January 6, 2007 - Safety Part II - Throwable devices 

New throwable devices

And professional devices

Final thoughts

Here are some Resources that have discussion on man-overboard recovery.

USsailing safety studies

COB event  

United States Power Squadron

Sportfishingmag safety

USCG Boating waypoints  

BoatUS  foundation  findings  

Safety News©

Part 2 man or crewmember overboard "MOB or COB"

Learn about safety throwable and flotation devices for Man Overboard

The first thing you do when someone falls overboard is to locate them. Its standard practice to have someone vigorously keep an eye on the victim at all times while the boat is readied and turned back to the MOB location.

Once you locate them you must get to them and maneuvering can be difficult and sometimes dangerous. If you are in range the best thing to use is a life sling or throwable device.

Here is what is current in throwable devices, MOB products, Rescue lines.

Stearns Inc Rescue Bag

RESCUE MATE RESCUE BAG - 100' OF ROPE. 1" reflective tape. Repack able for multiple uses.  3/8" braided, floating polypropylene rope. Can be thrown typically 50+ft, less into the wind.

Rescue mate is an example of a throw rope. The bag is throw to the victim, while the bitter end of the line in the bag is tied to the boat.

Typical cost in the $60 range.  No flotation. Can be thrown 50+ft

 PLASTIMO HORSESHOE lifering. Again thrown immediately victim falls overboard

Typically you will add to the horseshoe a whistle, drogue and strobe for gaining attention from the boat.

Typical cost $90. no line. can be thrown 25+ ft

The Lifesling type of throwable device is and has been one of the most common device for recovering crewmembers.

The Lifesling 2 consists of a floatation collar with 20lbs buoyancy and 125ft of line.

The instructions show you how to circle around the victim so they can grab the line and pull toward the flotation device.

Cost approx $100. line +flotation. Typically thrown 20-30ft.

Plastimo Inflatable Dan Buoy

Dan buoys are use to help locate victim day or night

Plastimo's version of an inflatable Dab Buoy has water activated light. Thrown overboard immediately it can provide a visual point for the boat to return to in wavy conditions.

Cost around $140. No line. Deployed ASAP.

FORESPAR DAN BUOY  

Another method to gain attraction is to use a whistle light or strobe and drogue on the lifejacket or Dan Buoy.

Top of the line is SWITLICKS SURVIVAL TECHNOLOGIES  MOM 8 This fully compact and complete device is activated by pulling the pin when the MOB is reported.

Expensive at approx  $800, line flotation Dan buoy not thrown but deployed immediately victim falls overboard. If it takes longer than a few seconds to pull the pin the Mom can be too far away.

Here is a great tip. Use a flashlight to locate a MOB at night.

I read in Practical Boat Owner that during a night retrieval of a MOB, the crew were not able to locate the victim, even though they could hear him. The Owner threw overboard a flashlight and the beam became a central location that the victim could swim to and the boat maneuver to. This Glow Torch will float upright. OCEAN SAFETY GLOW TORCH

Here are the newer throwable devices

The great thing about these new life saving tools is that they can be thrown further and more accurately than a horseshoe lifering. 

Lifesling have an inflatable version of the lifesling2 which inflates on contact with the water. The much smaller size makes it easier   to throw further and more accurately recording over 50 ft.

The sling, valise and 125' of 8mm, multi-filament, yellow polypropylene line are stored in a white compact fiberglass case designed to be mounted on the stern or a pulpit.

Most Chandlers and online stores carry the Lifesling. Typical cost $199. Line & flotation. Can be thrown 50+ ft.

RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

Rescue internationals version ResQsling shows the concept in the photo below. The bag with inflatable lifejacket in it is thrown to the MOB victim

Here are a couple of inflatable life preservers than are handled much like a stick and thrown overhand. The inflatable device self inflates almost immediately on contact with the water.

PACIFIC HIGHLANDER TERI STICK

The Teri Stick (left) does not have a line attached. However because of its low air resistance  and shape it can be thrown accurately over 100 feet. Anyone can throw a stick.

The 24 lb flotation device inflates almost immediately upon contact with water. The unit is very easily stowed. In fact you could have more than one.

With the stick you can get flotation quickly to a victim with this device. You can then motor or sail back to the position or get a throw line.

Cost around $130. no line. Can be thrown 100+ ft.

MUSTANG SURVIVAL RESCUE STICK

Incredibly easy to use, the Rescue Stick™

provides rapid flotation assistance to a

person at risk of drowning. Simply remove

the baton shaped Rescue Stick™ from its

waterproof bag and throw near the person.

Once contact is made with the water it

inflates in seconds to a large horseshoe

shape keeping them afloat and their head

above water until help arrives.

  cost $129. no line 34lbs buoyancy  can be thrown 100+ft.

LIFE SAFER

The Life Safer Personal Retriever™ is a United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved, state-of-the-art, throw able Personal Flotation Device (PFD) developed to enable first responders ashore or afloat the ability to quickly retrieve people from the water or from frozen rivers, lakes and streams.

Cost $139, 11lbs buoyancy minimum to keep person afloat, can be thrown 65ft

SURVIVAL TECHNOLOGIES TECH FLOAT

HOW TECHFLOAT WORKS: Holding one end of the line, the entire unit is thrown into the water (throw underhand for best accuracy) and the (24lb) buoyancy aid automatically inflates in just seconds via a patented valve system. The line pays out of the bag as it is thrown, just like our regular heaving line bags.

$195. 24 lbs buoyancy + line. Can be thrown 55-70ft

And this is what the pro's use in throwable devices

BALCAN BELL

The Balcan Emergency Life Line – BELL – was introduced in 1973 and was the first line specifically designed to allow all ages to throw it with great accuracy up to its full length of 40 meters, without preparation, very much further than had previously been possible.

Cost around $70. line only. can be thrown 40M is approx 130ft

RESCUE INTERNATIONAL

ResQmax is new generation line thrower, using patented air thrust technology.

As a line deployment device, the ResQmax™ can deliver a variety of line types, depending on the application, over distances up to 400 feet.

As a water rescue device, it can deliver an auto-inflating flotation harness and retrieval line to a victim in the water, over distances up to 300 feet.

Speedline 250

Speedline 250 is a line-throwing apparatus,

allowing to pass a 250 meter line quickly and

accurately between 2 vessels or from the shore to

a vessel. Combined with the optional buoyant

head, it is ideal to rescue swimmers.

Speedline 250 consists of a weatherproof plastic

casing with handle and trigger assembly. It

contains the striker, the rocket and a 275 m line.

Weight : 3.9 kg.

Designed for the most extreme weather conditions.

Final Thoughts

• Each of these products have their own merits. Since they are not expensive compared to the downside I would get more than one. There is no magic pill so one device will not cover every situation. I would get a good throw line, which can be used for docking as well, the a couple of the throw stick devices and store the on the rail for quick access. An inflatable device with a line would also be recommended, this way you can have several products at hand.

• Warning, Make sure if you use any of the self inflating devices you get them inspected every year or two and have spare canisters available. Also flying with canisters can be a problem.

• Look for separate safety news on getting the victim back aboard. Its one thing to get them close to the boat, but as I discovered another thing to get them aboard and this can be very tiring.

• Also look for safety news on Personal locator beacons (PLB's). These can help you find the MOB is trying conditions, like those where you loose sight of the victim at night in large waves.

Here are a couple of safety information sites;

Equipment service centers http://www.usmsa.org/service/stations1.asp

BoatUS  foundation  findings