GB2284391A

GB2284391A - Recovery of persons overboard

Info

Publication number: GB2284391A
Application number: GB9424342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Taffe
Original assignee: HENSHAW INFLATABLES Ltd
Current assignee: HENSHAW INFLATABLES Ltd
Priority date: 1993-12-03
Filing date: 1994-12-02
Publication date: 1995-06-07
Also published as: GB9324861D0; GB9424342D0

Abstract

A recovery aid is in the form of a pack mounted on the transom of a boat (10) including an inflatable platform (12) comprising a pair of tubular side members (13) between which a webbing ladder (21) is located. When inflated, the platform (12) extends downwardly and rearwardly into the water so that a person overboard can climb on to the lower end of the platform (12) and then up the ladder (21) into the boat (10). <IMAGE>

Description

RECOVERY AIDS Field of the Invention This invention relates to a recovery aid for use on a yacht or other boat to facilitate reboarding of the boat in the event of a person falling from the boat into the sea.

Background to the Invention When sailing on a yacht or other boat, there is always a danger of a crew member falling overboard, particularly in certain bad wcather conditions or sea states.

It will be appreciated that the recovery of a man overboard up the side of a vessel, specially if he is in an unconscious or semi-conscious state, presents considerable problems for the recovery crew.

On short-handed boats, for example, where a husband and wife are sailing alone together, there have been, and will continue to be, occasions where one member of the crew falls overboard and the other crew member just does not have the strength to haul the overboard person from the water level up what could be a distance of a metre or more on an average-sized vessel. Hauling of the overboard person on board can be made even more difficult if he or she is wearing oilskins and watersodden clothing.

Another complication is that hypothermia can set in such that the overboard crew member can offer very little assistance towards getting back on board.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a recovery aid for use on a boat for the above purpose.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a recovery aid in the form of a pack mounted on the transom of a boat, said pack comprising an inflatable platform and means for effecting inflation of the platform such that, when inflated, the platform extends in an inclined manner rearwardly from the transorn into the water on which the boat is sailing, the platform being provided with means for enabling a person to ascend the inclined platform.

The platform, when inflated, is preferably in the form of a mattress which includes a pair of substantially tubular elongate side members between which the enabling means is located. The portion of the mattress between the two side members may include a plurality of parallel ribs or smaller diameter tubes on which the enabling means is supported.

The enabling means is preferably in the form of a webbing ladder and additional webbing preferably extends from the lower end of the mattress, when in the water, to make it easier for the person in the water to obtain access to the ladder. Webbing loops may also be provided on both sides of the mattress.

A pocket may be provided at the end of the mattress which depends into the water, this pocket being open so that water can enter it. The pocket preferably contains a weight, for example, a lead weight, so that the pocket and weight act as a sea anchor to hold the mattress/platform in place, especially in high wind conditions.

A pair of securing lines preferably extend between the sides of the mattress and fixing positions at the port and starboard ends of the transom, the securing lines preferably being connected to the mattress sides at positions at which the lowermost webbing loops are attached to the sides of the mattress.

The pack is preferably contained within a case mounted on the transom of the boat, said case having a flap which is opened automatically on inflation of the mattress to allow egress of the mattress from the case. Inflation of the mattress may be effected by means of a cylinder charged with carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas, and having an automatic firing head.

The arrangement will thus be such that, in the event of an emergency where a person has fallen overboard, a crew member can deploy the mattress/platform by pulling on a line protruding from the case and attached to the firing head inside the pack. Once fired, the carbon dioxide and nitrogen will inflate the mattress/platform which will extend automatically rearwardly and downwardly out over the rear of the boat.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of improving the safety of a boat which comprises mounting a recovery aid as defined above on the transom of the boat.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a stern view of a yacht fitted with the recovery aid, Figure 2 is a side view of the stern of the yacht, showing the recovery aid in its pack, Figure 3 is a side view of the stern of the yacht showing the recovery aid deployed, and Figure 4 is a plan view showing the deployed aid.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The recovery aid shown in the drawings is for use on a yacht 10 and is in the form of a pack carried in a case 11 mounted on the yacht transom in a central position as shown in Figure 1. The case dimensions are typically 450 mm. X 300 mm. X 200 mm. and the case 11 has a rearwardly facing flap which is normally held closed by means of a pair of pads of the material sold under the Registered Trade Mark "VELCRO" but which will be opened automatically in the event of an emergency.

The pack includes an inflatable platform 12 in the form of a mattress which, when inflated as shown in Figures 3 and 4, is of the order of 1 metre in width and 4 metres in length. The platform/mattress 12 includes a pair of parallel tubular side members 13 which act as structural and buoyancy members for the platform 12. Between the two side members 13, the platform 12 includes a centre portion 14 afforded by substantially smaller diameter parallel tubes which act, in effect, as ribs to strengthen and stabilise the platform structure.

A soft webbing ladder 21 is supported on the centre portion 14 of the platform 12 and includes a portion 22 which extends beyond the lower end of the platform 12. Along each side of the platform 12, there are three webbing loops 15, 16 and 17 and, at the common fixing points of loops 15 and 16, securing lines 18 are attached to the platform 12, the other ends of the securing lines 18 being attached, as shown in Figure 4, to the port and starboard ends of the transom of the yacht. The securing lines 18 may be an "optional extra".

In addition to the inflatable platform, the pack within the case 11 also includes a cylinder 19 charged with carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas. The cylinder 19 has an automatic firing head so that, if a person has fallen overboard and it is desired to deploy the platform 12, a line attached to the firing head will be pulled. The line protrudes from the case 11 so as to be permanently accessible and the arrangement is such that the action of inflating the platform 12 automatically results in opening of the rearwardly facing hinged flap of the case 11. Thus, once the head is fired by pulling on the line, the platform 12 will be inflated by the carbon dioxide and nitrogen and deployed automatically over the stern of the yacht 10 so that it extends downwardly and rearwardly into the water.

The inflation system can be designed to inflate the platform 12 to a pressure of 2 p.s.i. and an over-pressure relief valve may be incorporated in the platform 12 to compensate for any over-filling. The inflation system will have sufficient capacity to fully inflate the platform 12 with an additional 10% or more to compensate for changes in temperature.

At the lower end of the platform 12, there is a flap 20 which forms a large water pocket and contains a lead weight.

This water pocket acts as a sea anchor to hold the platform 12 in place projecting to the rear of the yacht transom. The stability of the platform 12 is further assisted by the provision of the securing lines 18.

In use, a man overboard can make his way to the lower end of the platform 12 and, with the aid of the in-built webbing ladder 21 and extension 22, haul himself on to the platform 12 and then walk or crawl up the inclined platform 12 up to the deck of the yacht 10.

If the recovery involves an unconscious or injured member of the crew, or if hypothermia has set in and the man overboard is not able to assist himself, a crew member can walk or crawl down the platform 12 and physically haul the man overboard on to the lower end of the platform 12 and then up to the deck.

The case 11 may be secured to the transom by a method involving a bolt, rope and hinge assembly such as to permit detachment of the deployed aid from the transom if so required. The recovery aid thus has the further advantage that, in an emergency situation where the yacht itself is in danger of sinking, the platform 12 can readily be detached from the vessel and used as a flotation device for three or four crew members, fully supporting their weight.

Claims

Claims:

1. A recovery aid in the form of a pack mounted on the transom of a boat, said pack comprising an inflatable platform and means foe effecting inflation of the platform such that, when inflated, the platform extends in an inclined manner rearwardly from the transom into the water on which the boat is sailing, the platform being provided with means for enabling a person to ascend the inclined platform.

2. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 1, in which the platform, when inflated, is in the form of a mattress which includes a pair of substantially tubular elongate side members between which the enabling means is located.

3. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 2, in which the portion of the mattress between the two side members includes a plurality of ribs or smaller diameter tubes on which the enabling means is supported.

4. A recovery aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the enabling means is in the form of a webbing ladder.

5. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 4, in which additional webbing extends from the lower end of the platform, when in the water, to make it easier for the person in the water to obtain access to the ladder.

6. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which webbing loops are provided on both sides of the platform.

7. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 2, in which a pocket is provided at the end of the mattress which depends into the water, the pocket being open so that water can enter it.

8. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 7, in which the pocket contains a weight so that the pocket and weight act as a sea anchor.

9. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 6, in which securing lines extend between the sides of the platform and fixing positions at the port and starboard ends of the transom.

10. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 9, in which the securing lines are connected to the sides of the platform at positions at which the lowermost webbing loops are attached to the sides of the platform.

11. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 1, in which the pack is contained within a case mounted on the transom of the boat, the case having a flap which is opened automatically on inflation of the platform.

12. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 11, in which the platform is inflated by means of a cylinder charged with carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas.

13. A recovery aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of improving the safety of a boat which comprises mounting a recovery aid as claimed in Claim 13 on the boat.

14. A method of improving the safety of a boat which comprises mounting a recovery aid as claimed in Claim 13 on the transom of the boat.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A recovery aid in the form of a pack for mounting on a boat, said pack comprising an inflatable platform and means for effecting inflation of the platform such that, when inflated on the boat, the platform extends in an inclined manner into the water on which the boat is sailing, the platform being provided with enabling means for enabling a person to ascend the inclined platform.

9. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 6 mounted on the transom of a boat, in which securing lines extend between the sides of the platform and fixing positions at the port and starboard ends of the transom.

11. A recovery aid as claimed in Claim 1, in which the pack is contained within a case having a flap which is opened automatically on inflation of the platform.