Importance of rope/hand holds

[Brinormeg]

This just came onto my feed following recent discussions here about ropes and hand holds on new sibs/ribs.

https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/inju...boat-midsummer

[Fenlander]

Interesting report.

I very much like the rails as I call them on the Aerotec. They are strong and cover the whole length anyone would sit in/on out SIB. They give a far better ability to balance than other types... particularly rope that is towards the outside of the tube.

Having said that any form of grab rope or handle on the same tube you are sitting on is never going to ensure you can't fall backwards in extreme circumstances. For that you need something on a console if fitted or a loop to hold that's attached to the opp side tube.

[jeffstevens763@g]

I think it’s the first thing I look for on a boat I don’t always hang on to it but reach out when needed mine is a large carabiner with foam on the handle just behind the console never high lighted it on my build thread maybe I should have.

[Matt]

I've never liked letting anyone sit on the tubes on any rib I'm in charge of.

[Dadeo]

The smaller the boat the more likely you are to go overboard. As stable as SIBs and RIBs are, I don't really like the idea of sitting on the side at speed.

[Brinormeg]

The rib in question did have many holds by the looks of it but yeah it might not always be enough.

Any speed at all, I much prefer kneeling on the airfloor to be honest.

But some of these new sibs have little or very poorly placed hand holds which could be quite scary if you hit a bit of the rough stuff.

But yours seem to have a decent amount the whole tube length David.

Once we finally settle on the load and placing of everything and everyone, it’s probably another on the list to think about Jeff.

[Fenlander]

>> I much prefer kneeling on the airfloor to be honest.

I think that's Max's favoured position and I'm sure Chipko reclines on the floor between tubes. Weird thing is I just can't feel comfortable low down regarding visibility. If you could fit a mast foot into an air floor I'd have one and be up on the crows nest.

[Easedalenovice]

The older Honwaves had a rope all around and of course the retainers for the oars. I think because Honwave listened to people who liked to sit on the tubes they have no changed in their 3 variants to individual handles that will squish flat and the oars now don’t have retainers but can be stored low down or in the boat. Out T38 is the ie2 and has the ropes but our T35 and T40 AE3’s have the handles. We have not yet tried the T40 but have used the T45 a few times and I think I marginally prefer the handles

Either way it is vital to have somthing to hold onto and tie things to

[Blankton]

I'm a bit confused, how do they conclude that there are "Insufficient handholds" when there are ropes down the inside and outside of the tubes on both sides. That's virtually infinite handholds!

[willk]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Weird thing is I just can't feel comfortable low down regarding visibility.

If you're weird, then we're Wyrd Brothers. Just as some drivers have to turn down the sound system to see more clearly, I have to stand to helm with confidence.

[Steve509926]

+1 other for being weird.

Unless it's really rough and windy when I have knelt on the deck as far forward as I can to keep the bow down, I much prefer to have half my arse on the bench and the other half on the tube. That's where I'm comfortable and can see.

[Fenlander]

I think it comes from when I was small and desperate to helm so had a slatted box to stand on so I could see over the cabin top and bow. If I had an alloy floor I might just have made one again.

[User name]

Tube sitting for me and I've never even come close to falling off. Perhaps that's helped by being the one operating the outboard, so I have another point of contact. I'm not a fan of kneeling down though. I can't see over the bow as well as I'd like and get pins & needles before too long.