[C320-list] C320 MKII ladder & safety

[Andrew Santangelo]

Hello All,

I find this an interesting discussion and I have some questions/ 
comments:

* If sailing single handed or at night, all crew on "Dawn Treader" is  
required to be tethered to the boat - no ifs, ands, or buts.  Plus we  
require anintegrated inflatable safety harness with emergency kit be  
worn. This kit includes marine strobe, whistle, mirror and small flash  
light.  This season will be adding electronic beacons.

* We use the life sling system on our boat for rescue and recovery.

* We avoid the ladder unless it is relatively calm.  The ladder can be  
like a spear in the water when there are waves.

Thus, if some one falls in the water untethered and we have a crew, we  
use the life sling system.  If tethered we may use a combination of a  
safety line and the life sling hoist.  We avoid the ladder unless  
things are relatively calm.

I do recommend couples and people with crew pretend someone went over  
board and do a practice drill.  If you have not done it before you  
will find the experience quite illuminating.

Also on single handing - make sure you are in shape.  I believe a  
couple of years ago a single handed sailor died on Lake Michigan.  In  
steep seas he fell over board, but was tethered.  The problem was he  
was I believe around 300 lbs and could not pull himself back up.  I  
believe he died from cardiac arrest and/or hypothermia.  Note, the  
ladder would have failed in this case since the seas were around  
6'-8'.  Much too dangerous to board a ladder in these conditions, let  
alone lowering a ladder. I would instead have hand holds or grab lines  
around the vessel to reboard when tethered and single handed.   BTW -  
the boat did beach itself (a C380) and was completely functional and  
was refloated without a problem.

Lastly, I have never had a man-overboard situation.  BUT, I am  
convinced the minute I get rid of my safety systems, an event will  
happen.

Best Regards,
Andrew
C320 "Dawn Treader"
#333


On Jan 26, 2009, at 9:14 AM, David J Gleason wrote:

> Wayne:
>
> I have done some single handed sailing and the thought of  not being  
> able
> to lower the ladder from the water has always bothered me.  I have
> thought of tying the ladder up with yarn that could be broken with a  
> good
> pull.  However I then need to run a line across the access opening  
> so as
> not to fall backward out of the cockpit.
>
> If you could describe the arrangement you use, I would appreciate it.
> Photos would be a great help.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dave Gleason
> Proud Mary, #150
>
> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:04:05 -0800 (PST) Wayne Strickland
> <nadowayne at yahoo.com> writes:
>> Ladder deployment if in the water and not having a mate onboard, was
>> a concern of mine.  I attached lines to the latches and to the
>> ladder and they can easily be reached while in the water.  The lines
>> release the ladder and pull it down to the water.
>> Safety is a good thing.
>>
>> Wayne Strickland
>> Wayne's World 594
>> Coronado, CA.
>>
>> On Jan 23, 2009, at 7:27 AM, Sail0983 at aol.com wrote:
>>
>> While I don't like it I think the advantage is that it can be
>> deployed by
>> someone in the water.
>>
>> Dave Marchant
>> Illumination #983
>> Solomons, MD
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 1/23/2009 8:23:32 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>> bcampbell at valp.net writes:
>>
>> What's  up with the cheap stern boarding ladder on the new boats?
>> Even the
>> C375 has  it and they don't seam to be very user  friendly.
>>
>>
>> **************From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in
>> between, stay
>> up-to-date with the latest news.
>> (http://aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000023)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> Feel like a winner with great prices on a huge selection of  
> trophies. Click now!
> http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw16KuSZzFyrcJD6JVUlYjGpOfV7j0XE8mWtxcA348WXXetya/