USCG Approved Life Ring 20 in.

[billnpat]

Are these life rings suppose to have a line attached to them??
i see them at marine/boating sites but don't see a line to them to throw out if ness.....:huh:

 

[billnpat]

I personally use a 40' floating dock line (soft braided nylon) with the loop end making the simple attachment to the ring. Any more line than 40' starts to become burdensome.

Great.Thanks.....:thumbsup:

 

[Lazy Daze]

Laws will vary from state to state. In PA, the actual life ring is not required - just a standard Type IV (cushion); and no line is required to be attached.

I'm not sure about NY, offhand, but I found the link below for you from NY's website. But you may want to check with your local USPS or CG Aux to be sure.

Are there any safe boating courses in your area? That'd be a great course to take - maybe make it something you and Pat do together. We teach the course (for free:smt001, but wouldn't help you as it's the PA course... aside from us not being that close to you!) in our store - maybe some dealers near you also teach it?

http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/recreation/boating/documents/VesselEquipmentGuide.pdf

Now, requirements aside, it's certainly a good idea to have either the cushion (or the ring) with a line (floating, polypropylene... like a ski rope) attached.

There are also small "throw bags" available that have the rope coiled nicely inside a little bag. As you throw the ring/cushion, the line will pay out quickly without tangling. I know there's some sitting on our shelves, but for the life of me, I can't remember the price... I think they're under $20? I'm sure you can find them locally.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I personally believe the throw device, be it a ring, or a cushion, should be immediately accessible and throwable. In my mind the purpose of this device is to: 1. get something to the MOB, immediately, and 2: serve as a marker for the MOB. Tied to a line attached to the still moving boat the throw device becomes a marker for what is exactly dead astern of the boat exactly the length of the line.

In the worst case scenario the boat is at cruise speed when someone goes overboard. Even if the helm responds and shuts down in 3 seconds the boat has traveled somewhere in the vicinity of 100 feet from the MOB (20knots = 23 mph 23/60 x 88fps = 33.73 fps, 3s x 33.73 = 101.2 ft). Even if the crew gets the ring in the water within a second of the person going over the side, the boat will have traveled roughly the length of a throwable line and will almost imediately begin pulling the throw ring away from the MOB. In a a MOB situation the thing is to get something that floats and can be seen over the side fast.

Once the boat is turned around and approaching the MOB, then that is the time to use something on a tether to retrieve the MOB.

Henry

 

[billnpat]

Thanks Dennis,
We did take and passed our first boat safety course, and a ring was mentioned but the line out is what i needed to know.....
just getting ready for our big day

We have the ring but will purchase a 40' line out for it :thumbsup:

 

[billnpat]

Thanks henry.....
...Makes a lot of sense.....Maybe two?? 1 ring with no line, and something like dennis suggested
throw bag with rope....

 

[Lazy Daze]

Well, first verify if you need the line or not. From the link I found, it appears you don't and I would hope that if it was required, your course instructor would have told you (congrats on the course, by the way!). But double check with local authorities.

Then, if you don't need the line, do what you feel comfortable with. Henry makes a good point and I'm not saying to use it or don't use it. Do what feels right for you. Personally, I don't have the line attached.

But, if one did have the line attached, they could always toss the ring and then let go of the bag (actually, it would more than likely be jerked out of their hand if the boat was still moving at a good clip). Granted, it could entail a little more skill on the throwers part to be sure to let go.

One instance where I can see the line being good is if the thrower makes a really bad throw - the ring can retrieved much faster than a boat hook. But, the other side of it is that by the time the ring is retrieved, more than likely the boat will be back to the MOB.

Either way, the most important part of this is quick and convenient access and that everyone on board knows how to deploy it. When the weather gets warm, it's a good thing to practice. Make it a game - have someone swim away from the boat and then take turns to see who can get the closest.

 

[skibum]

I have a floating line attached my throwable. The line is coiled with the bitter end going twice aroung the coil and back through the center. My thoughts are that if I have to throw it to someone in a hurry, I can toss them the whole thing, line and all. It might be helpful for the MOB to have a line available to assist in his own retrieval. If I have a few seconds and want the line attached to the boat, I can undo the coil in short order before I throw it. I also make sure that it is the very last thing to go under the cockpit sink before I close the door. It is a real PIA because it falls out every time I open that door to get to the battery switches. But its handy.

I couldn't find a convenient place to store a 20" ring. Need a bigger boat for that.

 

[compensation]

40' of "dock line" is a joke. You need at least 100 -150 feet of polypropylene on your throwable. The bitter end must be secured and the whole thing must be ready to go at all times.

USCG and local "requirements" are a minimum that a real mariner will find completely inadequate.

 

[billnpat]

One other thought on the "dock line", it is easy to coil and easy to throw. Like I said, give me a break.

SAW THIS ON EBAY $3.99 NEW YELLOW $4.99 SHIPPING

3/8"x 35' hollow braid polypropylene anchor line with hook.190 lb working load

OK ???:huh:

 

[billnpat]

:huh: Can you post a link? The ones that I have seen are gimicks, wouldn't work properly if you really need them.

edit - are you just talking about line, or those throwables that have the line tucked inside of them. I was thinking the latter.

The biggest problem with polypro is that the line has no weight. In calm conditions it's not a big deal, but I'm guessing if someone goes over, it's not due the boredom of calm seas. The dockline that I have floats and has some weight to it, so you are able to cut through the wind and place the line accurately. (along with the life ring)

The other advantage is that you can toss the life ring by itself, and then use the dockline to pull the victim in once they get within range of the boat. Try that with a polypro line.

Go to e-bay and put in item number

230395766309

 

[billnpat]

I wouldn't use this. Being that it is anchor line, I am guessing that it sinks. (floating anchorline would be bad) As long as the line is tight, you are okay, but if it gets slack, well, you know how line and propellers attract each other.

See anything else there i could use....???

how about this ??

260518861077

 

[billnpat]

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/35855/377%20710%201208/0/Man%20Overboard%20Gear/Primary%20Search/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0?N=377 710 1208&Ne=0&Ntt=Man Overboard Gear&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&page=CategoryDisplayLevel1&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=8&subdeptNum=104&classNum=370



Something like this could work I suppose, but I still think the line will make itself into a big knot eventually. Let me look some more.


This looks better than the one above, both are around $50. It also uses polypro line, but better braiding, which might make it more resistant to turning into a birds nest.

The type of dock line I have on my ring is a braided nylon line, like what Sea Ray was selling a while back. I don't know if they still sell it, but it can be had for less $$ online. If I can find the link, I'll post it.

OK THANKS

E-BAY # 260518861077 nylon line

 

[Lazy Daze]

Scrap anything that has metal with it. The last thing you want is to try and rescue someone by knocking them on their head with a metal hook....:wow:

Scott's second picture - the bag - was the one I was referring to. But $50 is way too much for that. Keep looking. If you're going with the line - get the bag. It won't be a tangled mess and it actually throws very easily out of the bag.

 

[billnpat]

Scrap anything that has metal with it. The last thing you want is to try and rescue someone by knocking them on their head with a metal hook....:wow:

Scott's second picture - the bag - was the one I was referring to. But $50 is way too much for that. Keep looking. If you're going with the line - get the bag. It won't be a tangled mess and it actually throws very easily out of the bag.

The thing is i already have the round ring 20", do i need the bag and rope etc.???..
i saw this on e bay 260518861077 for the rope......

 

[compensation]

No problem. It just seems like you are typing faster than you are thinking.

They primary objective in a person overboard situation is to keep the pob in sight at all times. A crew member must be assigned to this task and this alone. If you lose sight of the pob your chances of retrieving them alive are greatly reduced.

Bags or coils that keep the line from hockling are good, but a well flaked, good quality, floating line is the key. You want to throw the gear near but not at the pob. After all you don't want to knock him in the head and make things worse.

I advocate longer lines because this gives you the ability to circle the pob and draw the line and floatation device closer without any chance of hitting the pob with the boat. The OP has a 31' boat and experience dictates that you want to be much more than 2 boat lengths away while maneuvering under power in heavy seas.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Guys,

You are all missing the point. First priority is to get something that floats and will support the MOB. They will be disorientated and flustered. They will need a safety blanket. Get something over the side ASAP. Worrying about whether to use the the line, or not use the line, especially when the person doing this may be a guest, is a waste of precious time.

A tethered line will only help you in getting the MOB back on board. That is a secondary concern in the first few seconds. Yes, the best way to bring someone back aboard is via a tether, but that can be done while the MOB calm and is floating safely on something.

Henry

 

[Henry Boyd]

No problem. It just seems like you are typing faster than you are thinking.

They primary objective in a person overboard situation is to keep the pob in sight at all times. A crew member must be assigned to this task and this alone. If you lose sight of the pob your chances of retrieving them alive are greatly reduced.

Bags or coils that keep the line from hockling are good, but a well flaked, good quality, floating line is the key. You want to throw the gear near but not at the pob. After all you don't want to knock him in the head and make things worse.

I advocate longer lines because this gives you the ability to circle the pob and draw the line and floatation device closer without any chance of hitting the pob with the boat. The OP has a 31' boat and experience dictates that you want to be much more than 2 boat lengths away while maneuvering under power in heavy seas.

Yeah we are both typing too fast. You are right about the line length, but first response must be rescue, and then followed by recovery.

Henry

 

[billnpat]

Yeah we are both typing too fast. You are right about the line length, but first response must be rescue, and then followed by recovery.

Henry

So is it dock line? nylon line? poly line ???

CLOTHES LINE :grin:???? HELP:huh:

 

[billnpat]

As long as it floats, and is not ski rope, it doesn't matter. (or have a big chunk of metal attached to it)

Thanks....Please check this out # 260518861077 e-bay