MOB Procedures

[jackdale]

The MOB section from my standing orders.

MAN OVERBOARD
Prevention:
Wear harness and tether at all times when above decks.
PFDs are to be worn while under way.
One hand for yourself, one for the boat.
Move forward on the windward side and move cautiously.
Use the head below.
1. Yell "MAN OVERBOARD" to alert the entire vessel.
2. One person POINTS TO VICTIM, never taking eyes off them.
3. DEPLOY MOB POLE and LIFE RING, if near enough.
4. HIT MOB, ENTER ON chartplotter.
5. NOTE BOAT'S HEADING, USE APPROPRIATE MOB: HEAVE TO,
SAIL TO, HEAVE TO; DOWNWIND; WILLIAMSON TURN; ANDERSON
TURN.
6. PULL VICTIM TO SWIM STEP AND ASSIST ABOARD. Be very gentle
with person in cold-water situations where hypothermia may exist.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by jackdale

The MOB section from my standing orders.

MAN OVERBOARD
Prevention:
Wear harness and tether at all times when above decks.
PFDs are to be worn while under way.
One hand for yourself, one for the boat.
Move forward on the windward side and move cautiously.
Use the head below.
1. Yell "MAN OVERBOARD" to alert the entire vessel.
2. One person POINTS TO VICTIM, never taking eyes off them.
3. DEPLOY MOB POLE and LIFE RING, if near enough.
4. HIT MOB, ENTER ON chartplotter.
5. NOTE BOAT'S HEADING, USE APPROPRIATE MOB: HEAVE TO,
SAIL TO, HEAVE TO; DOWNWIND; WILLIAMSON TURN; ANDERSON
TURN.
6. PULL VICTIM TO SWIM STEP AND ASSIST ABOARD. Be very gentle
with person in cold-water situations where hypothermia may exist.

That will work if you have a crew, but it would be better to shorten the list if it's just two people, to my list which involves the use of a Lifesling. KISS and wear a personal EPIRB

[FamilyVan]

Originally Posted by jackdale

Both you and your wife should be practice MOBs. You need to simplify that process. The upwind MOB that I use and teach can be done by one person without leaving the helm and does not require anyone to touch the sails. The downwind does require coming about, but can be done by one person with practice.

To be blunt, it foolish to have only one person on board who can perform a MOB. That goes just about everything else: navigation, docking, anchoring, cooking, etc., as well.

I know what should happen in an ideal world.



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[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

That will work if you have a crew, but it would be better to shorten the list if it's just two people, to my list which involves the use of a Lifesling. KISS and wear a personal EPIRB

True.

That is from my offshore standings orders. I always have more than 2 crew.

I also like the Lifesling; it is very effective in a heave-to, sail-to, heave-to.

I have a PLB. I have not used a personal AIS; I suspect that they would be more effective that a PLB. The latter sends a signal to a Rescue Coordination Center, the AIS would make your location visible on the boat.

[FamilyVan]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

You should start by giving her more cerebral credit.

Mrs Mac acts disinterested in most things related to sailing 90 percent of the time, but she frequently asks questions that I can be very curt in answering because she asks the same things over and over. Its not because she's dumb, it's because she wants to be sure of something thats she's rehearsing in her head.

Four days ago, two hours into our crossing to Elba from La Spezia, I ended up seasick and for the most part dead for eight hours in 12-14 ft seas. I was just a passenger aboard whilst Mrs. Mac navigated, steered, kept watch, monitored the radar, ran the engine, revved the engine once an hour... Basically, did everything just as I would have done for the next eight hours... including bringing me hand towels to wipe the vomit off my face. The only thing she didn't do was clean up the throw up on the deck the next day.

Ken

Given time and focus she could work through most things, but that doesn't describe a man overboard situation.

I've seen how she reacts in a MOB situation. When we met she was the cruise manager on a 200 ton tour boat, I was the skipper, we lost a passenger in the drink and there was no response from any of the crew what so ever.

This was a commercial vessel, we rehearsed mob drills every two weeks as per the regulations. I had to leave the wheel and throw the life ting myself. What can I say, o don't have a very nautical partner.

Am I supposed to quit sailing because of it? Screw that.

At least I am aware of my reality which is better than most.

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[Kenomac]

FamilyVan,

I understand your MOB issue. We haven't done this lately and it's probably long overdue. Five years ago when the MOB was at the top of our priority list having just had an idiot and his dog go overboard requiring rescue, one day with just my wife aboard, I threw a fender overboard, left the hem and just stood there pointing at "me" in the water. What followed wasn't pretty, there was some foul language and raised voices, it took a few tries, but she eventually fetched the fender on our Hunter 450 by herself. Now she knows why it's important, takes it seriously and most important... knows that she can perform a rescue alone.

[jackdale]

Mu understanding is the few insurance companies will pay a death claim if a couple goes sailing and only one returns without the body. The nefarious act about which they are concerned is fraud, not murder.

[estarzinger]

I am just going to say . . . . Offshore, Doublehanded . . . . Just f#%king don't go overboard.

Your time and energy is by far best invested in figuring out how to (systems and procedures) prevent this problem.

Every boat I have sailed I have noticed a ton of easy things that could be done to prevent MOB . . . . While they have all sorts of crap for MOB recovery.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by estarzinger

I am just going to say . . . . Offshore, Doublehanded . . . . Just f#%king don't go overboard.

Your time and energy is by far best invested in figuring out how to (systems and procedures) prevent this problem.

Kinda tired of this tired argument. Sh&t happens. I don't remember giving the idiot permission to jump in after his dog fell overboard... subsiquiently requiring the rescue of both of them. I didn't know the guy was an idiot.

Whether you like it or not... time needs to be spent on MOB procedures.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by estarzinger

I am just going to say . . . . Offshore, Doublehanded . . . . Just f#%king don't go overboard.

Your time and energy is by far best invested in figuring out how to (systems and procedures) prevent this problem.

Every boat I have sailed I have noticed a ton of easy things that could be done to prevent MOB . . . . While they have all sorts of crap for MOB recovery.

Good advise. I might amend it by deleting "Offshore" and maybe adding "untrained crew"

As an instructor I often have untrained crew for the first portion of a basic level course. There is some prerequisite learning before you teach MOB.

[estarzinger]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Kinda tired of this tired argument. Sh&t happens. I don't remember giving the idiot permission to jump in after his dog fell overboard... subsiquiently requiring the rescue of both of them. I didn't know the guy was an idiot.

Whether you like it or not... time needs to be spent on MOB procedures.

Tell your crew the edge of the boat is a 1000' cliff. If they fall off, they fall to their death. That should be part of your crew briefing for every sail. Say it like you mean it.

The way to have best quality and best safety is always to focus on preventing defects.

[FamilyVan]

Its funny how things work. I know how things should work. I was a CG Rescue Specialist for over a decade and taught marine emergency duties and ocean survival for several years after that, but just can't get her interested in sailing aspect of boat riding. She has commercial training in marine emergency duties and is a flight attendant. The big and complicated (to her) rig on my fantasia just doesn't interest her.

However, I really don't feel its that big of a risk, its safer than single handing. At least I have some one to call the coast guard for me if I go in. Somebody to look out for me if I use the washroom etc. I'm not sure I necessarily agree that there must always be two competent sailors on board every boat. Who chose that number? Why is it two and not 3?


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[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by estarzinger

Tell your crew the edge of the boat is a 1000' cliff. If they fall off, they fall to their death. That should be part of your crew briefing for every sail. Say it like you mean it.

The way to have best quality and best safety is always to focus on preventing defects.

Yeah right....

There're plenty of dumbasses out there who do stupid sh&t. What are you going to do... Leave them adrift when they fall overboard, then.... stand there like a dumbass yourself while everyone looks at you for a solution? All because you don't have a MOB procedure in place and well-drilled, but instead... decided to focus on prevention?

Brilliant.

[estarzinger]

^^ well that post is sure in keeping with CF's "be nice" policy.

I will simply ask if you have already done all the simple things one can do to help prevent MOB. There are tons I rarely see . . . . Let me just mention a couple. (1) have you anti skid tape EVERYWHERE that is slippery, like on top of hatches. (2) have you lifeline netting so people can't slide between/under the life lines (3) Have you foot chocks at the main deck work stations so people can have secure footing when heeled. (4) do you in fact in your crew briefing focus on "always always one hand for yourself" (5) do you Have truly continuous hand grips on deck with no gaps?

If you have not done these things and a hundred other simple things but instead had focused on recovery, then you have not maximized the safety of your crew.

Edit . . . And I simply don't sail offshore double handed with dumbasses

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by estarzinger

^^ well that post is sure in keeping with CF's "be nice" policy.

I will simply ask if you have already done all the simple things one can do to help prevent MOB. There are tons I rarely see . . . . Let me just mention a couple. (1) have you anti skid tape EVERYWHERE that is slippery, like on top of hatches. (2) have you lifeline netting so people can't slide between/under the life lines (3) Have you foot chocks at the main deck work stations so people can have secure footing when heeled. (4) do you in fact in your crew briefing focus on "always always one hand for yourself" (5) do you Have truly continuous hand grips on deck with no gaps?

If you have not done these things and a hundred other simple things but instead had focused on recovery, then you have not maximized the safety of your crew.

I didn't mean for it to be personal. I was just trying to give you a realistic situation, something that you could relate to if you didn't have a MOB procedure in place. Sorry if you took it the wrong way... But I think I got the point across.

Regarding dumbasses.... They're everywhere amongst us, one never knows for sure who they are, until.....

I'm a registered nurse, usually better at recognizing the dumbass symptoms...

Example: I can write on the internet something to the effect "don't stick stuff up your butt that doesn't belong there." And you can be sure that over five hundred knuckleheads will be reading it whilst sitting there with something like a potatoe stuffed up their ass, scratching their heads.

I unknowingly had Mr. Potatoebutt and his dog on my boat that day.

Ken