During a MOB recovery, which action best describes proper technique?

• A. Continue towing and drag the person in.
• B. Ignore MOB and head to shore.
• C. Continue to track the MOB, stop towing, reverse or circle back, and bring the person aboard safely with proper technique.
• D. Stop the boat and abandon the search.

Answer: (C)

When a person goes overboard, the priority is to regain contact and recover them quickly and safely. The best approach is to stop towing, keep the MOB in sight, and maneuver the boat back to the person. Reversing or circling back allows you to close in from the optimal angle, reduce the risk of dragging the victim, and set up a controlled recovery. From there, bring the person aboard using a proper recovery method (such as a rescue line or device) with the crew guiding the operation, while keeping the victim supported and out of the prop wash. This approach avoids the dangers of continuing to tow, which can entangle or injure the person, ignoring the MOB, or abandoning the search, all of which put the person at greater risk.