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11-01-2021, 17:12
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#46
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Colorado
Boat: Catalina 36
Posts: 14
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Re: PLB Saves Solo Sailor
I always wear an inflatable PFD, especially when single handing, and always tether whenever I leave the cockpit. I have two tethers, with long and short lines, that are left hooked up to the jackline, one on each side of the dodger. I then hook myself to the harness side whenever I go forward. I also wear a fannypack that has a charged handheld VHF, a polypropylene (floating) emergency flag, three dye markers, a whistle, and a signalling mirror. Finally, I have a strobe light and personal locator beacon always attached to my vest. Sounds like a lot of stuff in the pack, but it is remarkably light and unobtrusive, the handheld being the only heavy item. I figure that if that's not enough, well.......
Of course, in the boat there is a GPS/DSC enabled VHF with RAM MIC in the cockpit plus MOB-capable Raymarine NAV package. Can't think of much more to add. Would be good to have an AIS capable handheld I guess.
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11-01-2021, 18:34
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#47
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Ontario, Canada
Boat: Grampian 26
Posts: 253
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Re: PLB Saves Solo Sailor
I'm a solo sailor all the time. Not only do I wear a Mustang PFD with built-in harness, I run 2 lines. I'm clipped in outside of the cabin 24/7 period. Twice, so as to never be unclipped as I need to move around my girl. I'm not going to lie it's a huge PITA. Slide....clip... clip.... slide... clip clip. On the bright side it's forces me to slow down and that's not a bad thing.
Fair winds [emoji569][emoji846]
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12-01-2021, 00:40
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#48
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: NZL - Currently Run Aground Ashore..
Boat: Sail & Power for over 35 years, experience cruising the Eastern Caribbean, Western Med, and more
Posts: 2,129
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Re: PLB Saves Solo Sailor
An extra option for those worried about being dragged by the boat (or just getting entangled in things at the wrong moment) is to have a Tylaska trigger release shackle on the inboard harness/pfd end which will release under load.
But that's because from my racing days I was already in the habit of carrying a knife and a spike/fid when on deck. They can be attached to the harness/pfd too if you prefer.
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12-01-2021, 00:46
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#49
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Moderator

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Cruising North Sea and Baltic (Summer)
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 35,307
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Re: PLB Saves Solo Sailor
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmh2002
An extra option for those worried about being dragged by the boat (or just getting entangled in things at the wrong moment) is to have a Tylaska trigger release shackle on the inboard harness/pfd end which will release under load.
But that's because from my racing days I was already in the habit of carrying a knife and a spike/fid when on deck. They can be attached to the harness/pfd too if you prefer.
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I always have a knife on my life jacket. In fact two -- a rigging knife, and a special tether-cutting hook.
However, I seriously doubt that I or anyone would be able to use a knife (or trigger release) in the moment. Imagine you're over and water is being forced down your throat in a massive jet. You can't breathe, you can't see anything. You'll be dead in seconds. Do you think you could reach your knife and cut yourself free?
A better solution is likely a special life jacket sold locally in Cowes; can't remember what it's called. The main attachment for your tether is behind your back. The front one releases somehow allowing you to spin around so that your back faces the stream of water. It seems to me that being pulled along like that, your body would surf and your head would be above water. Seems like a great idea.
__________________
"You sea! I resign myself to you also . . . . I guess what you mean,
I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
I believe you refuse to go back without feeling of me;
We must have a turn together . . . . I undress . . . . hurry me out of sight of the land,
Cushion me soft . . . . rock me in billowy drowse,
Dash me with amorous wet . . . . I can repay you."
Walt Whitman
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12-01-2021, 14:12
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#50
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Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: 1962 Columbia 29 MK 1 #37
Posts: 15,337
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Re: PLB Saves Solo Sailor
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead
I always have a knife on my life jacket. In fact two -- a rigging knife, and a special tether-cutting hook.
However, I seriously doubt that I or anyone would be able to use a knife (or trigger release) in the moment. Imagine you're over and water is being forced down your throat in a massive jet. You can't breathe, you can't see anything. You'll be dead in seconds. Do you think you could reach your knife and cut yourself free?
A better solution is likely a special life jacket sold locally in Cowes; can't remember what it's called. The main attachment for your tether is behind your back. The front one releases somehow allowing you to spin around so that your back faces the stream of water. It seems to me that being pulled along like that, your body would surf and your head would be above water. Seems like a great idea.
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The PFDs designed for SAR have that feature, but the rescue then is from someone pulling you aboard at that point. Or if you have rigged some way for the boat to stop if you aren't there, you will not drown before you can self-rescue. The quick release is important I think, I have that too and from my days as a river guide my knife is easily detached from its sheath, with my eyes closed, and razor sharp. I feel good having all these things ready, but I have never needed any of them yet.
__________________
DL
Pythagoras
1962 Columbia 29 MKI #37
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12-01-2021, 14:55
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#51
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: NZL - Currently Run Aground Ashore..
Boat: Sail & Power for over 35 years, experience cruising the Eastern Caribbean, Western Med, and more
Posts: 2,129
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Re: PLB Saves Solo Sailor
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead
However, I seriously doubt that I or anyone would be able to use a knife (or trigger release) in the moment. Imagine you're over and water is being forced down your throat in a massive jet. You can't breathe, you can't see anything. You'll be dead in seconds. Do you think you could reach your knife and cut yourself free?
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Why not have the option? I don't think anything is especially lost by having a Tylaska trigger release shackle at the inboard harness/pfd end of the tether.
Also we are mostly talking about smaller cruising boats here, not offshore racing boats travelling at high speed.
As an ex bowman I have actually been overboard a few times while racing, a couple of times accidentally and a couple times deliberately so I have experienced being underwater and dragged by the boat, once even with a heavy bagged spinnaker on top of me at the same time.
So whilst I understand your point, and it would be quite frightening for the average cruiser at night and in cold water, I'm not entirely convinced about the 'massive jet of water down your throat' being an immediate threat in seconds - minutes, yes, but engage survival mode, close your mouth, just like when swimming...
As I mentioned I was in the habit of carrying a knife and a spike/fid when on deck but the Tylaska trigger release shackle and spike/fid combo has the advantage of not being a sharp object that you might cut yourself with.
Like Don CL said, having your tools ready to hand, accessible with eyes closed and one handed should be normal. And try to practice these things too, reaching, using your various gear under load, under duress.
I'm not sure very many cruising sailors practice such things.
But I still think it's all about options. The best method is still to do everything possible not to fall overboard in the first place.
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13-01-2021, 11:16
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#52
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Bay of Islands New Zealand
Boat: Morgan 44 CC
Posts: 1,136
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Re: PLB Saves Solo Sailor
Quote:
Originally Posted by Savanna
With regard to going overboard whist attached to the boat with a tether, we have added a small web cutting knife to all of our lifejackets. Whilst being able to cut the tether is not assured, it does add an extra possibly.
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That’s definitely the best analogy for the old “Hobson’s Choice” I’ve seen for a while. Choose to die being dragged alongside your boat or choose to cut yourself free and die after the boat sails over the horizon without you.
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27-01-2021, 00:50
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#53
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 18
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Re: PLB Saves Solo Sailor
He was tethered, problem was is life jacket auto inflated when he hit the water and with a bit of a tangle in the tether his head was forced under water due to drag so he had to let go his tether and try to grab his self steering gear, which he did but did not have the strength left to haul himself up and eventually lost his grip.
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