Man Overboard marker, anyone used it?

[Jeff_H]

Properly installed, MOB poles are easy to deploy and are critical to recoving a man overboard. The combo or strobe, pole, horseshoe, drogue and whistle is the norm. (The drogue is necessary to keep the equipment from being blown down wind so fast that the man in the water can't get to it. )

I have had been on boats that deployed the MOB equipment for drills and accidentally on occasion. The accidental deploy was during an offshore race and in the days before poles had drougues and we were unable to locate and recover the equipment.

Jeff

[tommays]

I even keep a small DIY MOB lighted pole on the J24 stern becasue we finish a LOT of races in the dark


As well as lights on all the PFDs

[JungleJim]

To the OP question on MOB pole value. While safety first is always an acceptable default position when sailing I'd summarize the following;

- coastal sailing - probably overkill, horshoe ring is sufficient
- ocean sailing - why not, gives everyone a fighting chance along with a plan

In 35+ plus years of coastal sailing I've been involved with 3 MOB situations. Each one was the classic "hey watch this" manuever where funny guy jumps over board while under a light breeze and realizes "hey that boat's moving faster than I can swim!" Oh yeah, I was one of them at the age of 17 off Green Harbor in early May (only Mass. boys will know this place). It was a beautiful jack knife off a cat, great form until my fingers hit the water and I vividly recalled "this is why I don't go swimming in May" Everyone was impressed, except the helmsman who spun the Hobie like a top and was back to me in 20-30 secs. I remember the struggle to lift my arms to get back on board. I still thank that guy when I see him.

Fast forward to today. I just bought a boat in New Zealand and take delivery in Hawaii around mid August - the wait is the bad news. The good news: the boat is rigged to meet stringent NZ marine safety requirements, including;

- MOB pole with light, weight, drogue, horseshoe - easily deployed
- dditional stern mounted life ring and line
- back up SSB antenna with in-cabin quick disconnect
- 2 high volume, manual backup bilge pumps
- 50 foot fire hose system which can also act as 3rd backup bilge pump

I'm dialed, now I just need to remember if I turn right or left leaving Hawaii for SoCal!

[imagine2frolic]

I never thought of a drouge, but I like the idea. I don't like the idea of 50 ft. of line. My mind sees that getting wrapped, and especially in the dark on the prop. The MOB pole on Frolic was attatched to the stern pulpit, and the pvc pipe was only deep enough to reach the float. It was easily removed from it's nest. Basically a flick of the wrist, and it was gone.

Imagine has a strobe that will right itself, and turn itself on too. The P.O. had 50ft. of line attatched to the float, and I removed it. What am I missing here? I worry that 50ft. of line could get caught in the prop. Also my thinking is if it is attached to the float with only 3 ft. of line the person will find both the strobe, and float together. Not just swimming for the strobe. My concern is having the strength to pull the float to you, and or finding the float?......i2f

[JungleJim]

I tend to agree with your questioning the value of the 50' line length. I rechecked mine - looks to be 4'-6' max. I'd prefer to swim to the light and find the float there.

[Mipcar]

Originally Posted by Omatako

I borrowed a good idea from a friend. The pole sits in a PVC tube (pretty standard, I reckon), the flag at the top is flaked onto the pole and a fabric sleeve is pulled down over it. The end of the sleeve has a light piece of line connected to the backstay.

I've seen so many boats with a faded tattered flag fluttering off the top of the MOB pole, this solution keeps the flag in good shape and deploys it automatically, the sleeve stays behind still tied to the backstay.

I now use this on my own boat.

I have the same setup on my boat.. "Danbouy" brand.It just sits in a tube "holster, all i have to do it lift it from tube and drop it over, everything else is automatic.. My horseshoe life rings are all fitted with drouges and whistles.
I perhaps should but don't have a line attaching the Danbouy to the life rings, As I carry two rings on the stern and would toss whichever was closest to the MOB.

Mychael

[MedSailor]

I have one that came with my boat. I'm going to get rid of it. Most of the time it's me and my sailingcutie and I'd rather she or I not spend crucial time getting the whole mess thrown overboard, which BTW is a 2 handed operation at the rail of a boat and could, in choppy and panicked conditions, find the rescuer going overboard as well. We're cruisers and if we're in bad weather we're both usually on deck, tied in, or both. I don't think they're ofuseful for a cruising couple.

I can see the utility of them on race-boats both inland and offshore. On a raceboat though you're often much closer to the edge of control, often use both hands for the boat, and are never clipped in. I've been in several races where people went overboard. They were all club races and there were lots of boats around, but we also race out of sight of each other in some races. On a raceboat you also have a crew, which allows a spotter, several to sail the boat and one to deploy the pole, so you're not loosing any time deploying it.

Now if I had unlimited boat funds this:
Switlik MOM 8 Man Overboard Module
would be something I would purchase. Even with unlimited funds it would be low on the list though. It's very well designed, I have to admit. Inflatable pole and ring with drogue and line that all deploy instantly with the pull of a pin. The whole thing looks like a rigid plastic lifesling container on the rail.

Now the disclaimer. Remember that safety gear is of very little value unless it's use is PRACTICED. When was the last time you chucked YOUR pole overboard? Even if you don't retrieve the pole often go chuck it over the side and the marina and see what it gets hung up on. I recall once being invited out on someone's boat and a plastic bag went overboard. The owner of the boat asked me and my girl to sail the boat back and retrieve it while he watched us sail his boat. He said he's always wondered that if he went overboard if sailing guests would be able to pick him up. Great opportunity to practice though especially since it wasn't scripted!

Medsailor

[Mipcar]

It would depend a lot on how much gear you have on the boat. On mine the danbouy is mounted outside the rails on the pushpit.Nothing in it's way for a clean lift and drop which I could do with one hand.
My life rings (horseshoe) are likewise outside any other structure and have squeeze to release clips so again could be released with one hand.

However having said all that there is still the limiting factor of physical arms reach and the need to secure the tiller to allow me to move to get within reach of the equipment.

There is probably nothing within the budget of a normal sailor that is totally perfect for it's task but in my mind your still ahead by carrying the gear over someone who does not.

Mychael

[Calabego]

Originally Posted by MedSailor

.....The owner of the boat asked me and my girl to sail the boat back and retrieve it while he watched us sail his boat. He said he's always wondered that if he went overboard if sailing guests would be able to pick him up. Great opportunity to practice though especially since it wasn't scripted!
Medsailor

I really dig this idea. I practice often, but haven't added the scenario - what if I went over. Great idea. I'm going to put my guests on the spot next time out with an inflated 15 gal. trashbag!

[imagine2frolic]

I chucked the pole over once on S.F. Bay. My wife looked at me, and said what was that? After hearing the splash. I nodded to the pole, and said that's me, and you have to save me. 45 minutes later I let her start the engine to get the pole, and the wind was only 10 knots. It left a cold dark feeling in my mind ......i2f