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Man Overboard - Lessons Learned
TonyG13
Member Posts: 1,286 ✭✭✭✭
Still a bit shaken after thinking about what could have happened today...
This afternoon when returning from a pleasant family outing, and approaching our dock, my 16 y/o son posted himself on the swim platform holding a line attached to the mid-ship cleat of our 310 EC. Preparing to step off and start the tie off when we pulled in.
As we made the turn to port from the main harbor fairway into our dock's fairway we saw a boat making way toward us. (Not visible until we turned due to other docked vessels.) I stopped, and decided to back out so he had room to maneuver out and into the main fairway. Everything was going great. We passed port-to-port, and I began my turn back into the fairway. There was a bit of a wind picking up on our port side which caused me to drift starboard toward the opposing dock.
I noticed I was getting extremely close to a finger dock and then things started happening in movie slow-motion. I saw my hand on the throttle and instead of tapping it, I gunned it. All I heard was the sound of the engines roar. Next thing I know my wife yelled "MAN OVER BOARD!" My son got thrown off the rear of the boat. It was all just surreal, tunnel vision. Luckily, a moment later she yelled, "He's fine!"
I have no idea how I regained control of the boat, but I instinctively did, and we docked - with the help of numerous boating neighbors who came running when they heard the MOB called out. My son swam over to the opposite dock and walked back to our boat.
Everyone, including me, was joking about my goof up, etc. -- and I am so glad it did turn out OK -- but I've been thinking these past few hours on how it could have go so WRONG.
What if it was night? What if my son hit his head on an adjacent dock or boat when he fell? What if he hit the prop? What if it was my 80 y/o father-in-law and not my 16 y/o swim team son.
It's freaking me out a bit. But I think a few of my lessons learned are:
1. Anyone on the swim platform assisting with docking will be required to wear a life jacket. And if it at night, have a light attached to the jacket. (Already have whistles on all my PFDs.)
2. Instead of trying to rush to get to the slip (to avoid holding up other traffic) -- just freakin' wait until I am comfortable with my position, heading, and intentions.
Sorry this is so long, but I think it's part of me thinking through this whole episode -- and if anyone has any helpful suggestions on anything else I could have, should have, or should not have done, please feel free to pass them along.
Thanks for listening
This afternoon when returning from a pleasant family outing, and approaching our dock, my 16 y/o son posted himself on the swim platform holding a line attached to the mid-ship cleat of our 310 EC. Preparing to step off and start the tie off when we pulled in.
As we made the turn to port from the main harbor fairway into our dock's fairway we saw a boat making way toward us. (Not visible until we turned due to other docked vessels.) I stopped, and decided to back out so he had room to maneuver out and into the main fairway. Everything was going great. We passed port-to-port, and I began my turn back into the fairway. There was a bit of a wind picking up on our port side which caused me to drift starboard toward the opposing dock.
I noticed I was getting extremely close to a finger dock and then things started happening in movie slow-motion. I saw my hand on the throttle and instead of tapping it, I gunned it. All I heard was the sound of the engines roar. Next thing I know my wife yelled "MAN OVER BOARD!" My son got thrown off the rear of the boat. It was all just surreal, tunnel vision. Luckily, a moment later she yelled, "He's fine!"
I have no idea how I regained control of the boat, but I instinctively did, and we docked - with the help of numerous boating neighbors who came running when they heard the MOB called out. My son swam over to the opposite dock and walked back to our boat.
Everyone, including me, was joking about my goof up, etc. -- and I am so glad it did turn out OK -- but I've been thinking these past few hours on how it could have go so WRONG.
What if it was night? What if my son hit his head on an adjacent dock or boat when he fell? What if he hit the prop? What if it was my 80 y/o father-in-law and not my 16 y/o swim team son.
It's freaking me out a bit. But I think a few of my lessons learned are:
1. Anyone on the swim platform assisting with docking will be required to wear a life jacket. And if it at night, have a light attached to the jacket. (Already have whistles on all my PFDs.)
2. Instead of trying to rush to get to the slip (to avoid holding up other traffic) -- just freakin' wait until I am comfortable with my position, heading, and intentions.
Sorry this is so long, but I think it's part of me thinking through this whole episode -- and if anyone has any helpful suggestions on anything else I could have, should have, or should not have done, please feel free to pass them along.
Thanks for listening
Comments
And it went well :-)
Sometimes I wish I could put in a JetDock
I'm glad your son is a good swimmer and ok. It had to be a heart pounding moment.
Glad things worked our. Scary as all I’m sure and lessons learned.
PC BYC, Holland, MI
Like others have stated there is no dock help at our marina and I also quite often am alone when docking. With or without passengers my method is the same every time. Before idling into the harbour I (Or whoever is with me) lower the fenders, open the rear door and ready the boat hook. Everyone is ordered to remain seated until the boat is tied off. As I approach the slip I turn out and then back towards the slip. As the boat approaches the end of the finger dock I slip into neutral, grab the boat hook and hustle back, across the platform and onto the dock, allowing the boats momentum to carry it in while I guide it with the hook. My lines stay tied at the dock so I slip first the front then the rear line and then re-board to shut the engine off. I always leave it running until firmly tied or anchored and same with leaving, lines aren't cast or anchor pulled until engine running. If I have to I can jump back aboard and re-position if need be, but so far hasn't happened. Really no other way to do it with how my slip is positioned and no pilings to grab from inside the cockpit. Has to be done from the platform.
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
what if there is wind and current ? You're confident enough to leave your helm station unattended ?
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
Boat Name: King Kong
"Boat + Water = Fun"