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PIW Kits

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/26/2010 : 08:02:36

PIW Kits - Person In Water Kit.

SO the Coast Guard is recommending we have these. I'm just kinda discussing why I do some things to help me remember. So I keep the throw-able Life "Cushion" that we sit on, in the back of the boat so we can throw it should we have a man overboard. They changed terminology on me, we usta always call these MOB ( man overboard ) throw-able vest.

SO I guess now we have MOB drills, and PIW kits. I should remember to quickly review that with anyone that comes onboard.

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2010 : 09:39:15

Not a CG requirement but I know this has been discussed on the forum before - Ensure you have a way to get your ladder down to board your boat if you happen to be sailing by yourself and go overboard. (If the boat gets away from you...ladder accessibility is not so important.)

PO had the ladder velcroed to the stern rail. I removed it and rigged a line with a jam cleat accessible from the water to assist in unlocking the ladder and allowing it to swing down.

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redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/26/2010 : 09:44:28

Ah.. that jam cleat is a good idea. I've got a rope knot that comes loose if you shake the ladder hard. Sometimes it comes loose and the ladder drops if we have a big storm, but the jam cleat would be ideal.

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Champipple
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6855 Posts

Response Posted - 06/02/2010 : 10:20:51

While the USCG might not require one, check your state laws. These change more frequently.

Additionally, I thought the throwable type 4 was supposed to have a length of line attached to it, but I can't find that now.

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dmpilc
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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2010 : 13:36:36

I use a life ring with the rope around it and 50 ft of 1/4" floating line tied to it and the stern cleat. Goes in a holder attached to the top of the stern rail on the port side close to the boarding ladder. Stores below when not sailing. I wanted to get a life sling but the ring was half the cost.

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JohnP
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Response Posted - 12/09/2010 : 08:53:20

I tied my boarding ladder up using a long cord and a slip knot, but the last time I went swimming off the stern the slip knot did not release when I was down in the water. So last summer I installed a simple 2" wide velcro strip that wraps around the ladder and the rail. The velcro is tied to the rail also. The top of the circle peels down when pulled by a long cord that hangs down near the water.

Also have an old fashioned round life ring to port and a life-sling and lifting block and tackle on the stern rail.

I found a U-shaped life-ring in the marina trash that needs a new zipper cover. I'll re-cover it as a winter project. Two years ago my last lifering blew off the bracket in heavy chop and strong winds on the bay, and it had disappeared by the time I noticed it. It was not secured!

I think falling overboard when singlehanding could be fatal without a PFD and without a whistle or a handheld radio.

Edited by - JohnP on 12/09/2010 08:57:05

PCP777
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Response Posted - 12/09/2010 : 15:09:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 I tied my boarding ladder up using a long cord and a slip knot, but the last time I went swimming off the stern the slip knot did not release when I was down in the water. So last summer I installed a simple 2" wide velcro strip that wraps around the ladder and the rail. The velcro is tied to the rail also. The top of the circle peels down when pulled by a long cord that hangs down near the water.

Also have an old fashioned round life ring to port and a life-sling and lifting block and tackle on the stern rail.

I found a U-shaped life-ring in the marina trash that needs a new zipper cover. I'll re-cover it as a winter project. Two years ago my last lifering blew off the bracket in heavy chop and strong winds on the bay, and it had disappeared by the time I noticed it. It was not secured!

I think falling overboard when singlehanding could be fatal without a PFD and without a whistle or a handheld radio.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I agree, especially if your rig is balanced, she'll simply sail away.

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 12/09/2010 : 19:18:36

Edited by - on

GaryB
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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2010 : 09:43:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JohnP
 I tied my boarding ladder up using a long cord and a slip knot, but the last time I went swimming off the stern the slip knot did not release when I was down in the water. So last summer I installed a simple 2" wide velcro strip that wraps around the ladder and the rail. The velcro is tied to the rail also. The top of the circle peels down when pulled by a long cord that hangs down near the water.

Also have an old fashioned round life ring to port and a life-sling and lifting block and tackle on the stern rail.

I found a U-shaped life-ring in the marina trash that needs a new zipper cover. I'll re-cover it as a winter project. Two years ago my last lifering blew off the bracket in heavy chop and strong winds on the bay, and it had disappeared by the time I noticed it. It was not secured!

I think falling overboard when singlehanding could be fatal without a PFD and without a whistle or a handheld radio.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I agree, especially if your rig is balanced, she'll simply sail away.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yeah, like I'll ever be able to accomplish that!

If I had an autopilot it would be very tempting for me to use it while raising/lowering sails and such but I would turn it off while raising/lowering sails for this very reason. I'd rather struggle with the boat turning and remaining close if I fell overboard rather than watch it disappear over the horizon.

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jerlim
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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2011 : 19:40:10

When single-handing, I tow a 100' water skiing line w/ a float at 50' and at 100'...theory is I grab onto the line if I wind up overboard...it's been pointed out the line will be past me in 15 seconds (with a through the water speed of 5 mph) and I'll likely miss the line by the time I recover from falling in...maybe I'll extend the line to 200'... my concern is that sometimes other traffic gets within 200' of the stern...plus potentially fouling on the floats marking the scallop cages - I like the idea, but it seems impractical for our area of operation...

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2011 : 21:40:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim
 When single-handing, I tow a 100' water skiing line w/ a float at 50' and at 100'...theory is I grab onto the line if I wind up overboard...it's been pointed out the line will be past me in 15 seconds (with a through the water speed of 5 mph) and I'll likely miss the line by the time I recover from falling in...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...and I wonder if you can even hang onto it, much less pull yourself back to the boat, if she's making five knots. OK, maybe your drag will slow her to four knots--that's faster than you can walk on dry land when you walk really fast. (Have you ever been in or seen a four knot current??)

If you're dragging 100' behind your boat in a nice breeze and the boat won't round up, you're just trying to prolong the inevitable. If you're single-handing on big water with an autopilot, tether on, or clip a waterproof VHF to your PFD and, when something goes wrong, hope for help.

BTW, I'm sure people think this is silly... I have friends who have fallen off boats, and even off docks, in situations that became life-threatening in a heartbeat. When I walk down on my frosty dock to check the circulators that prevent ice from forming around the pilings, I think about exactly where I would go if by some silly cirumstance I should fall in--it would most certainly be a life-threatening situation. And that's around docks with no more than a knot of tidal current.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 01/07/2011 21:50:45

jerlim
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Response Posted - 01/08/2011 : 09:12:57

hmm...prolonging the inevitable...excellent point...a tether and jack line is a better idea...

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2011 : 10:38:37

Then there's the old debate on whether to make the tether long enough that you can maneuver around to the transom and get to the ladder, or short enough that you can't go over the gunwales... What you don't want is something in between. I've wondered whether some sort of trip-line for the auto-pilot (or whatever tiller control you have) might be a good idea, to let the boat head up if you go in.

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jerlim
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Response Posted - 01/09/2011 : 16:56:07

THAT'S IT ! some kind of a trip mechanism between the trailing line and the tiller bungee

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GaryB
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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2011 : 18:30:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim
 hmm...prolonging the inevitable...excellent point...a tether and jack line is a better idea...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Agree with a tether and jackline.

However, if you don't have the above and are trailing the rope and if you could grab the trailing line and if you were on a lake or near shore you might be able to hold on long enough to get to shore or at least get close enough to swim in and if frog's had wings.... (I know, a lot of if's...)

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2011 : 20:03:34

I have been towed in the water (wearing a lifejacket) by a powerboater (kind enough to tow me back to the boat when the current was too strong).

It's exhausting even in warm Florida waters!

I vote for a jackline long enough to get me to the stern and a trip wire floating astern to grab and disable the autopilot (if I had one

)
Then I would get dragged to the stern, then grab the tripwire, boat slows down, and reach up to pull down the ladder.

Paul

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 01/09/2011 : 21:01:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim
 hmm...prolonging the inevitable...excellent point...a tether and jack line is a better idea...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Agree with a tether and jackline. However, if you don't have the above and are trailing the rope and if you could grab the trailing line and if you were on a lake or near shore you might be able to hold on long enough to get to shore or at least get close enough to swim in...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yes, but MOB ("PIW") issues are most significant for "big water" sailors, especially in ocean waters where tidal currents become a factor and the shore could be 5, 10, 50, or more miles away. There, if the boat sails away from you, the game's over. And if you can grab a trailing line and be dragged at 4-5 knots through the water, you'll be able hang on for how many minutes? And if you are tethered and go over the side and are pinned against the side by the boat speed, somebody will recover your body, pinned against the side... I say tether youself so you can't go over the rail, no matter how inconvenient it might be. A jackine that goes to the mast and then to the bow, means that to go to the bow clipped onto the jackline, clip onto the forward jackline, unclip from the aft, and then continue. Two clips on your harness. Inconvenient... but so is being towed to your demise.

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