After observing several of the following situations this summer, I decided to conduct a safety seminar for the local yacht club. Following is a list of dangerous situations that may occur. Can you add to this list? At this point, I don't propose an exhaustive discussion of how to be prepared to cope with these situations. That would probably be a whole book (but maybe a good one!). I am starting out by raising member awareness and asking members to assess their own particular circumstances depending upon the kind of boating they do. Phil Keys Many boaters cruise season after season without a mishap. But when something goes wrong, the consequences can be serious or deadly. Consider what you can do to avoid the following situations. Or if something does happen, how can you be prepared to cope with it. What would you do if: 1. The engine room fire extinguisher went off. How would you know it went off? 2. The galley range erupted in flames. 3. You started taking on water underway and the bilge pump went on. How would you know the bilge pump went on? 4. A crewmember fell and was knocked unconscious. 5. A crewmember was disoriented after being retrieved from falling overboard. 6. A crewmember was badly burned. 7. The captain capsized the dinghy returning to the boat at anchor. 8. The helmsman is knocked overboard and unconscious by a wild jibe. 9. The first mate slipped off the swimstep while docking. 10. You slipped and fell off the marina dock in the middle of the night. 11. The engine stopped running while in a confused sea from a tide rip. The boat tosses violently and you get seasick trying to attempt repairs 12. A crab trap line fouled the propeller. 13. Going to douse the jib in a rising wind you get an overriding turn on a wire halyard winch. 14. Your steering wheel suddenly spins free. 15. Your rudder is jammed and won't move. 16. Your tiller comes loose in your hand. 17. Your transmission won't shift out of forward. 18. Fog suddenly rolls in and you loose sight of your destination. 19. You are unavoidably detained and must proceed to your destination at night. 20. Your only chart blows overboard. 21. You have an electrical power failure and all your electronics are disabled. How do you navigate? 22. You need help, nobody answers on the radio and there are no other vessels in sight. 23. The wind comes up in the middle of the night and your anchor is dragging towards a lee shore. 24. You run aground on a falling tide. 25. How would you know if your heating system malfunctioned and produced carbon monoxide? 26. You have to abandon ship. 27. An injured or sick crewmember has to be evacuated by Cost Guard helicopter.

7.    The captain capsized the dinghy returning to the boat at anchor.

8.    The helmsman is knocked overboard and unconscious by a wild jibe.

9.    The first mate slipped off the swimstep while docking.

Russ and Donna Sherwin
  MV "Four Seasons"
2000 Nordhavn 46, Hull #70
Sunnyvale, Ca 94086

> Phil: You have raised what I think is an interesting discussion. Certainly food for thought. I have thought about many, but not all, of these things, and I offer, FWIW, my comments. My approach is always on the prevention side of things, so as to not have them happen. These comments apply to my situation, and will not always work for others with larger or smaller boats, or different styles of boats. > What would you do if: > > 1. The engine room fire extinguisher went off. > How would you know it went off? We have an alarm and a light that goes off in the pilothouse. If it goes off, you can manually shut down the engines if you want to, but they don't shut down automatically. We keep breathing hoods near all the doors and fire extinguishers, because, from what I've read, smoke frequently prevents you from fighting the fire, and sometimes from exiting the boat. 2. The galley range erupted in flames. Switch off the propane, use the fire extinguisher mounted nearby, and others if necessary. More importantly, keep the propane switched off when not in use. We also keep a fire blanket near the range. 3. You started taking on water underway and the bilge pump went on. How would you know the bilge pump went on? Again, we have a light and an alarm that sounds in the pilothouse for anything over normal levels of water. Frequent engine room checks while underway are also important, as you can see water levels rising before the alarm goes off. We have three pumps, two electric and one mechanical on board, capable of pumping a lot of water. We will be carrying a canvas with lines attached to the four corners to warp under the hull if possible to do so. Have thought about, but not implemented, a very large, generator driven pump which would work until the genset became submerged. There is a point beyond which you can't do anything. 4. A crewmember fell and was knocked unconscious. This is one I don't have an answer to. 5. A crewmember was disoriented after being retrieved from falling overboard. Another one. 6. A crewmember was badly burned. Beyond ordinary first aid, I don't know. > 7. The captain capsized the dinghy returning to the boat at anchor. We always wear our lifejackets when in the dinghy, I believe that's the first line of defense, but your question prompts me to ponder what else? You might need water proof flashlight, whistle, and other attention getting devices attached to the life jacket, which we don't generally do. Good point. Maybe a VHF tucked inside. Most importantly, you need to have a way to get back on board from the water. Maybe leaving the boarding ladder down. But if you forget that, you still need to have some way of getting on board. Something you can reach and undo from the water, like a net or something. Depending on the circumstances, this can be a very dangerous thing. > 8. The helmsman is knocked overboard and unconscious by a wild jibe. Don't have a good answer for this,either. > 9. The first mate slipped off the swimstep while docking. Again, prevention. Our rule is you don't go outside the "safe" areas of the boat if it's not anchored, moored or tied to the dock without at least a life jacket, and preferably jacklines. I've seen several instances where people were nearly knocked off the swim step when the captain suddenly threw the boat into forward and lunged ahead. I know most people would not hook up a jackline just to step onto the platform to perform docking procedures, but at the very least, they should always be wearing a life jacket. This goes for weighing anchor or slipping a mooring line also. > 10. You slipped and fell off the marina dock in the middle of the night. We've had two deaths in the marina in the past couple of years from just this. Most docks do not have any way for an older, less agile person to climb up. It is also not easy to get up on a boat's swim step. I guess leaving the boarding ladder down when in dock might be a solution, but do you always remember? Are you close enough to get to it? Probably not. > 11. The engine stopped running while in a confused sea from a tide rip. > The boat tosses violently and you get seasick trying to attempt repairs I don't know. Throw out the anchor, probably. Maybe two. If you have a sea anchor and are far enough out, that's a possibility, but tide rip indicates close to shore. Prevention, prevention, prevention. Keep the filters clean, keep a switchable set on line and spares for backup. Keep the fuel polished to the greatest extent possible. Anybody consider keeping a jerry can of clean fuel on hand that can be quickly jury rigged, maybe with it's own filter? Of course, the engine stoppage might not be caused by fuel, but it usually is. > 12. A crab trap line fouled the propeller. Our preventative measures include "spurs", but if you actually get one tangled that isn't cut by spurs, I don't know. I'm not a scuba diver. Maybe a knife on the end of a pole? > 13. Going to douse the jib in a rising wind you get an overriding turn > on a wire halyard winch. Huh? > 14. Your steering wheel suddenly spins free. Prevention. Hydraulic steering systems fail. Mechanical steering systems fail. Mine on the Marine Trader just did. Regular inspections and redundant systems are our preventative measures. On the new "Four Seasons", we have two hydraulic systems, totally independent of each other. One cylinder is connected to the helm wheel and an autopilot pump, the other cylinder is connected just to a second autopilot pump. If the primary system fails, I can go into the lazerette and close one valve, open another, flip one switch, and the autopilot will regain control using the second system. You can manually steer the boat with the autopilot if you have to. If both systems fail, there is the manual tiller. If you absolutely have no steering at all, I guess I would think about towing a bucket, or a drogue off the corners of the stern, switching from side to side to make at least an attempt at directional control. Anybody actually done this? > 15. Your rudder is jammed and won't move. Hmmmmm. Like a log or something? I don't know. Dislodge it somehow. > 16. Your tiller comes loose in your hand. Unlikely on our boat. > 17. Your transmission won't shift out of forward. I have heard of this happening to several boats, and it's happened to me on a previous boat. At that time, there was no time to do anything other than shut off the engine. Didn't stop the forward momentum, though. Again, I have to say, prevention. Regular inspections will go a long way toward preventing these things from happening, but won't prevent all of them. You and the first mate need to know where the shifter arm on the transmission is, and where neutral position is, and if you can get down there soon enough, you can manually get the thing out of gear, unless its a major internal transmission problem. Then, it would be possible for one person to manipulate the gear lever in the engine room while the other steers the boat. If there's only one person, well, you will be very busy. > 18. Fog suddenly rolls in and you loose sight of your destination. I always have the radar up and operating even in bright sunlight. You should also have a compass heading and course marked on the chart and in your log. Slow down! Sound fog signals. Listen for other fog signals. Switch on Nav lights. If you have GPS and electronic charting, use them. Watch depth sounder and correlate with chart. > 19. You are unavoidably detained and must proceed to your destination > at night. First, determine if you "must" proceed to your destination. If you're uncomfortable with traveling at night, or conditions are dangerous, maybe you can seek anchorage. Sometimes the "must" is self imposed and not actually real. I'm not a night expert, so, other than suggesting caution and the best possible seamanship and navigation skills you posses, I'll defer. > 20. Your only chart blows overboard. *sigh* my goodness, Phil, you are a pain! Well, I would navigate by radar and visual landmarks, if possible, and use the previous known compass heading, which I have dutifully written down in my deck log. (no, Phil, the deck log didn't blow away) If you have electronic charting and it's working, no problem. Follow other boats. Ask for help on VHF. > 21. You have an electrical power failure and all your electronics are > disabled. How do you navigate? By compass and paper chart, is the simple answer. However, this is a very real threat. I have thought about it, and again come to the prevention aspect. I carry spare battery powered GPS's (2), also a spare Loran (not connected), spare VHF (one not connected, one battery powered). I have several batteries on board in different banks, so the threat of losing all power is not very high on my boat, but it is possible. > 22. You need help, nobody answers on the radio and there are no other > vessels in sight. Flares, but not all of them. Use the old expired ones first. Save some until there is a vessel in sight. Try cell phone. Hoist a strobe light up the mast. Try hailer: sound sometimes carries great distances over water. > 23. The wind comes up in the middle of the night and your anchor is > dragging towards a lee shore. My personal nightmare. The very first thing to do is, wake up the rest of the crew and get the engine started. Then assess the situation. Get the radar and depth sounders on, also GPS and chart plotter if you have them. Get out the spotlight or make sure the one on the PH roof has its cover off. Be sure the prop is free of weeds, lines, etc, then take some of the strain off the anchor by putting the boat in gear. If you are unsure whether you can reset, pull up anchor and leave. Go to sea and think about it. Otherwise, find a likely place and reset the anchor. Drop two, if you have them. Get the coffee on. It's going to be a long night. > 24. You run aground on a falling tide. Take down the power squadron and yacht club burgees. Cover up the boat name. Go below. > 25. How would you know if your heating system malfunctioned and > produced carbon monoxide? This is not just a threat from heaters. It's a threat from gensets and other nearby boats. We have a carbon monoxide detector in the sleeping quarters. Should probably have one also in the saloon and galley. > 26. You have to abandon ship. This depends so much on circumstances, I don't know a good answer. Much as I hate them, I guess drills beforehand are the partial answer. > 27. An injured or sick crewmember has to be evacuated by Cost Guard > helicopter. Don't have a clue. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Russ and Donna Sherwin MV "Four Seasons" 2000 Nordhavn 46, Hull #70 Sunnyvale, Ca 94086 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Bob & Debbie Huddleston Krogen 42 AB6NI KC6SKY "The Deborah C." HuddlestonB_D@msn.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil Keys <philkeys@olympus.net> > 10. You slipped and fell off the marina dock in the middle of the night. > Let me make two comments: 1. Under the swim platform we installed a retractable ladder that has three extensions. It is hooked in place with a snap shackle that is easily reached by a person in the water. All one needs to do is pull the shackle, pull the ladder out and climb back aboard. 2. I am not going to identify the yacht club that talking about but I am going to relay a discussion that was had there. The question came up about people falling off their boats in the marina that the yacht club owns. The proposal was to put a number ladders in the water attached to the dock. On advice from their lawyer they decided to do nothing. The lawyer said by putting the ladders in, the yacht club would be admitting that there is a know danger and would therefore be more subject to a successful lawsuit against them. I am disgusted.

Phil Keys wrote: > After observing several of the following situations this summer, I decided > to conduct a safety seminar for the local yacht club. Following is a list > of dangerous situations that may occur. Can you add to this list? > > snip > Phil Keys > I'm reading and interacting with a book published in 1980 by Ziff-Davis, written by John Clemens titled "Contingency Seamanship" which I recommend to you, Phil, if you can find it. It poses 45 situations, each one on one page, then asks you to figure out what you'd do, and then on separate pages relates what the author suggests. Many of the circumstances you pose are listed there. Some are a bit simplistic in my view, while others are pretty contrived and are beyond a reader's general response that you could expect to be among valid answers. Also, it is written for primarily for sailors which reduces the generality of its use. Nonetheless, it definitely sets the reader to thinking about using any tool at his disposal, and if even one situation generates a safer skipper, then it's been worthwhile. -- Regards --- Don Dement M/V Merrymar -- DeFever 48 -- Annapolis