MAN OVERBOARD RECOVERIES (PLYC, Saturday, April 28, 2012) Speaker: Dale Moses (CAPT USN Ret, USCG

Master 100 Ton Near-Coastal) Two man overboard incidents in Navy (one man lost, two recovered) Ive been the man overboard three times (once I had to be rescued) all from my kayak o One time was from boat. Had previously experimented then changed ladder installation so I could deploy it being in the water! People accidentally in the water is usually very serious, especially in the Northwest: Initial shock and ingesting water possibly drowning immediately Hypothermia (topic unto itselfwont dwell on it today) Not being able to stay viable (poor swimming ability, current, wind, grasping, etc.) Danger from underwater equipment (props, hulls) or even mammals Well discuss MOB recovery from three aspects then do some demonstrations: 1. Victim actions 2. Boat actions 3. Planning ahead of time 1. Victim Actions (in rough priority order): Wear a PFD with whistle and flashlight/strobe any time you even think about being topside underway. Ensure your guests do this too. Try to shout as you fall in (even in the marina) Once in the water o Dont try to swim back to the boat unless no choice o Tighten PFD strapswe all wear our PFDs too loosely for good flotation o Wave arms. Blow whistle. o Turn on flashlight/strobe (even in daylight) for optimal visibility o Put on a hood to be more visible o Keep your clothing on to trap air for staying warmer (but get rid of heavy boots) o Look for flotation gear being thrown near you o Be ready to put LifeSling over your head or even a bowline/loop o HYPOTHERMIA should be your major concern from the outset 2, Boat Actions (priority order) wives/girlfriends please pay attention to these! Hit MOB button on plotter/GPS ASAP Yell Man Overboard until everyone is working the new problem Appoint lookout to constantly keep watching victim Throw cushion/lifering. Use MOB stick if you have one, particularly in rough water Report Pan Pan on VHF 16 good to have help in many cases. At least it should prevent other boats running over your MOB! Everyone aboard don their PFDs you sure dont need a 2nd person drowning! Do quick stop but remember a 40 ft boat at 8 knots moves in its own length in 3 seconds! Or circle boat (Quick Turn, Williamson, Anderson, Scharnow Turnpractice is needed) o Very hard to see MOB thats why you appointed a lookout
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o Some people recommend tossing markers onto the water (such as pages from a magazine) while you are maneuvering Coast to a stop upwind of MOB. Danger of boat riding over the MOB or propeller cutting. Have boat hook ready and fully extended Deploy LifeSling (demo later) or prepare a bowline/loop in a mooring line o Nobody should go in the water. Even if MOB is a child or is handicapped, use a line to/around them instead. Haul MOB to boat and hoist to swim step or rail very hard to hoist even a small person. Very difficult for wife to haul husband in especially if he is unconscious (demo on this later) If MOB is able, have them use swim ladder Consider using dinghy to recover MOB (usually better to maneuver the mother ship) Planning Ahead (not all in priority order) Talk out all aspects with your spouse Install whistles on all your PFDs even the spares. Lights too if you can. Make notes to pre-brief guests: o Where you keep the throw cushions/liferings (one below & one on fly bridge) o Yelling ASAP o Need for lookout/spotter o Pointing to MOB is very helpful for everyone aboard o What a guest should do if they fall overboard o Assign a PFD for every guest. Have them try theirs on and adjust straps. o If only one other person aboard, brief them on VHF 16 calling Have a swim ladder (either a permanent one rigged to deploy by person in the water) or have a ladder that can be temporarily rigged (poor second choice) Have a throwing line with buoyant end float (well demo this) Have a LifeSling (demo coming) Have a rope fall (5:1 or at least 3:1) and keep it rigged all the time! Keep gear handy and where spouse can quickly find it. Do drillsespecially with husband being the victim!

Demonstrations: Oscar (a real light-weight yet he is still tough to hoist out!) Cushion/lifering throwing Throwing rope with buoyant float (for conscious MOB) o 2nd throwing device with a weight might be used to snag unconscious MOB Mooring line bowline/loop (for dragging MOB to boat and big enough for lifting) LifeSling (for dragging to boat and hoisting out) Swim ladder (permanent and/or temporary rope ladder) 3:1 Rope Falls (to get MOB out of water or at least onto the swim step) Dinghy usebut one that can be quickly deployed

4/30/2012 C:\Users\Brett\Documents\Yacht Club\Training Day\Training

Day Presentations\Man Overboard Recoveries.doc