NUTS & BOATS
The monthly newsletter for to-be and already-are cruisers
Volume 3, Issue #4 - April 15, 2005
Publisher: Trish Lambert
www.takehersailing.com
(C) P. Lambert 2005
Welcome to our new subscribers!
IN THIS ISSUE
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OUR PRIVACY POLICY
A CRUISER'S EYE VIEW
Cruising Couples and Person Overboard Protection by Walt Platkus
Note from Trish: Since Nuts & Boats is a mid-month monthly now, this is a belated April Fools article from my pal, Walt Platkus, who was a neighbor of ours at Silvergate Yacht Club in San Diego. He, wife Shelley, and dog Dooley did the down-and-back Baja cruising adventure a few seasons ago. He's never been the same since...
Introduction
The attempt to cruise a vessel offshore manned with a husband and wife team creates unique challenges to the prevention and rescue of significant others during person overboard situations. Much of the current thinking is focused on prevention and rescue of the unfortunate spousal unit that happens to exit the vessel and enter the water. This approach makes the giant assumption that the person who exits the vessel does so voluntarily or by accident and not by a deliberate act from the other spousal team member.
In the analysis of the root cause of man overboard incidents it is assumed that the victims that leave their vessels do so through some unfortunate act. With cruising couples, the significant variable of life insurance plays into the equation of how and why these events can occur and the perspective of whether the actual act of departure was unfortunate or not is in the eyes of the perpetrator or victim.
Existing Methods of Prevention
The existing methods of prevention involve establishing basic “rules” for conduct on the vessel while underway. The fundamental rules of not leaving the cockpit without a tether and being tethered at all times when no one is on deck are excellent preventive tools. These techniques of course work only when the accidental person overboard situations occur and the equipment used may be subjected to subtle acts of sabotage. Some of these may be cutting the fibers inside the jacketed tether line, filing through the caribiner pin to weaken its effect, sneaking up and unhooking the caribiner, emergency tacking or gybing (after weakening aforesaid equipment) and/or untying jack lines while the person is on deck and undefensible. Men are particularly vulnerable in these situations since a significant number of their trips on deck put them in a position where their ability to hold on is limited and they are not very observant of activities taking place behind their back whilst standing at the rail and concentrating on the job at hand (no matter how large or small it may be).
Life lines are the other significant tool we have available to prevent an unplanned departure from the deck. This too offers a last chance for something to grab on to when making your exit. There are limitations to the effectiveness of lifelines, and they too can be modified to insure that the last grab only results in the failure of the cables or fittings.
Methods of Rescue
There are several very popular and effective methods of rescue that can be employed when the person makes his/her untimely departure from the deck. Unfortunately these only work if the remaining spousal unit is actually interested in recovering a body (living or dead) from the water.
First and foremost the person must stay afloat and many cruising partners use inflatable harnesses to insure that they will be buoyant long enough to effect a rescue. In the case of cruising couples it is recommended to use regular life jackets capable of keeping the head out of the water as they cannot be easily modified to minimize their effectiveness. Significant others may modify inflatable equipment by using empty gas bottles, placing small cuts on inflatable bladders, and those people that are highly motivated could fill the bladder with lead shot to insure that the body is never recovered and promptly descends to the ocean floor without delay.
The Lifesling or an easily manufactured counterpart are very effective tools, however the victim is totally dependent on the desire of the person remaining on deck to effect a rescue, thus making limiting the effectiveness of this tool.
Man overboard poles, strobe lights, GPS sensors, and other means of identifying the MOB location also are dependent on the motivations of the person remaining on the vessel and thus their effectiveness may be compromised. In all cases, the person on deck should deploy all possible devices at the scene, whether they intend a rescue or not.
Tactics Used to Create MOB Situations
1 – The Wee Wee Bye Bye
Several tactics may be used to assist the victim in exiting the boat whilst standing at the rail. The best tactic is to reassure the person that the weather is very calm and there is no need for harness or tether and then employ one of the many methods of assisting the person off the deck. Like tides, the attention span during the first 30% of the “act” is totally directed at activities such as preparation, evaluating wind direction, and establishing an aiming point. This is the most opportune time to initiate the event.
2 – Honey we need to reef early
With favorable wind conditions, the victim can be conned into going forward without a harness or tether. It is then, a simple matter to organize an accidental gybe when they stand to leave the cockpit and they shall exit the boat quite neatly. Should the person keep their tether on, then simply untie the jack line on one end and initiate a safety gybe while they walk back to the cockpit. The jack line will neatly flow through the carbiner and a prompt exit shall ensue.
3 – Honey we don’t need to reef now
This tactic offers great psychological piece of mind and also greatly aides in any subsequent police investigation coming to a happy closure. In this case we use the same philosophy as in Tactic 2, but wait until the wind has exceeded your normal reef point. It is not adviseable to try and convince the person not to wear harness and tether, however you can easily untie the jack line or pre weaken the caribiner (while on shift alone) and perform the “accidental” gybe. The beauty of this tactic is that you can ease your conscience because in rough seas the rescue attempt (if you bother to make one) is very difficult and this explanation goes along way to prevent or minimize attempts at prosecution later.
4 – Honey let’s go forward and fool around
A little known fact about vessel design is that a woman determined the height of the lower life line. Through a US Government Grant is was determined that the existing lower life line height is adequate to roll a male human being weighing less than 250 lbs over the side. After the amorous event is over and the male crew member falls asleep, it is a simple matter to roll the person over the side, under the lifeline. Being commited to more deviant coupling techniques, such as bondage may prove to be a signficant preventive technique or depending on which party is incapacitated, may actual ease the actual departure event.
A very positive preventive techinque is to make sure that you have purchased a vessel with adequate bullwarks to prevent this rolling technique from being effective. Vessels with aluminum or teak toe rails should be avoided for couples cruising without additional crew.
Calculating Rates of Return for MOB Incident
The determination of an effective rate of return as an incentive for a MOB situation should be considered carefully. The Life Insurance Policy for the intended victim should be sufficient to offset all legal expenses, expenses for and clothing or appurtances (Kleenex, etc) to demonstrate adequate grief, and to insure that you are set up for the rest of your life. The chart below shows the relationship between life insurance policies and the potential for a MOB Incident. Low levels of insurance do not guarantee that an “event” will not occur, because in some cases relational issues that may exist or begin to occur during cruising may result in a “What the hell, I’m not taking it any more” philosophy with resulting departure of the unwanted party from the vessel.
Prevention Techniques for Cruising Couples
Pictured below is the most cost effective preventive measure for intentional man overboard incidents. The unit is designed so that the maximum allowable distance between partners allows for personal body functions, cooking, and other on board activities. The Phase II model has a third additional attachment point to the vessel to minimize the opportunity for a person, not in view, to find a way to disconnect from the device. It is critical to insure that the partners do not carry any device capable of cutting the chain connection and that the keys are maintained safely on shore by a trusted party. That party can Fed Ex your key to the arrival destination so you can disconnect from each other when it is safe to do so.
Attach each cuff securely prior to departure. If you have the Phase II Model, select a secure location for the third cuff and attach accordingly. If you need to extend the chain sections of the cuff, use hardened chain so a Leatherman or other cutting device cannot be employed while your significant other is in the head. This demonstrates the obvious advantage to the Phase II unit in preventing your premature departure from the vessel during the voyage and/or your premature departure from life during the voyage.
This product has been carefully engineered and designed from the lowest quality carbon steel and thinnest chrome plating to insure rapid and effective corrosion of the lock mechanism. This key design feature prevents the potential use of lock picks, copied keys, or other attempts to open a cuff should you survive the first two days of your voyage.
