Appendix II
In The Water Test

Purpose of Test:
The purpose of the test was to determine the characteristics of safety harnesses in actual use in a man overboard situation. We evaluated the attitude of the Crew OverBoard (COB) as they were towed through the water, the relative comfort for the wearer, whether the harness slipped under load, ease of breathing under load, and ease of reboarding the vessel. We also tested a quick release tether shackle under load to see if it would release. Harnesses tested included a manual inflatable lifejacket with harness, harnesses built into foul weather gear, a "normal" sailor safety harness, a rock climber's harness (both with and without a chest harness), and an industrial safety harness.

Test Equipment:
Miller Industrial Safety harness
West Marine Securite' harness
Forespar Passagemaker harness
Henri-Lloyd foul weather jacket with built in harness (older model)
Gill Southern Cross foul weather jacket with Gill 594 harness
West Marine manual inflatable life vest with harness
Arcteryx rock climbing harness
REI rock climbing chest harness
Pearson 365 ketch
Wetsuit
Video recorder
35mm camera with slides
Digital camera

Test Setup:
A six-foot and a three-foot safety harness were attached to a genoa track slide located on the deck edge of the vessel. The COB would don the safety harness, and then enter the water. The COB would attempt several positions in the water, including face down, face up, and totally relaxed (as an unconscious COB would be). Weather conditions were air temperature 65-70 F, wind 8-10 knots, seas 1 foot, water temperature 60 F. Test Date Saturday, 26 September 1998.

 Test Data:
 

Harness	Vmax	Towing Attitude	Comfort Under Load	Slippage
Miller Industrial	4.0 kts windward side	Good face up If you go face down you could stay that way	Excellent	Chest strap moved up to neck (sewing in place might solve)
West Marine Manual Inflatable	6.0 kts windward side	Face close to waves Water in face	OK without inflation (inflation constricted neck)	None
Henri Lloyd Foul Weather jacket	4.1 kts windward side	Head under water at 4.0 kts	Uncomfortable (compresses ribs)*	None
Forespar Passagemaker	4.4 kts windward side	Head under water	Comfortable except (see next column)	Attachment point moved up toward neck **
Gill Southern Cross jacket with harness	4.7 kts windward side	Head under water	More comfortable than Henri-Lloyd	Jacket moved toward throat (release zipper)
West Marine Securite' Harness	4.5 kts leeward side	Head out of water	Comfortable	Shoulder straps did no work under load
Arcteryx Rock Climbing (waist only)	4.2 kts leeward side	Variable - head under when relaxed (not acceptable)	Very comfortable	None
Arcteryx w/REI chest harness	1.9 kts leeward side	Improvement - doesn't let wearer go face down	Discomfort on landing due to leg straps***	None

* Wearer had life jacket underneath the coat. This caused the harness to stay in position on the lower part of the back. Wearer thinks if he wasn't wearing the life jacket, the harness would have run up closer under the armpits and been more comfortable with less pressure on the ribs.
** On this harness, the attachment point moved up toward the wearer's face obstructing his vision. Wearer found this distracting. This trait was the worst of all the harnesses tested.
*** This could also happen without the chest harness.

 **** The inflated life vest allows a smooth ramp for water to run up to the face. It may be better to slightly deflate so water runs between the deflated sides.
***** Jacket or clothing can add to pressure around neck, causing breathing to be more work. One solution is to unzip the jacket slightly.

Continue to Appendix III Part 1
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