MOB Procedures

[hallie]

hahahah! i love the onion.

hey - anyone remember who linked to all the coast guard accounts of MOB situations? i was reading through it in december, i think, and i can't remember where i found it. geordie doesn't believe me that he's better off in his wardrobe than i am in mine (he has a locker full of wool sweaters) and i simply refuse to give up this tack of mine in the argument. (have you ever seen a sheep freeze to death?? me neither.)

[imagine2frolic]

I love it when these old threads pop up. When my ex, and I started sailing. We were on S.F.Bay on a usual windy afternoon. I stepped to the stern, a whole 3 feet, and dropped the MOB pole over, SPLASH. She looked at me, and I looked at the MOB. She says " WHat the hell did you do that for?" I just fell over save me.....LOLOLOLOL, Lots of cursing at me, and 45 minutes later we had one frozen MOB on board.

I use to practice gybing on windy days sailing alone for hours on end. It is my chosen move to get back to a victim as quick as possible. I think the figure 8 gives you a better chance to lose sight of the victim, and the timing is longer.

[Gene :^)]

If I fell over and it was life threatening, I wouldn't care how you saved me. Even if you could only lassoo my arm or a leg and hoist me upside down or sideways, it might hurt like hell and even cause injury but at least I live to tell the story.

People worry about a "proper and comfortable" harness but if I can't just climb up a ladder then by all means, save me any way you can.

Break some bones, pull some muscles, or beat me up... Just save me!!!

Great idea posted earlier about making your own dummy with clothing and water filled 2 liter bottles. I am thinking of sewing a heavy denim long sleeve shirt into a pair of denim overalls. Fill the legs with 2 liter bottles, the arms with small to medium bottled water bottles and the body with the large rectangular 2 gallon water bottles. Use a ball buoy for a head. All that water should weigh nearly what a person does and with a life jacket may float just like one.

[Eleven]

AS a true newbie it's fascinating reading.
My initial approach will be a lifebouy on a long rope (sheet?) with a small drag device, knotty bundle whatever.
Circle the MOB at a distance to ensnare in rope. If it's concious it'll sort the rope out, if it ain't you can pull it closer. Dnagerous bit is getting near the boat.
A slightly inflated dinghy will allow the moving MOB to get into a more secure (and warmer) position. How do you keep your dinghy when cruising?
Now a harness can be properly fitted, tried and finally a heaving line thrown and attached to a winch. Running the line through the cleats near mid point should be enough to gain the deck unaided while the boat is sorted. Spare halyard will fit the winch. Where is it kept?
ALSO I'm much more keen on getting the wife competent in all aspects of live aboard cruising/sailing. If I'm ill I'll rely on her, if I fall off I want her to live. She won't need sextant skills and advanced nav. If the sat nav packs up she can PanPan or Mayday.
It's standing orders that (aero style) all diversion routes, safe ports and bays, are planned and entry details in the ready file as well as the planned plan.
And if you take out landlubbers they need to know too, even on an afternoons sail.
When I retire off the boat the back door is a tempting option.
How have senior cruisers considered their life after cruising?
It's a plan. Does it work? What's yours? HELP A NEWBIE. No, please don't throw me in.

[44'cruisingcat]

One of these: Lifesling MOB Recovery System Is much more effective than a lifebouy.

MOB rescue is one very good argument in favour of Harryproas. The ability to just stop and sail the boat back up its own wake would surely help.

[David M]

Not enough is my answer. When I am with my marine technician, I don't worry about it. He has enough power boat experience to get back to me should I fall over. When I am not with my marine tech, I tell at least one passenger, usually the chief scientist, how to put the boat in neutral and how to use the radio. Being the chief scientist, they already know where to find the boats position on any of the GPS repeaters. I tell him or her the Coast Guard monitors Ch 16 and all you have to do is depress the key on the mike and speak clearly. Thats about the best that can be done. I cant expect a scientist to learn how to maneuver a boat each and every time I leave the dock without my marine tech onboard. I spend about 98% of the cruise inside the cabin so the chances of me going over are very slim. I do require that everyone on deck wear a PFD...no exceptions.

I really like the hat overboard rule mentioned by someone earlier.. Thats a great idea to make a MOB drill spontaneous and realistic.

[imagine2frolic]

HAT OVERBOARD DRILL? There are number of fish sporting a few of my favorite caps in S.F. Bay. Finally I discovered the clip on attatchments. I never did save a cap.....THEY SANK TOO QUICK, or maybe I was too SLOW?

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

HAT OVERBOARD DRILL? There are number of fish sporting a few of my favorite caps in S.F. Bay. Finally I discovered the clip on attatchments. I never did save a cap.....THEY SANK TOO QUICK, or maybe I was too SLOW?

Well, and it was probably windy. I never lose a cap on a calm day.

Connemara

[hellosailor]

Last time we did a hat overboard drill (after all, it is a MARPOL violation to let the hat go overboard without retrieving it!) a helpful boat coming on a reciprocal course said "We'll get it" and promptly OVERRAN IT.

Damned glad it wasn't live crew they were trying to help with.

[Tellie]

Anyone do their MOB drills a night in a rough sea? It's amazing how fast you lose sight of a MOB during a rough sea in the day time, at night it's a new ball game. Just for an experiment I threw an old life jacket overboard with a cheap strobe attached to it, closed my eyes then counted to 20. It took me a few moments to spot the strobe. These are my rules at night. 1) Everyone in the cockpit has a life jacket on period. 2) Anyone on deck has a harness and is attached. 3) All jackets have strobes and whistles. 4) First one to see a man overboard breaks the glow stick and throws the MOB pole, MOB if capable swims and sticks with MOB pole, Yeah ya gotta tell them that. 5) Helmsmsn hits MOB on GPS 6) Spotter keeps an eye and a finger pointing at MOB shouting position of MOB. 7) Things that float start going overboard there's nothing I can't replace. I made a dozen sticks with weights and floats, like little dive flag poles, I keep in a 2' by 4" PVC pipe with glow sticks attached. They go over every five seconds. These make a great visable trail. It's important to keep these weighted so they are more likely to move like the MOB. Just tossing them in won't work they will scatter too fast. 8) If the engine is running, release all sails. Otherwise sail back. I will still start the engines while sailing back. But I don't rely on the engines if they haven't been running, cold deisels are not reliable in this situation. You have to decide your preferred method of tracking back but yeah we train until it's second nature. Then a couple of times a month we verbally refresh. Usally when I see boredom on board a life jacket accidental like goes in the drink and it's instant MOB training time. I can wait to dock to practice docking skills and I can wait till we anchor to practice anchoring. But I never wait to practice MOB drills. On this particular issue I AM Captain Bligh, all will obey.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Tellie

Anyone do their MOB drills a night in a rough sea? It's amazing how fast you lose sight of a MOB during a rough sea in the day time, at night it's a new ball game. Just for an experiment I threw an old life jacket overboard with a cheap strobe attached to it, closed my eyes then counted to 20. It took me a few moments to spot the strobe. These are my rules at night. 1) Everyone in the cockpit has a life jacket on period. 2) Anyone on deck has a harness and is attached. 3) All jackets have strobes and whistles. 4) First one to see a man overboard breaks the glow stick and throws the MOB pole, MOB if capable swims and sticks with MOB pole, Yeah ya gotta tell them that. 5) Helmsmsn hits MOB on GPS 6) Spotter keeps an eye and a finger pointing at MOB shouting position of MOB. 7) Things that float start going overboard there's nothing I can't replace. I made a dozen sticks with weights and floats, like little dive flag poles, I keep in a 2' by 4" PVC pipe with glow sticks attached. They go over every five seconds. These make a great visable trail. It's important to keep these weighted so they are more likely to move like the MOB. Just tossing them in won't work they will scatter too fast. 8) If the engine is running, release all sails. Otherwise sail back. I will still start the engines while sailing back. But I don't rely on the engines if they haven't been running, cold deisels are not reliable in this situation. You have to decide your preferred method of tracking back but yeah we train until it's second nature. Then a couple of times a month we verbally refresh. Usally when I see boredom on board a life jacket accidental like goes in the drink and it's instant MOB training time. I can wait to dock to practice docking skills and I can wait till we anchor to practice anchoring. But I never wait to practice MOB drills. On this particular issue I AM Captain Bligh, all will obey.

Tellie....I like your style.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Tellie

Anyone do their MOB drills a night in a rough sea? It's amazing how fast you lose sight of a MOB during a rough sea in the day time, at night it's a new ball game. Just for an experiment I threw an old life jacket overboard with a cheap strobe attached to it, closed my eyes then counted to 20. It took me a few moments to spot the strobe. These are my rules at night. 1) Everyone in the cockpit has a life jacket on period. 2) Anyone on deck has a harness and is attached. 3) All jackets have strobes and whistles. 4) First one to see a man overboard breaks the glow stick and throws the MOB pole, MOB if capable swims and sticks with MOB pole, Yeah ya gotta tell them that. 5) Helmsmsn hits MOB on GPS 6) Spotter keeps an eye and a finger pointing at MOB shouting position of MOB. 7) Things that float start going overboard there's nothing I can't replace. I made a dozen sticks with weights and floats, like little dive flag poles, I keep in a 2' by 4" PVC pipe with glow sticks attached. They go over every five seconds. These make a great visable trail. It's important to keep these weighted so they are more likely to move like the MOB. Just tossing them in won't work they will scatter too fast. 8) If the engine is running, release all sails. Otherwise sail back. I will still start the engines while sailing back. But I don't rely on the engines if they haven't been running, cold deisels are not reliable in this situation. You have to decide your preferred method of tracking back but yeah we train until it's second nature. Then a couple of times a month we verbally refresh. Usally when I see boredom on board a life jacket accidental like goes in the drink and it's instant MOB training time. I can wait to dock to practice docking skills and I can wait till we anchor to practice anchoring. But I never wait to practice MOB drills. On this particular issue I AM Captain Bligh, all will obey.

Tellie....I like your style. There is nothing wrong with what might seem like overkill to others when it comes to a MOB.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Tellie

I made a dozen sticks with weights and floats, like little dive flag poles, I keep in a 2' by 4" PVC pipe with glow sticks attached. They go over every five seconds.

I learned that (before glow siticks were a thought) a long time ago and it seems to make sense. We used (never had to) a few flashlights.

[Sabbatical II]

Well I've done a few sailing school courses and they have all wanted us to do the figure 8 thing. As far as I can see it takes you potentially too far from the MOB and all sailing school drills seem to presume that you only set sail with a crew of 6 or 8, 4 of whom will be on deck at any one time. Last year I chartered a Catalina 34 with 3 of us aboard and we did MOB the quick stop method. Going to windward it's amazingly effective and with practice we were even able to back down on the MOB (actually, a cabbage) with a backed headsail. A little more is involved when going with the wind, but it's definately my preference when short handed.

Greg