[C320-list] C320 MKII ladder & safety

[Andrew Santangelo]

A very good topic and discussion!

I do agree with the findings from the boat U.S. study.  Similar work  
was done in the 80's and 90's and the key theme repeats itself -  
getting the person back on board is difficult in good conditions.

The Life Sling system works well - but you need to have the gear and  
know how to use it.  Jacklines are also important.

The key to all of this is practice, practice and practice PLUS having  
the right gear.

We also have the radio at the helm and two more in the cabln, plus the  
antennas are kept separate - one on the stern pulpit and one on the  
mast just in case we lose the mast.

The other key with the inflatable safety harness with the safety gear  
is IF the boat cannot go back and get you, you can still be found -  
unconscious or not.  No one has convinced me also they can swim from  
20 miles let alone 2 miles from shore on Lake Michigan.  Yeah there  
are the super swimmers, but they do not crew on my vessel.

Having said all this I have never had a problem in 24 years.  BUT that  
does not mean it can't happen and as they say in scouting "Be Prepared".

One last item - when my kids were younger I had netting around the  
boat, they always had  a life jacket on, and were always harnessed to  
the boat.  As they got older I kept them to the general harness rule  
we have on the boat (though at night they sleep rather than crew!).  
Now three of the kids have become my boat bubbas, woo hoo!  BTW - I  
have kept part of the netting on the bow - great for the crew (keeps  
us on board!) and keeps the sails from going into the water when  
changing sails or doing the spinnaker thing.

Best Regards,
Andrew
C320 "Dawn Treader"
#333



On Jan 26, 2009, at 2:51 PM, warren updike wrote:

> "... climb up on the swim step and climb over the stern rail..."
> Try doing that fully clothed with inflated vest in cold water. Even  
> in water
> at 50deg. You will have a short time before you have lost enough  
> power that
> you won't be able to haul yourself onto the swim step. Add to the  
> conditions
> a rolling sea and an age of 50 or more and it deteriorates rapidly.  
> Now if
> you are 250-300lbs forget it.
>
> In Summer of 2005, BoatUS Foundation along with other groups held a  
> Crew
> Overboard Rescue Symposium in CA. See the final report:
> http://www.boatus.com/foundation/findings/COBfinalreport/
>
> One interesting point and an important finding was that in spite of  
> all the
> traditional material re. maneuvering the boat back to a person in  
> the water
> (and all that is very important,) the most difficult and surprising  
> part was
> the difficulty removing the crew person from the water.  Even with  
> light
> weight dummy (assumes incapacitated person,) experienced boaters  
> found it
> difficult.
>
> It's not enough to have a device like a life sling. You need to have  
> the
> equipment and a plan for removing a person from the water. That  
> probably
> means having a block and tackle ready to rig and knowing how to rig  
> it.  If
> the person is conscious and can help all the better. If not, rescue  
> will be
> very difficult.
>
> Now, if you are like me and sail with my first mate most of the  
> time, the
> question is will she know how to get the boat back to me in the water,
> deploy the LifeSling, rig the tackle, haul me out?  For that reason,  
> I've
> concentrated on teaching her how to make a MayDay call on the DSC  
> radio to
> call for help. In the event I'm unconscious... well, that's why I  
> keep my
> life insurance paid up.
>
> Moral: Have the equipment; Have a plan; Practice the plan.
>
> Warren & Pattie Updike
> Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
> Middle River, Chesapeake Bay
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: crashley at gte.net [mailto:crashley at gte.net]
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 1:01 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] C320 MKII ladder & safety
>
> What's all this nonsense about deploying the ladder from in the  
> water. Just
> climb up on the swim step and climb over the stern rail, or deploy the
> ladder once you're up there if you want to. The older boats had no  
> swim step
> and then you were really screwed, but that's a different story. (I'm  
> sure
> this will generate a lot of static.)
>
> CRA
> Rosebud #882
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Andrew
> Santangelo
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 9:38 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Cc: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] C320 MKII ladder & safety
>
> Yes OD!
>
> Do not count on the ladder if you are alone and fallen in the water.
>
> * If sails are up say bye bye to the vessel.
> * If motor is running say bye bye to the vessel and maybe something  
> else!
> * If you are in steep seas and you can miraculously stay with the  
> boat, good
> luck boarding a ladder that is acting like a spear if down.  Heck -  
> try to
> lower a ladder even in 2' seas.
>
> Good things about the ladder:
> * Nice for fun and swimming
> * If calm or light winds, and someone falls overboard AND you have a  
> crew it
> makes boarding easy.
> * Great gate way for boarding a dingy
> * I use it in the winter to get up on the boat when the boat is in the
> cradle.
> * Easy access and boarding for rafting up.
> * Also good and wide for SCUBA and Snorkeling - one of the original  
> reasons
> I loved this ladder!
> ..add your favorite reasons.
>
> Best Regards,
> Andrew
> C320 "Dawn Treader"
> #333
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 26, 2009, at 9:39 AM, Orlando.Duran at AveryDennison.com wrote:
>
>> I'm assuming all of this talk about grabbing a ladder while single
>> handing presupposes that the boat will be standing still and not
>> moving either under sail or power... :)
>>
>> If you're sailing alone and fall overboard, good luck in trying to
>> lower any ladder..
>>
>> My strategery has always been to stay IN the boat.. :)
>>
>> OD
>>
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