Prusik Knot for climbing the mast (Seamanship)
When you don't have someone to tail the halyard (or two halyards) while you climb the mast, the Prusik knot is a solution.
Simply make a loop of a piece of small diameter (3/8") braided line and then wrap the loop around any taught, standing halyard feeding it back through itself twice, as shown.
Attach the tail of this loop to your harness and pull the knot tight.
Now you can use your hand to slide the knot up the halyard (in steps) as you climb, or as you are hoisted on another halyard.
If you happen to fall, the Prusik knot will jam, like a rolling hitch and stop you from falling.
On the way down you will need to slide the knot down the halyard with your hand again to prevent it from jamming.
I have used this as a safety backup when climbing my mast steps alone.
I even use it as a second backup when I have someone tailing a halyard as I climb.
Try it for yourself and make your own assessment and, of course, use at your own risk.
In a push, you could probably use two of these as a climber, sliding one up, and while standing in the other., but I think it will take some effort to release the knot after each step.
http://fmg-www.cs.ucla.edu/geoff/prusik_knot.html
There is lots more on the prusik knot
here
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 15-Sep-2008
Ocean crossing (Seamanship)
Add your own checklists and provisioning guidelines and experiences......
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 10-Oct-2008
Crew (Seamanship)
Just Imagine sailed from Fort Lauderdale with an experienced crew of five, consisting of old friends, going back 20 years and more, some of which we had not seen in years.
It was a wonderful reunion and we all got on really well without any need for adaptation, except for the fact that we had all, long since, graduated from the hardships of cramped spaces of tiny boats to larger houses and larger boats.
Deck leaks and strong head seas turned comfy bunks into soggy, squishy messes and we ended up hot-bunking in the salon with some sleeping on the floor.
I am sure that Sue and Bruce were very pleased to see land and fly back from Bermuda to the comforts of home. David sailed on with us to the Azores, but had to shorten his schedule and fly back from Horta.
We were so lucky to have sailed with experienced sailors that knew, before we left the dock, that life at sea can be somewhat different than the dream we all imagine.
While we loved having our friends aboard to share the start of our voyage, and the ease of a five person watch system, Jayne and I found that life became a lot more simple when it was just the two of us.
In conclusion, while a 38 footer might be able to sleep 7 or 8 people, not only do these have to be really good , (and tolerant) friends, but, unless you are on some sort of endurance test, a week or two or three is about as much fun and adventure as you and your friends would want to endure.
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 10-Oct-2008
Watch system (Seamanship)
On Just Imagine we had an overlapping watch system at night, and single watches during the day. This way, you had someone to talk to during your watch and help out when needed. The second person would often snooze in the cockpit, but within easy earshot, if you needed their attention. (See the watchkeeping table below)
When you first came on watch, you were in standby mode for the first 2 hours, which allowed you time to wake up, make a cup of coffee, and get your bearings.
At the end of the first 2 hours, you became the primary watch keeper, and a new person came up in standby. The Monitor windvane, or the autopilot did most of the steering, so watchkeeping was pretty easy.
Since "J" (Jayne) elected to do most of the cooking, she chose to stand watch at the same times every day, after dinner and before breakfast.
| |
0800- |
1000- |
1200- |
1400- |
1600- |
1800- |
2000- |
2200- |
2400- |
0200- |
0400- |
0600- |
| EVEN DAYS |
1000 |
1200 |
1400 |
1600 |
1800 |
2000 |
2200 |
2400 |
0200 |
0400 |
0600 |
0800 |
| On watch |
H |
S |
B |
D |
H |
S |
J |
B |
D |
H |
S |
J |
| Standby |
Individual watches during day |
B |
D |
H |
S |
J |
B |
| ODD DAYS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| On watch |
B |
D |
H |
S |
B |
D |
J |
H |
S |
B |
D |
J |
| Standby |
Individual watches during day |
H |
S |
B |
D |
J |
H |
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 10-Oct-2008
Abandon-ship bag (Seamanship)
Weather (Weather)
Liferafts (Seamanship)
After walking around boat shows, and researching on the Internet, we finally chose a Winslow liferaft.
We came to our decision after imagining what it would be like to actually spend days, weeks or months in each of the raft types. For some reason, the Winslow just seemed to be less of a grim prospect, and based on other favorable reports, we decided that was the one for us.
The Winslow comes in a valise, which can be packed in different shapes to suit your needs. One option comes with the valise packed into a white Pelican case. We liked this idea, but did not like the price of the special, custom, white case. We purchased the same size, standard pelican case (only available in black) at less than half the price, from the distributor GMPCS in Fort Lauderdale. Our intention was to make a white canvas cover to reflect the sunlight, but I must confess, 4 years later the raft still sits in it's black case on the deck.
We paid an extra $265 to have the liferaft vacuum packed within the valise. The vacuum pack extends the service period to 3 years.
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 10-Oct-2008
Medical Kit
Just Imagine Medical Kit
| First Aid Items |
Purpose of item |
Quantity |
| Ace bandage + one wrap in spares box |
for sprains |
1 |
| Acetominophen w/Codeine |
Migraine pills or for any bad headache |
20 |
| Alcohol prep pads |
plus 100 extra in spares box |
20 |
| Alcohol rubbing -16 oz |
plus one extra in spares box |
1 |
| Alka Seltzer |
Plus 96 extra in spares box |
20 |
| Allergic reaction - Epinephrine - Epipen .3 mg injectable exp 12/05 |
for shock/severe allegic reaction-training injector included |
2 |
| Aloe Vera Gel 8 oz |
for soothing burns |
1 |
| Antibiotic -Cipro 500 mg(ciprofloxacin) exp1/06 |
for infection for Jayne - don't take w/calcium or vitamins - for bladder infections too |
20 |
| Antibiotic -Z-Pak -Azithromycin 250 mg exp1/07 |
Bad cold/cough/bronchitis |
2 |
| Antibiotic-Amoxicillin 500 mg - exp 1/06 |
for infection (Jayne is allergic) |
20 |
| Antibiotic-Amoxicillin 500 mg - exp 11/05 |
for infection (Jayne is allergic) |
20 |
| Antiseptic cleanser Povidone Iodine |
for bad cuts that might get infected |
1 |
| Aspirin - Kirkland coated 325 mg |
|
500 |
| Athlete's foot - Lamisil-ringworm,jock itch |
anti-fungal crème |
1 |
| Back strain/muscle strain pain relief patches |
8 hour pain relief from adhesive patch |
8 |
| Bandaids - dumbbell sutures |
for closing small cuts |
32 |
| Bandaids box assorted |
cushioned foam |
box |
| Bandaids butterfly |
for closing medium cuts |
4 |
| Bandaids Clear Tegaderm 2 1/4" oval |
not for infected or bleeding wounds or use w/Neosporin - lets skin breathe |
8 |
| Bandaids Elastoplast stretch fabric |
elastic bandage 3 feet long |
1 |
| Bandaids extra large |
for knees & elbows |
10 |
| Bandaids knuckle & fingertip |
flexes w/movement |
20 |
| Bandaids large |
more in watertight container 2 |
5 |
| Bandaids Liquid for hard to cover areas |
invisible, breathable seal - waterproof |
12 |
| Bandaids medium |
in spares box as we have one box assorted |
50 |
| Bandaids small |
|
24 |
| Bandaids Steri-strips |
for closing small cuts |
30 |
| Bandaids water resistant sport strip |
cushioned foam |
60 |
| Bandaids waterproof |
waterproof |
60 |
| Bee stings/Jelly fish stings-After Bite |
gel formula for skin irritation - contains ammonia-can use vinegar for jellyfish stings |
1 |
| Benadryl 25 mg |
antihistamine, allergic reaction & itchiness |
424 |
| Bengay crème 2 oz |
for backache, muscle & joint pain |
1 |
| Blister healing pad |
cushioning gel pad |
6 |
| Boils - Benzocaine 20% |
relieve pain |
1 |
| Bonine tabs exp 11/05 |
anti nausea, anti vomiting |
15 |
| Burn crème -Silver Sulfadiazine exp 4/07 |
for severe burns 400 grams |
1 |
| Cold compress reusable pack w/wrap |
to reduce swelling |
1 |
| Cold compress wrap cotton w/velcro |
|
1 |
| Cold sores or toothache - Anebesol 9 ml |
contains benzocaine 6.3% and alcohol 70% |
1 |
| Cold-EZE lozenges |
to prevent colds, coughs |
63 |
| Contact lens cleaning solution 12 oz |
|
1 |
| Cotton balls sterile |
cleansing wounds |
10 |
| Cough medicine - Robitussin cough & cold |
4 0z each |
2 |
| Decongestant tabs - Coricidin |
antihistamine, cough & cold remedy |
32 |
| Diarrhea remedy - Loperamide HCl 2 mg-Kirkland brand |
anti-diarrhea plus 96 extra in spares box |
96 |
| Elbow pads |
for injuries |
2 |
| Eye infection - Tobramycin .3% 5 ml |
|
1 |
| Eye infection-Vigamox .5% .5 ml exp 6/06 |
fights staph infections |
1 |
| Eye injury remedy -Econopred 1% 11/05 |
for inflammation |
1 |
| Eye lubricant - Refresh & Tears |
individual dispensers |
7 |
| Eye pads sterile 1 5/8 X 2 5/8 |
|
2 |
| Eye protectors |
for injuries |
2 |
| Eye wash sterile 4 oz |
|
1 |
| Finger splint |
for broken bone |
1 |
| Fisherman's Friend lozenges |
2 pkgs |
44 |
| Freeze-off dimethyl ether for wart removal |
also use to numb area for suturing(in applicators) |
12 |
| Gauze pads sterile 2X2 |
for wounds |
30 |
| Gauze pads sterile 3X3 |
for wounds |
30 |
| Gauze pads sterile 4X4 |
for wounds |
2 |
| Gauze pads sterile, adhesive 3X4 |
for oozing wounds |
4 |
| Gauze pads sterile,non-stick 3X4, 3X8, 2X3 |
Absorbs fluids but non-stick for painful wounds 4 of 3X4 |
2 each |
| Gauze roll sterile 2X 2.5 yds |
for wounds on arms or legs |
1 |
| Gauze roll sterile 3X 4.1 yds stretched |
for wounds on arms or legs |
1 |
| Gauze roll sterile 4X 2.1 yds stretched |
for wounds on arms or legs |
5 |
| Hemostats |
|
2 |
| Hydrocortisone crème 1% |
skin rashes/irritation plus 3 extra in spares box |
1 |
| Ibuprofen - Walgreens brand 200 mg tabs |
pain reliever - fever reducer - sore joints/back |
224 |
| Lotion Lubriderm |
small |
1 oz |
| Malaria - Malarone 8/06 |
atovaquone 250 mg & proguanil Hcl 100 mg |
30 |
| Mask |
to wear if suturing - mouth has lots of germs |
1 |
| Meat tenderizer mix w/H20 make thick paste |
bee stings, spider bites |
1 |
| Neck brace |
large |
1 |
| Neosporin triple antibiotic crème |
plus 1 extra tube in spares box |
1 |
| Nose spray - Afrin subsitute |
sinus congestion plus 2 extra in spares box |
1 |
| Nose spray - saline spray (for air travel) |
for dry nasal membranes plus 1 in spares box |
1 |
| Painkiller - Biofreeze gel |
muscle strain or bachaches |
1 |
| Painkiller - Propoxyphene 100 mg(Darvocet) exp 1/06 |
painkiller (Jayne is allergic) has acetaminophen |
30 |
| Painkiller - Propoxyphene 100 mg(Darvocet) exp 11/06 |
painkiller (Jayne is allergic) has acetaminophen |
12 |
| Painkiller Hydrocodone 750 mg(Vicodin) exp 1/06 |
for pain from broken bones/severe injury |
30 |
| Pepto-Bismal chewable tabs |
anti diarrhea, indigestion plus 48 in spares box |
48 |
| Peroxide medium bottle |
cleansing wounds - plus 1 at in spares box |
1 |
| Pink Eve Remedy - Similasan |
eye drops for inflammation |
1 |
| Pins & sewing kit |
7 pins - lots of needles - plus extra in watertight 2 |
5 |
| Prednisone 5 mgswelling reducer (Cortisone) |
used by H to reduce inflammation w/laryngitis |
7 |
| Scalpel stainless steel sterile |
for cutting |
1 |
| Scissors |
small |
2 |
| Seasickness remedy - Prochlorperazine 25 mg |
seasickness - if suppository is soft run under cold water - heat stroke may occur w/this medicine |
20 |
| Slings fabric |
for arm injuries |
1 |
| Smelling salts - ammonium chloride |
very small ampule -in clear package w/hemostats |
1 |
| Soap towelettes - add water |
for cleansing wounds |
3 |
| Splint leg |
large |
1 |
| Sterilization pouch small for needles, etc. |
use with steam |
1 |
| Suture - cutting needle w/silk braided (18") non-absorbable suture |
for stitching & cutting - use direct pressure on wound for 10 mins to stop bleeding |
1 |
| Syringe sterile 60 cc |
irrigating wounds |
1 |
| Tape - clear |
plus 1 extra in spares box |
4 |
| Thermometer - mercury |
w/ 7disposable sheaths |
1 |
| Toothache - Orajel - oral benzocaine 20% |
medication on the applicator |
12 |
| Tums - CVS brand |
antacid - chewable |
96 |
| Tweezers |
|
3 |
| Vaseline lip therapy |
chapped or sunburn lips |
1 |
| Water sterile 500 ml |
irrigating wounds |
1 |
| Wax for spare finger/toe splint |
|
2 |
| Wrist support w/splint |
removable metal splint |
1 |
| Yeast infection - Monistat 1200 mg X 1 |
with external crème |
1 |
| Yeast infection - Monistat 200 mg X 3 |
itching |
1 |
| Zantac 75 mg acid reducer |
heartburn, acid indigestion |
30 |
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 05-Apr-2009