Trimaran - Especially Searunner - Owners

[catsketcher]

Just remembered the the Searunners have a trailing trim tab - that would complicate things.

[Jimske]

Originally Posted by catsketcher

Just remembered the the Searunners have a trailing trim tab - that would complicate things.

I got a trim tab (don't really use it without the wind vane) but was thinking just put steps on either side of the rudder. Probably not convenient for guests or kids but would br okay for me. Still thinking about lashing an articulated "plank" to the stainless steel frame. Seems like an easy solution for that boat.

[rossad]

I have 3 steps on my rudder. 2 are under the waterline
It doesn't seem to have much effect who knows
But one thing is for sure if ever I go over board I can climb aboard up that rudder.
When doing off shore passages a rope would be nice trailing about 3 or 4 metres.

[Mark Johnson]

Originally Posted by rossad

I have 3 steps on my rudder. 2 are under the waterline
It doesn't seem to have much effect who knows
But one thing is for sure if ever I go over board I can climb aboard up that rudder.
When doing off shore passages a rope would be nice trailing about 3 or 4 metres.

Good idea... on my by folded 6' ladder, when it is up and folded, if I fell in and the boat was not under way, or moving slowly, I can theoretically grab a dangle line, and the plastic hook that holds the ladder up will break, and then it will lower for me.

So far so good on that..

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by rossad

When doing off shore passages a rope would be nice trailing about 3 or 4 metres.

3-4m will be no help. By the itme you fall off the boat, come up for air, it will be 20 metres or more past you and well out of reach.

30m might help....

[Mark Johnson]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

3-4m will be no help. By the itme you fall off the boat, come up for air, it will be 20 metres or more past you and well out of reach.

30m might help....

Realistically, a line off of the end of the boat is only useful if anchored in a current or sailing at 1 or 2 knots. No one can pull themselves up a rope while being drug through the water at over 5 knots!
I used to pick up small cars, and climb an 80' rope (hand over hand) daily, and I could never do it.

The main thing is DON'T FALL OFF OF THE BOAT. You can use a teather when at sea, or assuming you have a first mate, wear an inflatable harness/life vest, equipped with whistle/strobe, smoke, and GPS transponders.

I have done both as well as neither, depending on location, (proximity to land), and conditions.

On a well built and maintained Searunner, sailed with prudence and skill, in the temperate zone, in the safe time of year... Cruising is about the safest thing I have ever done, but you DO have to stay on the boat!

[owly]

Originally Posted by Buzzman

3-4m will be no help. By the itme you fall off the boat, come up for air, it will be 20 metres or more past you and well out of reach.

30m might help....

I agree about length............ The rope should also be able to stop the boat more or less. Sheet release, perhaps even pull out a parachute sea anchor. If you grab a rope from a boat going 5kts, you will be towed like a fish and won't be able to get aboard. It's nigh impossible to get aboard unassisted even from a safety harness right next to the boat. This sort of thing should be practiced so you know for real what will work. H.W.

[rossad]

Good Points
but a rope off the back is better than no rope off the back

[aquavitae]

Gents,

For what it's worth, here is my boarding ladder on my SR 37. It is made of an aluminum railing off a wrecked catamaran from Hurricane Earl, hinged on the aft end of the starboard ama and suspended by 2 pieces of life line. The bottom 3 steps are under water when deployed. To lower it, one just pulls out the teak plank and she drops right in.

Not pretty but it works great for the gentle interisland cruising here in the VI and can be deployed from the water by reaching up and yanking the plank out - just get out of the way when it drops, good reason to keep doing pull ups.

[Skeezix]

Originally Posted by rossad

Good Points
but a rope off the back is better than no rope off the back

A rope off the back is worse than no rope off the back if you don't make a plan that actually will work because you are counting on the rope off the back.

[owly]

Originally Posted by Skeezix

A rope off the back is worse than no rope off the back if you don't make a plan that actually will work because you are counting on the rope off the back.

A false sense of security............. One should always stay clipped in, especially if you are the only one on deck. I've had to swim well in excess of a mile in the ocean more than once due to being stupid about rip tides........ and confident of my ability. In open ocean your chances of survival in a solo MOB situation are basically zero, and not much better if you have someone on board. You quickly fall out of sight, making recovery very problematic. MOB is one of the most common fatalities at sea. I think of Pete and Carly Hill off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. He woke up from a nap and Carly was gone. She could have gone OB 1 minute before he woke up, or hours. Chance of recovery was essentially zero. She was never seen again despite an extensive search. When you go overboard, count yourself as dead!!!! Your chances are extremely poor in almost any situation. H.W.

[rossad]

sobering Owly
Humans make mistakes and we don't like to admit to them.
When we think we got it .... we have not.
Just a second in fault - can cost our life.
Judgements become less accurate as we get older our bodies change our minds unchanged.

[longjonsilver]

Originally Posted by Mark Johnson

The easiest access to photos is in my book "Anchoring and Mooring the Cruising Multihull", available as E book or paperback, from Amazon.

Mark: i bot your Ebook, just finished reading it. Great Read! i haven't digested it all yet, especially the part about the mooring for hurricanes. i almost didn't buy it because i thot that Gary Goodlander's book had said it all. Your book touched on some important subjects that Gary's book didn't address. Well worth the money. One suggestion: the photos could have been larger in the E book, as it was hard to see them, even enlarged.
thanks for the read
jon

[Mark Johnson]

Originally Posted by longjonsilver

Mark: i bot your Ebook, just finished reading it. Great Read! i haven't digested it all yet, especially the part about the mooring for hurricanes. i almost didn't buy it because i thot that Gary Goodlander's book had said it all. Your book touched on some important subjects that Gary's book didn't address. Well worth the money. One suggestion: the photos could have been larger in the E book, as it was hard to see them, even enlarged.

thanks for the read

jon

Thanks for the feedback Jon.

The end result, as far as picture size, was not really up to me. The publisher does his part, and then Amazon converts that into an E Book.

It is now out in paperback as well through Amazon, and I have not even seen a copy of it in this format.

Had this been more of a broad topic, selling proportionately, perhaps professional photos would have made sense.

If there is a particular issue you were unclear about, send me a PM, and I will try to help.

Fair winds,
Mark

[longjonsilver]

Originally Posted by Mark Johnson

If there is a particular issue you were unclear about, send me a PM, and I will try to help.

i plan on rereading your book, at least sections of it, and if i still have questions, i will ask. thanks for the great read
blessings
jon