Cold Water Immersion

[bluebayou]

Most of us are not boating in the Hawaiian Islands. The water temperature in San Francisco Bay or Puget Sound, to name
some common locations, can be 50 degrees Fahrenheit, more or less.
Thanks to a posting from Club Nautique, I came upon an excellent video which clearly and precisely
explains the risks of falling overboard in Cold Water, up to and including hypothermia. The other risks
may astound you.
Watching this video may save your life when boating, so I offer it to all Tugnuts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xohI3B ... dium=email

I hope my pasting effort, in this posting, works-----and that you can access it easily. If not, google Cold Water
Immersion, or the other topic "Cold Water Boot Camp," which this video chronicles.
SAFE BOATING,
Charles

 

[baz]

An excellent boating education video... thanks. 🙂

 

[Levitation]

A few decades back, younger and more peppy I walked down a boat ramp (Mid October, Northern Lake Huron) into 40 something degree water up to my armpits to push against the stern of my Pearson sailboat as we tried to get it lined up over the pads on the rolling boat stand I used to retrieve it for the winter. A blustery crosswind was the problem pushing the stern off the stand. I was in the water between 5 minutes and maybe 8 minutes. As I tried to walk up the ramp behind the boat being pulled out of the water, I found I could not make my legs work. My oldest son alertly noticed the problem and grabbing a spare line threw it to me and towed me up the ramp.

It was an eye opening experience. I have waded, swam, floated, sailed, ice boated on, and flown over these sweet water seas my entire life. I always respected them. Since that day there has been a new level of wariness in dealing with them.

 

[abcandjrc]

The Coast Guard used to quote a "50-50-50 Rule". It meant 50 minutes in 50 degree water left a 50% chance of survival.

We used to do frostbite racing in sailing dinghys. We often had ice at the edge of the lakes. The rules required a wet suit and most of us wore the "shorty" versions. That worked fine for exposure and even sometimes required a dip to cool off after a heavily-fought race. (We also had a fast "chase boat" that "guaranteed" a 30 second pickup on a single-event capsize.)

But we had two couples who went into the Tennessee River on Washington's Birthday one year. They were having an outing in their International 470s, "trapeze boats". They were wearing only normal clothing. The outside temperature was in the 70s but the water still cold. None could get back in their boats after they both capsized in a surprise "puff", something they had done often in the summer months. Their fingers got unusable almost immediately. They were fortunate in that they could hang their arms over the shrouds with their elbows crooked until the wind blew their boats ashore, unfortunately, into heavy rip-rap. But they all survived to tell the story.

 

[Crewdog]

Great information on the video.

For use in case of accidental immersion, I carry a large polartec blanket and some Icebreaker shirts and long johns. Any other clothing item that will insulate when wet such as polypro, polartec or other hollow core fabric would be good to have on hand as well, and perhaps a good sleeping bag too.

And don't forget that Gore-Tex rainwear!

Bill

 

[Gin]

Charles, a really valuable video to watch. Thanks for the post!

Gini

 

[bluebayou]

When I was taking my Ranger 25, Blue Bayou, through the San Juan Islands, for many weeks, I never wore a life preserver, not did I have a dinghy----not that you can easily float a dinghy if, for example, you crash into a Washington State Ferry.
Sometimes we capsize our boat by ourselves, sometimes we run into another boat, or a log or a rock. In any event,
we are suddenly into the water, without or without a PFD, as the Coast Guard calls them. Heck, you can fall off the boat easily while lifting the anchor from the foredeck.
As a good swimmer, I was cavalier about wearing a life preserver while out on Blue Bayou. Actually, if I had been
in a Bayou in Louisiana, I might have swam away from my boat, if the alligators didn't finish me off.....
What I overlooked, to my fault, was that I could NOT swim in the COLD water of the Salish Sea for more than a few minutes, with or without a life preserver. I had no idea of the effects of the deep cold upon our muscles and our nervous system. I was fortunate; I never got thrown off board and into that water.
When I met David Baker on Karma, I noticed he ALWAYS wore a PFD of the self-inflating kind, the more expensive kind. I thought, "Now there's a very experienced boater, and surely a fine swimmer, yet he always wears a PFD.
David is, indeed, an experienced boater.
Now that I know better, I would not got out on cold waters without WEARING a life jacket. If you haven't already,
go to the top of this thread, click on the YouTube video link, and find out why we should all be wearing life preservers when on our boats, even if we are great swimmers.
I see so many Posts on Tugnuts about shelves and bilges, trim tabs and refrigerators. None of those items on a boat is near as important as wearing a PDF, so, I am bringing this thread to the top of the list one more time. Please keep it active, until all TugNuts wear a PFD.
Thank you, Charles

 

[walldog]

Charles, thanks for a very relevant post for the start of the season here in the PNW. One of the first modifications we made to Willie's Tug was two hooks at the hatch between the cabin and the cockpit. Our self inflating PFDs are hanging there so they can be grabbed as you leave the cabin. Willie does most of the line handling for our crew, and she will not leave the cabin without hers on. Since it only takes a short time in these waters for the person who falls in to be unable to assist in their rescue, I do believe with the adrenaline rush I would be able to haul her back into the boat. She and Jake weigh about the same, and I have pulled him back in.

 

[baz]

I wear a PFD all the time on the boat, be it inside or out of the cabin. They are so small and are not uncomfortable to waer at all times. This policy was drilled into us by Capt. Mac during our 2-day stint with him. First thing when getting on the boat I put it on and don't take if off until the boat is docked and lines secured. If on the dinghy all people should be wearing one also... plus the dog(s) etc.

One should also replace the gas cylinder at the appropriate interval for these type PFDs although they can be manually inflated.

Most have a small zipper pocket and placing a whistle and a small sealed food item in it is a good idea.

Then of course, there's the mandatory IMO man-overboard life pad to be located in the cockpit area and attached to a 100' floating line with its end attached securely to a point in the cockpit.

I have 2 gray PFDs for men and 2 light blue ones for women... and of course at least 4 for small children and the 4 big orange ones that Ranger Tugs delivers with new boats.

The video makes it quite clear what the PFD benefits are.

 

[walldog]

Barry, when you sleep do you wear it over or under your pajamas?

 

[HRowland]

A number of years ago at the EAA Airventure convention in Oshkosh I attended a seminar about ditching your airplane. The topic of survival time based on water temperature was an eye opener.
More recently I discussed this with the CG Auxiliary member during my vessel safety check. Narragansett bay can be pretty chilly, particularly in early April (about 45F) when we launch our tug. I decided to buy a couple of cold water immersion suits in case we ever have to abandon ship.

Howard

 

[baz]

Barry, when you sleep do you wear it over or under your pajamas?

:lol: Who wears pyjamas or night suits these days at night ? No matter, I'm not telling and as I said, I remove my PFD after the boat has been docked securely. 😀