress on the handholds.

My step-in is a 1+' drop to a 1-1/2' step(stern to bow), then a 10" drop, with an 8" step, then a 13"-14" drop to the cabin sole.

This last step is the most critical of the steps, and for an older sailor is akin to a leap-of-faith. This last step is an all or nothing step, where the stronger bulkhead hold needs to be released(halfway through the last step), and all the support is transferred to to a more lateral, lower handhold(which broke).

I will keep the typical wood handholds in more static locations but in places where "real", stress is more likely to occur, the new handholds will endure much more stress.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by SURV69

...My step-in is a 1+' drop to a 1-1/2' step(stern to bow), then a 10" drop, with an 8" step, then a 13"-14" drop to the cabin sole...

Very dangerous, having steps of unequal height.

[JPA Cate]

Surv69,

That sounds like you go down your companionway steps facing forward. Fwiw, I always go down facing aft. Would your handholds work better for you if you did that?

Terra Nova is right about unequal steps being much more difficult to manage. You might consider a re-build, and to a depth of step easier for you to negotiate.

Ann

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Surv69,

That sounds like you go down your companionway steps facing forward. Fwiw, I always go down facing aft. Would your handholds work better for you if you did that?

Terra Nova is right about unequal steps being much more difficult to manage. You might consider a re-build, and to a depth of step easier for you to negotiate.

Ann

Indeed Ann...

I don't let ANYBODY go up or down steps the wrong way on my boat. ...

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Cadence]

I think Cate was asking who goes down a companionway face first?

[Steve Bean]

In his first post (#91) SURV69 wrote, "Was backing in...". And hurt his back when he landed; this doesn't sound like he was facing down the steps. I do agree it's safer to have the steps all the same height.