New Rescue Stick

[scottbr]

In the recent e-mail from Sailnet and the thread on the MOB / COB rescue techniques, I had not seen any mention of this new product from Mustang Survival. It is esentially a self-inflating collar on a stick. They claim accuracy up to 100 - 150 ft. away. It allows you to get buoyancy to the victim quickly and accurately and goes farther than a throw rope, rescue ring, or anything else you wish to throw at the victim, including styrofoam plates.

http://www.mustangsurvival.com/rescue_stick/index.php

I saw this at the Toronto Boat Show last weekend and will definately be adding one onboard this spring prior to launch.

[teshannon]

Scott,
Practical Sailor did a review of the Rescue Stick in their April issue. They agreed with you in terms of accuracy and toss distance. They did however have reservations about it because there is no attachment between the boat and the MOB and hence they consider it a backup to other rescue aids. Their other caution was that since it can't be retrieved your first toss better be a good one. I think it would be good to have on board but a Life Sling would be a better choice in my mind. I'm sure others will chime in.

[JeffZissou]

The first thing I'd have to do is teach my wife to throw like the woman in the promotional video! She's got a good arm. If that was my wife I could just see the thing heading 20 feet in the wrong direction.

[chucklesR]

I gave up on the standard yellow horseshoe lifesling design (like the one hanging on teshannon's stern in his avatar) when I got my Gemini. My wife couldn't throw the old one more than 20 ft. So basically within say 2 seconds that's out of range of a 'Me' OB. I'm currently carrying 4 type IV's, both the stick you've got above and a West marine brand rescue bag that has 100 ft of rope. I selected it by taking one outside at WM (with permission) and having my wife toss it in the parking lot.
Life slings to have are good, but I'll go with my davits and swim platform.

[teshannon]

Chuckles,
I agree, the horseshoe rings are not worth much other than as a marker to see your course back. I've put on a Life Sling but might add one of those sticks also. If someone went over we could then follow the trail of stuff in the water.

[chucklesR]

Following the trail of stuff in the water is a whole different thread
I wonder how far my wife can throw (for a wild example) a styrofoam plate, or my Tervis (air insulated) 16 ounce cup full of Gosling's and Coke? Ice cubes float don't they?

[scottbr]

I have a Life Sling as well, but it is intended to be dragged and circle the MOB correct? I thought this would be a good addition to the safety gear on board, not the only safety gear.

Anything you toss if you miss will be hard to retrieve. Seems to me this would be the most accurate and if moving quickly and as the MOB moves away, heavier objects ( like the ring hanging on the side of my boat) could not be thrown as far.

I spoke to the rep from Mustang Survival and her explanation was it could not be thrown as far with a rope attached. I would leave the Life Sling and / or throw bag to get a line to the victim.

The web site also has a good instructional video on practicing on dry land how to use the stick.

[TrueBlue]

My wife has dead-on aim and a surprisingly fast, hardball pitch. Most likely, I'd get knocked out by the Stick if I was the MOB.

[scottbr]

TB, the practice video uses a circular target 5' - 12' dia. with a flag pole in the middle. You practice throwing into the circle and NOT HITTING the flag pole. Unless of course she's trying to hit you intentionally.

To me this seemed like the most innovative product to be introduced since the Life Sling. I would much rather have an inflateable object land close by than a string of plates or other debris. I was just trying to make others aware of a new product that I had not seen discussed here in the past and after doing a search.

But hey, what do I know, I drive a Hunter, have in-mast furling, I use a Rocna anchor AND I make coffee with a drip filter cone. Oh AND I have a Magma Newport BBQ on the back rail.

[TrueBlue]

Thanks for the link scott, seems like a great product.

BTW - I was being facetious about getting knocked out by my wife's aim . . . although, she could if she really wanted to.