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Life Vests and Tethers

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2007 : 10:09:19

You want a short tether, not a long one. The primary idea is to keep you ON the boat. Being dragged alongside or behind the boat is a very bad place to be. Better than nothing but still very bad. An alternative for concern about going over is to drag a long floating line behind the boat with handholds tied at intervals. But the best way to stay alive is to not go over and a short tether is essential.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2007 : 14:41:36

Randy is 100% correct here. The jackline is 30 feet because it usually runs from the cockpit to the bow and back on the other side. You attach the carabiner from the tether to it.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2007 : 17:39:45

Ok, so tether slides up and down the jack line. And I would need a 50' jack line if I wanted to walk from bow to stern using a short tether.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2007 : 17:51:09

We have a Lifesling II attached to the back of the port catbird seat. It velcros to it fairly well, and the bridle U-bolt is a convenient tie off, plus the line ends up being directly above the boarding ladder which seems like a good idea. The only problem is the newer LSII outer cases have a giant velcro flap, which sort of just sits in the catbird seat. It's not really in the way, just doesn't look particularly ship-shape, but I can't bring myself to cut it off. The old cases only had a fitted flap that was maybe 2" deep, this one is full length and I don't know why.

I also have my boarding ladder rigged so that someone in the water can deploy the ladder by themselves. I just made a loop attached to the bail and the bottom of the ladder. If the ladder's up, the loop is long enough to not quite drag in the water, and if it's down, it just hangs along the side of the ladder out of the way. If you need the ladder down, just tug on the line and that opens the bail, then tug on the other end and the ladder comes down.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2007 : 20:22:19

David, re Life Sling, I mount exactly like you do. But do you leave permanently attached to cat seat or remove and store after end of sail as I do? I ask cuz of recent post re the stealing of a motor. In my fairly safe marina, lots leave their Life Slings, BBQ's, dingies and outboard motors, etc, on their boats. They are a little more brave than me.
Steve A

Edited by - piseas on 11/16/2007 20:23:29

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2007 : 20:34:47

We leave our Lifesling attached, as well as our brand new Magma grill, outboard, tank, etc. If someone wanted any of them they could get them. It's one of the reasons I go out of my way to introduce myself to my dock mates and try to get to know them a bit. That way, at least they know our faces & we know theirs, and I also make a point of pointing out which boat is mine and asking which one is theirs (it's a fairly small marina), so they'll know if they see the "wrong" guy working on my outboard to tell someone. We do lock our cabin & anchor locker, but anyone with a nice set of bolt cutters could get right in if they wanted to. Our Avon dinghy sits on a rack with about a dozen other dinghies of various makes & models. Anyone looking to steal a dinghy would have a nice choice. The only security for the dinghy rack beyond the gate is that mine's tied down with 3/4" line, but that's mostly to keep it in place in the high winds we get occasionally. I don't want to have to drive 40 minutes or so again to make sure my boat's tied down properly.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2007 : 22:57:35

Gary, I have done some research and found this site has a great deal on 3 different complete Mustang(which has the best ratings) packages:
http://www.landfallnavigation.com/pfdkits.html
What have you come up with?
Steve A
ps. dont forget about an emergency ladder. Check this one out:
http://www.landfallnavigation.com/swbl1.html
Ive never heard about this Landfall before but they sure have great prices. Has anyone bought from them before?

Edited by - piseas on 11/17/2007 15:44:04

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2007 : 14:07:29

Steve, Lifesling II installed!
[url="http://www.jointdecision.us/mods.lifesling.html"]

[/url]

I made a video showing install, use and stow (click on the img).

Paul

Edited by - britinusa on 11/17/2007 19:50:09

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2007 : 15:41:45

Paul, That has got to be the best demo of any kind posted on this forum.
Congrats. The rest of you take note. We should no longer accept photos only or worse yet, verbal description.
Lets see who can top this. The bar has been set.
Well done.
Steve A

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2007 : 17:51:02

Paul
Top drawer production.....On that pan I thought for sure there was going to be a mermaid holding onto the life ring.

paulj

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2007 : 18:13:34

piseas - I just got my boat about a month ago and have single-handed a couple of times when it was pretty rough. I had a waist mounted inflatable pfd on but did not feel comfortable.

Started thinking about that one night and decided to post. After reading all of the posts to this site I've learned alot about this subject and decided I need to make a good self-inflating pfd with tether and a jackline a major priority. Also at least a 150' floating line to trail behind the boat. Let's pray it never happens but this one question may some day save my life or someone elses.

Thank you for the link above!

Should the jackline go from the stern to the bow or just from the front edge of the cockpit up to the bow and back to the front of the cockpit on the other side? What would be the recommended length be for the jackline AND the tether? What diameter and what type of rope should I trail behind the boat?

Thank you everyone for your input!

GaryB
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah, TX

Edited by - GaryB on 11/17/2007 18:15:43

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2007 : 19:58:29

Thanks guys, the admiral was behind the camera.

Paul

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 07:44:46

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 piseas - I just got my boat about a month ago and have single-handed a couple of times when it was pretty rough. I had a waist mounted inflatable pfd on but did not feel comfortable.

Started thinking about that one night and decided to post. After reading all of the posts to this site I've learned alot about this subject and decided I need to make a good self-inflating pfd with tether and a jackline a major priority. Also at least a 150' floating line to trail behind the boat. Let's pray it never happens but this one question may some day save my life or someone elses.

Thank you for the link above!

Should the jackline go from the stern to the bow or just from the front edge of the cockpit up to the bow and back to the front of the cockpit on the other side? What would be the recommended length be for the jackline AND the tether? What diameter and what type of rope should I trail behind the boat?

Thank you everyone for your input!

GaryB
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah, TX
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Just keep in mind you are responsible for that 150 feet that you are dragging around.

The jackline runs from wherever you want to wherever you want. When I had the 25 I think only ran a jackline 1 time. While in the cockpit if I really needed to clip in I would catch a cleat or the base of a stanchion. I didn't run the line throught he cockpit because there is already enough crap running through there after tiller, jib sheets, spin sheets main sheet etc.

The length of the tether should be long enough to let you get things done but short enough to keep your body on the boat and out of the water. I've used a number of different tethers and like the one with elastic built in. I think it goes about 5 feet, but the elastic keeps the slack out of the way so you don't get tangled in it. Be sure you have a quick release on your end too so that you can disconnect yourself from the tether in case of an emergency that requires you to do so.

If you single had often, consider getting a second shorter tether so that you can stay connected while you move your main tether to a diffrent connection point.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 19:02:59

Great video Paul! Because I connect via dialup, the first time through it paused every couple of seconds. After it had lurched all the way through once, it played back smoothly from cache.

-- Leon S.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 21:06:34

6000 miles in the last three years, most of it off shore, half of it solo.

SOSpenders with integral harness and jacklines. When solo I wear it on deck, period, when with crew I wear it when falling overboard is would create a major situation. (water under 80 degrees, boat moving faster than 2 knots)

Replace the white "peppermint"...the salt tablet that dissolves and let the thing inflate when immersed in water, regularly. 1-2 years depending on use. Mine self-inflated, hanging on a hook below. I was on deck, the wife was in the bunk very close by....she almost came THROUGH the deck.....

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">When I single hand, in addition to the inflatable PFD, I trail a 150' line.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I have hung on a line off the back of the boat (in the water) on hot summer days, in a bathing suit, well rested and not panicked. At three knots hanging on and breathing becomes challenging.

At 6 knots the end of your line goes by in 10 seconds. You, just whacked overboard, clothed with (hopefully) an inflated may-west around your neck will probably not get to that rope in time. If you do you will probably not be able to absorb the shock and hold on. If you do, again, clothed and with a live preserver on, you will probably not be able to work your way 150 feet back to the boat and breathe. If you do , you will probably not have the strenght to hoist your wet (heavy) self out of the water.

At 1 knot yes.....2 maybe....3 or above doubt it. Try it sometimes with another (competent) crew member on board.....

As far as I'm concerned this technique does only one thing....create drag.

Edited by - Oscar on 11/18/2007 21:13:01

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/18/2007 : 21:23:54

I wonder what the feasibility is of having a tether device that will disable any kind of auto steering mechanism if the solo sailor is knocked overboard? Seems like that should be rather low tech. In that case, the boat should round up in relatively short order making the trailing line more of a help.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2007 : 09:53:06

Oscar's post explains why the emphasis should be on staying on the boat, and not merely attached to it. The best way to rig a jackline is from bow to cockpit, down the centerline of the boat. That way, a fairly short tether will let you work anywhere on deck, but won't let you fall outside the lifelines. That usually requires that you install an extra attachment point somewhere along the centerline, which might interfere with a dodger. If you can't figure out a satisfactory way to attach it down the centerline of your boat, a good alternative is to run a jackline down both sides of the boat. Then, when you go forward to handle the sails, always clip yourself onto the high (windward) side of the boat. If you fall, you'll probably fall inside the lifelines.

Don't use harnesses and jacklines only when you're singlehanding. Sometimes the conditions can get so rough that you won't be able to turn the boat and bring it back to the MOB, even with crew and under power. When it's starting to get bad, keep everyone attached to and on the boat.

Also, if you don't have harnesses and jacklines, tie a bowline around your waist and tie the other end to the boat. It's not the best arrangement, but it's better than nothing. I had to do it once last summer, when I was crewing for a friend, and forgot to bring my harness, and we had to go forward to tuck in a reef. It's reassuring to have something to rely on.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2007 : 16:51:36

Steve, Thanks for the extra tips. I was wondering about the jacklines and thought it was kinda overkill by having on both sides, requires a 50' double line. I think the shortest I have seen is 30' which is more than enough plus a short tether should do. Not sure if you had a chance to check out the link I attached a few comments above to the Mustang vest combo. Appreciate your input.
Steve A

Edited by - on

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