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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Old hat but worth the review...

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/18/2006 : 22:01:34

Found this article, probably been linked from here before, but still worthy of a revisit. Winter projects in prep for next season or Winter sailing, this is a subject we should all keep in mind.

http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies/COB.pdf

Paul.

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2006 : 22:26:58

Excellent report. We are planning some San Juan Islands crusing next year. I plan to put a jack line on our 250. Do people use two (one on each side) or just one down the middle on a C250? I figure we'll concentrate attention on getting tethered and not falling over. I am aslo intrigued by the MOB poles to improve the chance of sighting the MOB. Most of the time it will be just the two of us. Scarey if one goes over.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2006 : 22:38:41

Good article...

On North Star, I've solved the issue of crew falling overboard by instituting a rule. Whenever guests are aboard, I say to my children, "kids, tell them rule #1" to which they respond in unison, "no unauthorized swimming!"...So far, so good.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2006 : 05:45:45

Don, I like the rule

Randy, I use a jack line on each side from the stem to the double stanchions forward of the cockpit. A single would be preferred but I don't know a practical way to rig one on the 250.

I've also a six foot tether to complete the typical jack line/tether system. My system doesn't stop there however as those seem to be less than adequate to the needs, primary which is to avoid going over the rail and getting hung up.

To deal with that possibility two actions were taken. The most important is the addition of a short tether at the mast. With all of my reefing lines at one location near the starboard side of the mast, once I reach it the short tether affixed at the mast is clipped to the D ring of the harness. That tether is only three feet long and won't allow going over the rail. It is just long enough to perform the reefing task. The six foot primary tether does not need disconnected while using the short mast tether.

The possibility of going over the rail remains during use of the six foot tether while reaching the reef location. Many single handed or even couples sailors accept such an event as inevitable death (hung over the rail on the tether). I disagree and suggest there is a way that will give some hope.

Certainly such a position is not desirable. The shock of coming up on tether and the possible water forces and potential of being drowned while being dragged are significant. Getting back aboard has traditionally been such a daunting task that few thought it possible.

One of the wonderful features of our 250s is the open transom, equipped with a very easily ascendable swim ladder having great hand grips of the stern pulpit and the aft stanchion in my case on a pre-stern seat version. This means that getting aboard is easy...if one can get to the open transom.

Logic then suggest that if hung over the side, one would have to release the tether to get to the swim ladder... but doing so with a boat underway at all would mean the boat would be gone. To stay with the boat and allow the needed tether length to reach the open transom, I added a backup tether to the harness. It is a fifteen foot tether, folded and affixed to the harness. It has a releasing shackle that stays made to the D ring and a caribiner that can be made to the eye of the primary tether's shackle if needed. Then the primary tether can be released from the D ring yielding the additional fifteen feet of tether.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 12/19/2006 05:52:51

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2006 : 08:21:59

Arlyn,

I read your solution to this problem in a post ealier this year. My problem was that my harness is integral to an inflatable life preserver. Attaching the tether extension was not practical where you have it on your harness. My solution is to store the 15 feet of extra line and carabiner in a small pouch attached to the waist belt of the harness. It's relativley compact and convenient when needed. Since I hav a C25, I have installed a pull cord on the swim ladder to allow access to it in an emergency.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2006 : 14:55:40

Great suggestions! Thank you. Arlyn, do you wear a PFD when you wear the harness? We have auto-inflatables but no integral harness. I am uncertain as to whether I should get new PFDs with integral harness or just add a harness setup and wera both. Also, where do people clip onto when in the cockpit?

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 12/19/2006 : 17:12:32

Arlyn
The first thing I noticed in the picture of the harness was the shackle then the fast gate carabiner......seems that you have fallen before and could not get up to easily.
I made a larger pull ring that releases the shackle because the wire ones opened up under load.

paulj C250WK #719

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.