If you cannot determine which side a person fell overboard on, what immediate action should you take on a small boat?

If you cannot determine which side a person fell overboard on, what immediate action should you take on a small boat?

• A. Stop the propellers from turning and throw a ring buoy over the side
• B. Shout for assistance and wait
• C. Turn the boat toward the last known position
• D. Increase speed to search

Answer: (A)

When a person falls overboard and you can’t tell which side they went over, the first priority is safety and controlling the boat to prevent injury. Stop the engine right away to avoid propeller contact with the person and to stop the boat from drifting uncontrolled. Throw a ring buoy or other throwable flotation device over the side to give the person something to grab onto and to mark the spot for your search. This combination—no propeller risk and an immediate flotation aid—keeps the situation safe and gives you a better chance to locate and recover the person. After that, keep the person in sight and begin a careful, controlled approach to recover, rather than speeding up or blindly turning toward a presumed last position.

When a person falls overboard and you can’t tell which side they went over, the first priority is safety and controlling the boat to prevent injury. Stop the engine right away to avoid propeller contact with the person and to stop the boat from drifting uncontrolled. Throw a ring buoy or other throwable flotation device over the side to give the person something to grab onto and to mark the spot for your search. This combination—no propeller risk and an immediate flotation aid—keeps the situation safe and gives you a better chance to locate and recover the person. After that, keep the person in sight and begin a careful, controlled approach to recover, rather than speeding up or blindly turning toward a presumed last position.