Breeches buoy

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A breeches buoy is a crude rope-based rescue device used to extract people from wrecked vessels, or to transfer people from one location to another in situations of danger. The device resembles a round emergency personal flotation device with a leg harness attached. It is similar to a zip line.The breeches buoy was usually deployed from either ship to ship, or ship to shore using a lyle gun, and allowed single person evacuations.

a child riding a breeches buoy (US CoastGuard)
a child riding a breeches buoy (US CoastGuard)

[edit] External Links

Definition from Sailing Terms