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My first thought is a great safety feature would be a remote engine cutoff you could wear when you are single-handed. Something like what jet skis have but mayb

by zaroth 4y ago

My first thought is a great safety feature would be a remote engine cutoff you could wear when you are single-handed. Something like what jet skis have but maybe Bluetooth? (downthread: wireless lanyard) Must have been absolutely terrifying watching the boat motor away. What a way to go, taking a piss off the side. I do it all the time, but not 40 miles off shore! If I’m sailing that far offshore the rule is you can’t leave the cockpit without a lifeline, if it’s night and in daytime if someone else isn’t above deck watching you.

newsclues 4y ago
I've been sailing on a lake in a dinghy and a wind shift caused the boom to knock me out of the boat, it was a terrible feeling. Lots of boats you have a safety line to keep you attached, but the problem is that people tend not to use them.
- SnowHill9902 4y ago
  So what did you do? Evidently you didn’t drown.
  - mynameisvlad 4y ago
    They were sailing so the dinghy presumably didn’t promptly drive away like in this story.
    - newsclues 4y ago
      The main sheet (rope controlling the sail) was cleated and it didn't just keep sailing along.
  - malandrew 4y ago
    Most sailing dinghys should have weather helm and will turn up into the wind, causing the boat to end up in irons (mainsail luffing and depowered)
  - newsclues 4y ago
    I tried to swim after it, but power boat got me and took me back to my boat. At a summer camp with sailing and instructors in powerboats for safety.
malandrew 4y ago
I know with sailing you want your boat to have weather helm so it turns up into the wind and eventually ends up in irons, but if you have autopilot engaged, you can’t forget that. Do you know if any of the newer autopilot systems will head up into the wind if they lose contact with the remote that singlehanded sailors will attach to their vest? I’ve seen lots of videos of singlehanded sailors where they aren’t wearing tethers in nicer weather.
- jzwinck 4y ago
  The main reason you want your boat to have a bit of weatherhelm is because it makes the boat go faster upwind. And just because you have slight weatherhelm at optimal upwind trim does not mean the boat will fall into irons if the helmsman goes away. There are devices to shut off the autopilot for a MOB alarm, but that won't stop the boat. And even if they did put the boat head to wind or heave to, you can't swim fast enough to catch even a drifting sailboat because it has so much more windage than you.
- zaroth 4y ago
  My ancient autopilot certainly doesn’t support it. Nor the engine panel. I’ve never worn a tether except at night in “blue water”. It’s a bit of a stupid risk, but it’s absolutely true the most likely moment to go over is when standing right up on the edge so you don’t hit the boat when you relieve yourself! In hindsight you’re definitely gonna be wishing you just got a little piss on the hull.
StianOvrevage 4y ago
I have this https://www.amazon.com/FELL-Marine-Wireless-Switch-Basepack/dp/B075MMHYMK/ https://www.amazon.com/FELL-Marine-Wireless-Switch-Basepack/... on my 23 foot day cruiser and I'm very happy with it. Sometimes cuts when I'm on the dock untying etc but could probably be improved by adjusting the antennae orientation.
- zaroth 4y ago
  Cutting off your control authority at the worst possible time would definitely be the risk trade-off!
  - StianOvrevage 4y ago
    I agree that in general that would be something to avoid. But in my case the probability * consequence math for the usual scenarios is still fairly low. When untying it only cuts once in a while when doing the bow lines and I'm still attached at the stern, so no risk there. When preparing to dock it's only if I need to find and prepare extra rope from some of the most aft compartments, which I do well ahead of when I need them and not during "critical phases of operation". If I expect to be running around a lot during docking I take the FOB off and place it on the dashboard. I don't leave the helm unless the gear is in neutral, and if I fall in the water I'm usually within 20 meters of land which I'm fairly certain I'd be able to reach :)

by zaroth 4y ago

newsclues 4y ago

I've been sailing on a lake in a dinghy and a wind shift caused the boom to knock me out of the boat, it was a terrible feeling. Lots of boats you have a safety line to keep you attached, but the problem is that people tend not to use them.

SnowHill9902 4y ago
So what did you do? Evidently you didn’t drown.
- mynameisvlad 4y ago
  They were sailing so the dinghy presumably didn’t promptly drive away like in this story.
  - newsclues 4y ago
    The main sheet (rope controlling the sail) was cleated and it didn't just keep sailing along.
- malandrew 4y ago
  Most sailing dinghys should have weather helm and will turn up into the wind, causing the boat to end up in irons (mainsail luffing and depowered)
- newsclues 4y ago
  I tried to swim after it, but power boat got me and took me back to my boat. At a summer camp with sailing and instructors in powerboats for safety.

malandrew 4y ago

I know with sailing you want your boat to have weather helm so it turns up into the wind and eventually ends up in irons, but if you have autopilot engaged, you can’t forget that. Do you know if any of the newer autopilot systems will head up into the wind if they lose contact with the remote that singlehanded sailors will attach to their vest? I’ve seen lots of videos of singlehanded sailors where they aren’t wearing tethers in nicer weather.

jzwinck 4y ago
The main reason you want your boat to have a bit of weatherhelm is because it makes the boat go faster upwind. And just because you have slight weatherhelm at optimal upwind trim does not mean the boat will fall into irons if the helmsman goes away. There are devices to shut off the autopilot for a MOB alarm, but that won't stop the boat. And even if they did put the boat head to wind or heave to, you can't swim fast enough to catch even a drifting sailboat because it has so much more windage than you.
zaroth 4y ago
My ancient autopilot certainly doesn’t support it. Nor the engine panel. I’ve never worn a tether except at night in “blue water”. It’s a bit of a stupid risk, but it’s absolutely true the most likely moment to go over is when standing right up on the edge so you don’t hit the boat when you relieve yourself! In hindsight you’re definitely gonna be wishing you just got a little piss on the hull.

StianOvrevage 4y ago

I have this https://www.amazon.com/FELL-Marine-Wireless-Switch-Basepack/dp/B075MMHYMK/ https://www.amazon.com/FELL-Marine-Wireless-Switch-Basepack/... on my 23 foot day cruiser and I'm very happy with it. Sometimes cuts when I'm on the dock untying etc but could probably be improved by adjusting the antennae orientation.

zaroth 4y ago
Cutting off your control authority at the worst possible time would definitely be the risk trade-off!
- StianOvrevage 4y ago
  I agree that in general that would be something to avoid. But in my case the probability * consequence math for the usual scenarios is still fairly low. When untying it only cuts once in a while when doing the bow lines and I'm still attached at the stern, so no risk there. When preparing to dock it's only if I need to find and prepare extra rope from some of the most aft compartments, which I do well ahead of when I need them and not during "critical phases of operation". If I expect to be running around a lot during docking I take the FOB off and place it on the dashboard. I don't leave the helm unless the gear is in neutral, and if I fall in the water I'm usually within 20 meters of land which I'm fairly certain I'd be able to reach :)