"Capt. JG" wrote in message

Very important in cold water, when speed is vital. Not so important in
warm water when you've got time to experiment a bit. My way:

Actually, accuracy in getting the boat next to the MOB and getting the
boat stopped is more important than speed. It's better to slow things down
and get it right, unless you're talking about arctic waters. In 55 degree
water, the person will be a live quite a long time.. many hours. However,
they'll be unable to help themselves in 20 minutes or so. The most
important thing to have happen is for the person to have a PFD, since this
will extend their survival time.

By 'speed' I meant 'short time to recover MOB'. I thought that shorthand was
obvious since I was referring to the cold water problem . . . sorry if it
confused you.

Ladders on the stern are not a good way to recover someone, due to
wave/boat slam. The boat is a lot more stable on the beam, with less
chance of getting hit by the boat, the prop, etc.

I guess you haven't tried this. Almost always, the boat will be making a
small headway, so you'll be heaving your man in from astern. Set the boat up
beam to the sea to minimise pitching. Even if it's pitching, a deep enough
ladder (3 steps in the water) prevents him from going under the stern. And
once he's got a pair of hands on the ladder sides, he can control his
position in all but the most extreme conditions. A beam ladder has to be
positioned by someone, which is a delay, the man has to be pulled forward
(past that prop?), and the vessel pointed head to sea. And very few beam
ladders (unless they're specially designed) go deep enough into the water to
useful to a swimmer. Rope ladders, sometimes suggested, slide around the
bilge and are very difficult to get your foot into. You've probably tried
using the flexible steps to get into a life raft - b** useless.

but why not just rig something with the tools available on the boat... you
have winches, halyards... use them.

Because it takes time, rehearsal and at least two on deck. You'll need one
person to stabilise the boat's motion and hold it's heading. One more to rig
the gear - and that'll take time, especialy if the MOB is chilling down and
becoming clumsy at assisting you. OK, now he's attached. Next, you've got to
lift him . . . now, at this stage the helm can usually move in to assist,
and you'll need him.

I've tried this (in the Med, nice and warm) with several variations. Halyard
with four part tackle attached. Barrel sling. All methods ended up needing
three on deck. Negotiating the lifelines was always an issue. Best to cut
those free so the deck edge is clear, and there's not so far to lift the man
(or woman - sorry if I'm not being PC here!)

3. When they can't climb in, send someone down to drag 'em in.

Bad idea in most cases.

I meant, send someone down ito the dinghy to drag him in. It's much easier
to get him on board from a dinghy, even if incapacitated. So, you're going
to leave him in the water and rig halyards etc instead? Maybe OK in warmer
water, but a right chill off otherwise. But of course, with only two aboard,
deciding to go down into the dinghy means putting two at risk versus one (in
cold water) certainly lost.

A. It's foolish to go to sea in a boat which can't be boarded from the
water by a fit person.

Even a couple of feet of freeboard will prevent most people from climbing
on by themselves.

Precisely my point. All craft should be fitted with a ladder which can
easily be set up from within the water. Even at anchor. Swimming ashore
after falling in is not always an option. Even some marinas don't have
ladders to get you out of the water . . . in fact, ladders cope with the
majority of MOB events.

JimB
www.jimbaerselman.f2s.com/
comparing the cruise areas of Europe, Greece in detail.