This chapter, from our book the Capable Cruiser, 3rd edition was originally written in response to a magazine editorial. It was printed in Latitudes and Attitudes several years ago but nothing has changed as far as the heavy marketing of so called Safety equipment. So Larry and I think it is worth sharing it with folks who getting ready to set off cruising.
The list of safety gear you “should” buy is endless; the potential to sink your cruising budget by buying it is definitely real. Some safety gear is essential, some is useful, most of it will never get used so where do you draw the line? It’s a hard call even for experienced sailors. The only way to make wise choices is by getting out sailing and racking up lots of sea time in lots of different weather situations so you can truly evaluate what equipment you need. In the rush to ready your boat and shore life so you can get out cruising, it is hard to gain this experience/sea time.
Here are some thoughts to keep in mind when you consider safety gear:
The first and most important piece of safety gear you have on board is a partner who has the knowledge and skills to handle the boat. There is not one piece of man-overboard gear that is going to help if the person left on the boat does not know how to get the boat back to you.
Your boat is your life raft. That rubber thing in a valise or canister is an abandon-ship raft, a flimsy replacement for the strong boat you are thinking of leaving and only a hopeful last chance. The vast majority of boats abandoned by their owners are later found drifting crew-less and afloat.[1][1]
The harness you may or may not use on deck is just that, a harness to back up your hands. It does not insure safety, nor is it a substitute for learning to move around on deck using the old fashioned sounding seaman’s adage; one hand for you, one hand for the ship.
The only sure way of avoiding collisions at sea is by having someone stand watch in the cockpit. A watch keeper on deck will be able to spot that violent squall approaching in time to drop sail before it hits. Because he/she will have lots of time to look around the boat the watch keeper might notice a potential gear failure before it causes a serious problem. The more reasons (or excuses) you have for staying below deck, the less safe you become.
Gear that is used only in emergencies may not function properly if you and the crew have not practiced using it. Inflatable items like liferafts may also fail to inflate/deploy/work due to ingress of salt water, exposure to sun and heat or human error when it was originally packed or repacked.
Think prevention instead of cure. I.e. improving the non-skid on your deck and cabin-top could prevent crew from skidding overboard. Improving your boomvang/preventer-tackle-system could prevent an injury-causing accidental gybe.
Over the past few months we have had the pleasure of rendezvous with some highly experienced cruising sailors, folks who have each circumnavigated twice and sailed far beyond the normal routes including Noel and Litara Barrett winners of the Blue Water Medal, Alvah and Diana Simons, Beth Leonard and Evans Starzinger. Interestingly the topic of safety brought the same reactions from each of these master sailors, “it’s far safer at sea than on the freeways. Car’s whizzing past you at 60 miles an hour, only three or four feet to spare. Out at sea you are rarely moving more than 6 or 8 knots.” But we all agreed; with experience comes confidence, with confidence comes the ability to access safety or accept risks. Almost everyone who sets off cruising has far more experience on freeways than at sea. If you had a look at the boats each of these remarkable people sail you’d be surprised at how Spartan their “safety gear” list appears. Each of their boats is highly geared towards efficient sailing, each has very clear deck areas and an extensive system of handholds throughout the cabin, in the cockpit and on deck, and each has all essential systems independent of electricity. Each carries a plethora of back up rigging and sail repair equipment. Each has an abundance of anchors, anchor-rodes and a powerful windlass.
If you are outfitting for your first foray offshore, consider spending some of the funds you put aside for safety equipment on a learn- to- cruise charter. Invite that salty old guy who sailed around the world ten years back to go out sailing with you for a weekend and assess your gear, or lack of it, through his eyes. Hire a professional delivery skipper to join you for a day or two of sea-trails before you invest in any more “safety” gear. You will be buying something far more dependable than a piece of gear that might theoretically save your life in a theoretical situation; you’ll be buying first-hand experience that could prevent that theoretical catastrophe from happening in the first place.
[1] Cost- Conscious Cruiser has a comparative list of gear including safety equipment, carried by four different long term voyagers sailing on limited budgets.
Thanks for the posting. We’re readying our boat to head into the south Pacific, and we always like to read from those with experience.
Tom
What an excellent and timely post, I am in the last stages of rebuilding my little cutter and simply don’t have the budget for all the fun toys so many consider essential. when I start my sea trials this month It will be sans oven, built in water tanks, any form of electronic navigation, or engine. I don’t have radar, GPS, AIS, CARD, VHF, or a chart platter. My life raft is my boat, strong, safe, simple, and because I did all the work on her myself I know I have the tools and can find and repair every inch of her blind folded. My friends all think I’m nuts and often get very upset saying I’m risking the lives of my crew, WHAT IF…. is their favorite subject.
My friends who are commercial fisherman are always trying to donate and install “safety” equipment that my meager battery bank wont support. The bottom line is I’m not crossing any oceans this year, I’m sailing in protected waters with a sound boat and no schedule. I have a rock solid base knowledge based off of years of practical experience and the dozens of wonderful books and articles I have read over the years. If I wait to finish the boat I will never leave so I will day sail the San Juan’s and add only what is necessary once I determine what that is.
I recently had an interesting encounter with the Coast Guard and it pretty much seems to sum up the mentality of today’s sailor. The Coast Guard was walking the dock and offered a free safety inspection. Sure I said.
Me ” Could I pull you up the mast to check my rigging”?
CG ” No we don,t do that”
Me “Would you dive my hull and inspect my Pintles and gudgeons”?
CG ” No we don’t do that”
Me ” Can you come out and help me swing my compass”?
CG ” No we don’t do that”?
This went on for a while when I finally asked what they did do. “We inspect you boat for safety stickers”. “We make sure you have flares and fire extinguishers and a radio” so when you have a disaster at sea we can save you, if you pass we give you a sticker that says you are Coast Guard approved safe.
Does this sticker make you safe? Ask 8 out of 10 boat owners and they will tell you they have a Coast Guard approved boat that is safe for the sea, then watch them nearly hit every boat in the marina trying to back the boat out in a flat calm. I was recently asked to help bend on a main for a guy who has owned his boat for 7 years. He had absolutely no idea how to do it and wanted to leave out the reef lines because they were always getting hung up on his incredibly complicated system that was created to make his boat safer and easier to sail.
Last week I was out sailing with a sail maker and a gentleman who had been sailing his heavy displacement cutter for over twenty years. In the light wind they tried to tack but she wouldn’t. We gained way and they tried again leaving the stay sail back winded and again no go. I took the helm gathered way and when I tacked left the stay sail back winded but also popped the main they both looked at me like I was nuts. I explained that the main holds her on her tack but if you ease it it lets the stern ease while the stay sail pushes the bow over.
If I could sail and learn every day I would. I cant so I read everything I can and when I get time on the water I practice what I have read.
One of my greatest joys in sailing other than the freedom it represents is that I will never master it, there is always something to learn and always a new teacher to teach it. Your books and DVD’s are are a treasure, a private coach, and proof that it can be done. Thank you
We really appreciate the feed back we get from readers like you. It’s good to know the words we spend so much time writing, are encouraging others to get out there too.
As we were getting ready to cast off in the dinghy on a cold foggy midnight, I asked my friend, who was driving, if he had his safety gear? I was wearing my floater and he his foulies, he pointed to his PFD on the seat and said it is right there. We hit the break water wall; I was knocked unconscious and left floating for several hours, my friend drown and I walked away