Safety and Operations
Chris-Craft 2–33
Man Overboard
If a person falls overboard, you may have only minutes to perform a successful rescue.
This manual cannot address every man overboard situation, therefore it is incumbent upon the owner/oper-
ator to learn man overboard rescue techniques. Practicing man overboard techniques is an excellent way to
prepare for an actual emergency.
Water temperature is a major component in a rescue attempt due to the danger of hypothermia. If the water
temperature is below 21° C (70° F), hypothermia can quickly set in, incapacitate, and kill an individual.
Cold water removes body heat 25 times faster than air, therefore it is imperative to rescue the victim as
quickly as possible.
Water rescue consists of three phases:
• Returning to the victim
• Making contact with the victim
• Getting the victim back aboard the vessel
If an individual falls overboard it is imperative to locate and return to the victim. If at night, use all avail-
able light sources to locate the individual. Locating and returning to the individual include, but may not be
limited to:
1. Make everyone aware of the incident.
2. Visually locate and keep the victim in sight.
3. Slow the vessel when heading towards the victim.
4. When in range, throw a life preserver, even if the victim is wearing a flotation device. This provides and serves
as another marker.
Employ the following steps when making contact with the victim:
1. Use a circling procedure and attempt the approach by heading into the wind or into the waves. This allows the
victim to drift towards the boat.
2. Maintain a constant visual of the victim.
3. When close to the victim, alongside, stop the engine to prevent the propeller from windmilling.
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