Let’s Not Go Overboard
Electronics make you easier to find, but old school equipment such as lifelines, harnesses and jacklines are your best first line of defense against an angry sea and slippery decks.

“One hand for the ship, one hand for yourself,” was the advice of old salts during the age of sail. One trip to the yardarm during a howling gale to reef a flapping mass of wet, frozen canvas was all it took to validate this wisdom. As Ol’ Jack Tar was often forced to “hold on with his eyelids” while working aloft, it’s no wonder a good seaman was said to posses a hand with “every hair a rope yarn, every finger a fish hook.”

EPIRBS, personal locator beacons and other modern safety gear make it easier to find crewmembers who have gone overboard, however, we can all agree that avoiding the situation in the first place is the number one goal. No bit of safety gear plays a more vital role than a vessel’s lifelines. Here are some tips on keeping yours in top working order. ...

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