Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
I was just wondering if anyone uses safety harnesses and Jack Lines off shore. And if so, where and how did you anchor the jack lines ? I was thinking maybe the shroud plate upgrade available from CD, 3 of them. One forward between the forward hatch and the solar fan. Then two at the aft end of the pop top, all three with beefed up backing plates. Also, I would add 4 more hatch dogs to the pop top. Then I would attach heavy clevis pins to the shroud eye and attach a stainless steel carabiner with screw closer for the Web jack line. Does this sound workable to you guys ? Thanks for your input.
I attach jacklines to the bow cleats on both sides of the boat and lead them aft and attach the other ends to the stern cleats whenever I'm singlehanding in an isolated area. I attach a tether from my inflatable pfd with safety harness to the windward jackline when I leave the cockpit. The objective, of course, is to prevent the boat from sailing away while you're treading water. When you're alone, all it takes is a lurch of the boat and a brief loss of balance.
When it's really rough, I won't let my crew go forward without some kind of tether, even if they don't have a proper harness and it's only a safety line tied around their waist. They need something to prevent them from being separated from the boat. Sometimes it gets so rough that you might not be able to maneuver the boat back to a MOB.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind" previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22 Past Commodore
I attach jacklines to the bow cleats on both sides of the boat and lead them aft and attach the other ends to the stern cleats whenever I'm singlehanding in an isolated area. I attach a tether from my inflatable pfd with safety harness to the windward jackline when I leave the cockpit. The objective, of course, is to prevent the boat from sailing away while you're treading water. When you're alone, all it takes is a lurch of the boat and a brief loss of balance.
When it's really rough, I won't let my crew go forward without some kind of tether, even if they don't have a proper harness and it's only a safety line tied around their waist. They need something to prevent them from being separated from the boat. Sometimes it gets so rough that you might not be able to maneuver the boat back to a MOB.
This is the easiest way to set up jack lines and pretty bomber. I have a few Rigger's Belts from military days that make for quick attachment points to your body. https://www.amazon.com/BLACKHAWK-41CQ00-CQB-Riggers-Belt/dp/B004T162YY Two self locking carbinner with a length of 1" webbing for a tether and you are good to go. The more complicated you make things the less likely you will be to set up and use it.
1998 250 WK/TR #355 "Trail Break" Lake Tahoe California
Okay, thanks guys. Wow Steve, it just didn't occur to me to use the docking cleats. I need to pay more attention to the KISS rule. Keep it simple stupid. So that should save me some bucks in hardware. Thanks again.
Strongly recommend an easily releasable snap shackle at the user end of the tether. There are a couple of situations where it could be important to quickly release yourself from the boat.
Sailor Jerry C-25 "Sea Song" 1978, SK, Std. Pepin, WI
WM sells different types of tethers. One with snap shackle releases, the other with a loop you tie on with a cow hitch. which means you need a knife to get away from it in a hurry. That seems needlessly complicated and potentially hazardous to me.
Either way, the Wing Nut tragedy on Lake Michigan in 2011 made a strong case for having a quick and simple way to release a tether. A high speed tow in an overboard situation is another.
As a sidenote; when I was doing lot of offshore sailing a few years ago, I had a rule that anyone on watch at night had to have a tether attached to a U-bolt that I had installed in the cockpiit. Given the length of the tethers, there was no way for them to go overboard regardless of the weather. It was a bit restrictive, but very reassuring - for everyone.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.