Take nothing for granted

[Dick Barthel]

This article from a local paper about a mishap in Long Island Sound is a good reminder and eye opener at the start of another season:

"Coast Guard and police searched by sea and air Wednesday night for a missing boater in Long Island Sound off Milford Point. Officials said two people sleeping below deck on a sailboat awoke around 6:30 p.m. and discovered that a third person who'd been operating the boat was missing. The search included several boats, at least three helicopters, and a jet from the Cape Cod Coast Guard station."

I think falling overboard is something we tend to think only happens to the other guy.

Here's wishing all my friends on the board a happy and safe sailing season.

Dick

[Oswego John]

Dick,

Let me add more morbidity to your post.

Hey guys!!! A large majority of the recovered male bodies, when found, their pants flys were unzippered.

Should the missing helmsman prove to be male, I can imagine what the scenario might have been, not wanting to disturb the two sleeping below or having to leave the helm.

Be careful. THINK.

O J

[Steve Kuhar]

My LORAN antenna is mounted on the starboard stern rail. When "going aft" on the port quarter it is convenient grab the backstay for needed support, and all is well, but if using the starboard quarter I have a tendency to grab the antenna for support, and that doesn't quite do it. My wife has been told that if my boat is found drifting around without me, to look and see if the LORAN antenna is missing; if it is she will know what happened to me.

Steve Kuhar

[Neil Gordon]

Should the missing helmsman prove to be male, I can imagine what the scenario might have been, not wanting to disturb the two sleeping below or having to leave the helm.

That's why they invented cockpit drains.

It's good practice for anyone outside the relative safety of the cabin to be tethered to the boat, particuarly at night and moreso if alone. Even if you're heard screaming as he goes overboard, a night time recovery is as difficult as they come.

In 1971, we lost a guy overboard from a heavy cruiser, in New Orleans, in port. (Don't ask!) He went over on the river side. You have no idea how narrow the beam of a searchlight is when you're trying to use it for general illumination.

[NevisTyphoon]

OJ wrote -
Hey guys!!! A large majority of the recovered male bodies, when found, their pants flys were unzippered.


Mermaids get 'em?!?


PS - got the rudder template this week, OJ - thanks a lot! Will be making it this next week I expect....

Best Regards,

[Dean Abramson]

The LORAN antenna on my 25D was exactly as Steve described, and I, too, often mindlessly grabbed for it (instead of the backstay) while getting ready to take a leak off the stern. Fortunately, the sting of old glass fibers in my fingers generally set me straight.

I have been thinking about securing my swim ladder in the folded-up position only with a piece of ultra light line (20 lb test fishing line?), and then tying a piece of stout line to the ladder's bottom rung, which will reach from that rung (in the up position) down to the waterline. That way, if I fall in, I can give that line a hard jerk to break the fishing line and fold the ladder down.

Then the soft (-headed) jerk can climb aboard.

I never had boarding ladders before one came with this boat, and thought "who the heck wants to swim in Maine waters?" But I have come to think that it is a great safety feature, and not that expensive if you had to add it. And actually, on super hot days, in certain anchorages, I will dive in for an instant, and the ability to re-board rapidly is nice! Also, there have been times when I had to deal with kelp on the prop.

Dean

[Paul D.]

I confess to going off the leeward side however I ALWAYS wrap an arm around a shroud or the backstay and would be on a tether and harness at night or in rough weather.

The cockpit drain is not a bad idea. Urine is sterile and the acid might even do some good to the foul place under the teak grate on the cockpit sole.

All the best,
Paul

[viejo]

Going too and from the Bahamas in our 26, the on deck night watch had an empty milk jug to use. Ladies never run the overnight watch.

As tacky as that sounds it also enables one to see the color of ones pee to remind one to drink more water.

[chase]

For singlehanding I use the jug method. When it is raining I use the cockpit drains. Glad to hear I'm using them for the intended use, I thought I came up with something new......

Dick, a good reminder for all of us to not be too casual. The fun meter would tank if we were to go overboard, singlehanding or not.

c

[Dick Barthel]

That's why they invented cockpit drains.

So obvious - why didn't I think of that! Perhaps we should we start a separate thread on the various techniques that might be employed to accomplish the feat while under sail.

Dick

[barfwinkle]

As tacky as that sounds it also enables one to see the color of ones pee to remind one to drink more water.

C2 (C squared) P2 (P squared), which mean clear and copious Pee Pee, is a very important sign of proper or improper hydration. Color means everything

Fair Winds

[Carter Brey]

While singlehanding I often use a "Little John" that I picked up at WM. It's a simple little red plastic jug with a wide neck, a handle , a flat bottom so you can set it down, and a screw cap. It reminds me of when I was 4 years old and my Mom would pass me an empty Maxwell House jar she kept in the glove compartment of our Studebaker Commander.

The Little John has an optional female adaptor.

It would probably also make a nice emergency cockpit bailer.

Carter Brey
S28 MkII #532 "Delphine"
City Island, NY

[miguel mascaros]

ADDULT DIAPPERS ANYONE...???????

[John Vigor]

So what is this, the maritime micturition website, for crying out loud? It’s disgusting, that’s what it is. Not to mention boastful. All this talk of using the cockpit drains. Yeah, right, whose dingle-dangle is long enough to reach the cockpit drains? And if it ain’t, where does the micturate end up when the boat rolls? No wonder you guys have grunge under the cockpit grating. No wonder your cockpits stink.

And even if some of it does dribble down the cockpit drains by accident, do any of you have the slightest idea how uric acid makes bronze corrode? You’re micturating your way to sudden submergence.

I’m also amazed you ever manage to get any nice ladies to sail with you. They, at least, have the decency to micturate in private decency in the assigned urine receptor down below while you men boastfully wave the distinguishing marks of your sex willy-nilly for all the word to see.

I honestly don’t know what this board is coming to, but I’m beginning for the first time to realize why the hole at the back of the boat is called the cockpit.

Yours in disgust,

John V.

[Neil Gordon]

... do any of you have the slightest idea how uric acid makes bronze corrode? You’re micturating your way to sudden submergence.

Does that go for the official overboard discharge down below?

By the way, you can always count on me for the utmost expression of modesty, except of course when the safety of the vessel is involved.