tophatyachts.com

I was looking at my next Bias/Whitworths purchase and thought I might get the input of sailors who have more experience than I have. Questions are which lifebuoy to buy do they have to comply with any regulations?, What holder to get and should I get a light?. What do most of you do, leave the bouy on the holder to store it in the cabin/lazarette (assuming it fits). Do you use a holder or have some other suggestions?
I guess on a smaller boat like a TH a smaller lifebuoy might be more suitable. Let me know what you think.

Whitworths have 3 of the horseshoe type and 2 of the circular type.
Bias have 1 of each type.

Cheers, John

I use a horseshoe lifebuoy mounted on the push-pit and store it in the cabin 1/4 birth when not sailing(keeps the colour bright!). You should definitely have an automatic light attached if you sail anywhere at night and a danbuoy is a good idea too (but I don't have one).

Cheers,
Mark

John
I have a spare one in excelent condition ($30) (the one on the back of Mij'a in the opening WEB page photo). All you need is the bracket....

Cya
Denis

You can get a decent second hand bracket from the Boat Locker in Warriewood. I think I paid $15 for mine. It gets stowed in the cabin when moored to keep it looking nice.



Michael

Hi All,

Those lifebouys should have a safety rope on, see Whitworths pp 90, item 74552.

Forget the dan bouy, which is thrown overboard when the event is discovered some time later, they are useless. All life jackets should have a divers rescue tube [about $10 each] folded inside so that it is available with the person who has gone overboard. I also have one for my sailing gear.

Phillip.

More importantly you must have a drogue attached to the lifebouy. If you throw it in strong winds it will cartwheel downwind or get blown off the sea surface.
(Whitworths Cat No. 74682)

When the wind picked up last Saturday (10 to 35 kts) the entire dinghy fleet at Sandringham capsized.

We were reefed down and nearby so picked up a child tipped out of a small racing boat with her Dad.

Whilst lifting her aboard, a (40%) bigger wave lifted our horseshoe life ring out of its holder and it went down wind fairly quickly and dissapeared.

Next day we went to the local chandlery to buy one of those life slings which attach to the boat on a long rope.

Funnily enough, outside the chandlery door, on a bollard, covered in sand was our old horseshoe!

So a few lessons there.

Cheers,

Tom

See how good this site is!

OK, how about some pictures of your set up. You've seen mine, knowing how inadequate it now appears to be....

Michael

I store my horseshoes on the stettee berth. I sail mostly on my own so there is little chance of getting one thrown to me if I go overboard! Interestingly Kay Cottee was interviewed by an astute reporter who spied that she didn't have any lifebouys on board, same reply, Who is going to throw it to her?
When racing I used to tie them to the inside of the pushpit with a slipped reef knot ( shoelace knot) and it was used as a back to the seat. It meant it was on deck when needed. The drogue is tied under the lashing and the bag for the drogue is tied to the pushpit.
I made a dan buoy out of a fishing rod blank, a polythene buoy and lead flashing. I used a bright yellow piece of sailboard sail that lasted 6 weeks in the direct sunlight. I then put it (a new one) in a cover.
Last weekend a racing sailor was knocked off a boat on the lake and another boat threw their lifebuoy to them. So you may be able to help someone else if your life buoys are rigged.
I think I need to overhaul my setup. Its old.
Safe sailing.
Greg.

ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing requirements Section 4 require for Cat 4 racing inshore (near to the shore) in the day and Cat 3 at night the lifebuoys shall in summary;

*) only 1 lifebuoy is needed.
*) Be circular, or horseshoe, capable of supporting 13kg ABOVE the water surface.
*) 400mm Inside diameter for circular, 300 x 400 for horse shoe.
*) Have around their periphery beckets or handholds that go out 150mm between the midpoint and the lifering.
*) Kapoc, cork and hollow construction are not allowed.
*) Inflatable are not permitted
*) Colour is to be Safety yellow or red.
*) Fitted with 4 pieces of retro reflective tape 50mm x 100mmm both sides. (like Mikers)
*) Each equipped with, whistle, drogue and self igniting light.

Think I've just found another thing to check.

Thanks all
Greg.