PREVENT FALLING OVERBOARD: DECKEE’S TOP TIPS
The best way to stay safe on a boat is to avoid falling overboard at all costs. Retrieving someone from the water is a big challenge, especially for sailors - it takes a while to turn a boat under sail around.
Plus, if someone falls into the sea and the rest of the crew don’t notice, it’s very hard to find them, as they quickly become a tiny spot on the water.
It’s much easier to develop habits that will make it very unlikely for you to fall out of the boat. Prevention is crucial when it comes to boating. Here are our top tips to prevent falling overboard.
1) WEAR BOAT SHOES
It’s easy to slip on a boat, as the deck can often get wet. Wear boat shoes - they provide the grip you need to avoid falling. You can lower the chances of falling overboard if you make your deck non-skid.
2) MAINTAIN THREE POINTS OF CONTACT AT ALL TIMES
Avoid moving around the boat while it’s underway. If you have to get up and do something while you’re boating or there’s a wake at anchor, grab hold of a handle or something solid and maintain three points of contact at all times. This is why boats that feature numerous handrails are considered more seaworthy.
3) WEAR A HARNESS AND TETHER
Wearing a life jacket is fundamental to keeping you afloat, should you fall overboard. However, to prevent it from happening all together, you should also wear a harness and tether while the boat is moving.
Attach your tether to clip on points, so if you lose your balance, the tether and harness will keep you tied to the boat. If the tether becomes too short as you move around, sit down, hold onto a handrail, and secure the tether to another clip on point.
On sailboats, clip into the jackline to move around the deck.
4) STAY ALERT AT ALL TIMES
It’s easy to get distracted on a boat, especially if you’re out on the water with your friends or family. However, being alert is crucial. You need to be aware of your surroundings, even if you’re not the captain or skipper. Noticing a big wave or wake will help you prepare for impact.
5) KEEP YOUR CENTRE OF GRAVITY LOW
When moving around a moving boat, don’t stand up fully. Keep your centre of gravity low, so you have better balance.
6) MAKE SURE THE WEIGHT ON BOARD IS WELL-DISTRIBUTED
If the weight on your boat is not well-balanced, the boat can be less stable and, in the worst case scenario, capsize. In both cases, you have a high chance of falling into the water. So before you set off, make sure the weight is well-distributed.
7) TRY TO PREDICT THE BOAT’S MOVEMENTS
Try to guess how the boat will move, based on how the water looks nearby. This way, you can hold onto a handrail or something solid before a big wave sends the vessel on a big roll.
So while you’re sitting or moving on the boat, look around you and at the water every now and then to avoid getting up just before the boat moves abruptly.
8) TAKE WAKES HEAD-ON
When there’s a big wake, it’s best to take it head-on, rather than from the side. A wake from the side can send the boat into a big roll, making it a less stable platform to be on.
9) WHEN TURNING, GO SLOW AND ASK EVERYONE TO SIT DOWN
When a boat turns , the waves will hit its hull from different directions, making it roll. To minimise this effect, take turns slowly. Ask everyone on board to sit down and hold on before you turn, so they have less of a chance of falling.
10) ON A SAILBOAT, NEVER STAND UP FULLY BY THE BOOM
On a sailing boat, you should always watch out for the boom. This can swing and hit you in the head, making you fall overboard and lose consciousness at the same time. This is extremely dangerous.
Lay as low as you can when you’re in the boom’s swing radius. Never stand up in the cockpit or on the deck near it. It’s also useful to rig a boom preventer or to install a boom brake on longer trips, so the boom can’t swing as much.
These are our top tips to prevent falling overboard. Prevention doesn’t take much effort, but it’s fundamental to keeping you safe. The more risks you take, the more dangerous the situation becomes. It’s easier to develop good habits than to perform a rescue. Stay safe out there!