Automatic inflatable life jacket solo sailing

[SteveHughessails]

I read an article online about single handed sailing and automatic inflatable PFD’s. I can see it could be an issue fighting with the inflated PFD to get back on board if you’re being dragged. I am preparing for a little more aggressive sailing next season. I do believe I will be solo. What do you think is the best setup? Lake sailing, likely 10-15 knots max.
Thanks

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Well for starters , if you can get your sailboat to to 10-15 knots .. my hats off to you sir !
Now on a more serious note , stay in the boat !
Tether yourself so you don’t go overboard .
It’s not so much the wind speed as how much sail you have up . Dont cleat the main sheet when the winds picking up . . Experience helps a great deal . Our boat doesnt really get moving until the winds are 5-8 .

 

[Davidasailor26]

I wear an inflatable vest when single handing. If I fall overboard I assume I’m not getting back aboard my own boat anyway - the boat will be long gone before I can get to the transom to pull myself back aboard. I don’t use a tether, but if you are then configure it so you can’t go over in the first place. For me the PFD has three purposes -
- Gives me a chance to float long enough to be rescued if I’m lucky enough to be spotted
- Gives my wife some peace of mind when I’m out alone
- Reminds me to have a sense of “I’m doing something potentially dangerous” when I need to move around outside the cockpit. In my case the weight of the PFD is a subtle reminder that I’m not out sailing with family or friends, and I need to treat the toe rail as the edge of a 3000 foot cliff. For some people it might have the opposite effect, putting them in some false sense of comfort. YMMV.

 

[dlochner]

If there is any breeze at all getting back to the boat will be challenge whether you have a life jacket on or not.

Tethering done wrong is a death sentence, you will be dragged alongside the boat with your head under water. The tether must keep you onboard.

In addition to the reasons @Davidasailor26 mentions and one mentioned frequently by the Coast Guards is wearing a PFD makes it easier to find the body.

 

[BarryL]

Hello,

When I sail single handed (and usually when sailing w crew) I wear an inflatable pfd. I don’t wear a tether unless I’m doing a distance race and the rules require it. I also have a hand held vhf on me as well. I do most of my sailing in the Long Island Sound. Usually the water is relatively warm and I’m within 5 nm of land. I think that If I can float and call for help I will survive an overboard situation.

Some more comments:
Find a pfd that is comfortable. You will wear a comfortable pdf more than one that is uncomfortable. Some pfds chafe my neck, some are heavy. I found a west marine automatic model that i like and wear Most of the time
For distance racing and offshore sailing I wear a proper pfd w tether attachment, crotch straps, light, spray hood, lifting strap. This pfd isnt as comfortable but that’s the way it is.

Barry

 

[dLj]

I read an article online about single handed sailing and automatic inflatable PFD’s. I can see it could be an issue fighting with the inflated PFD to get back on board if you’re being dragged. I am preparing for a little more aggressive sailing next season. I do believe I will be solo. What do you think is the best setup? Lake sailing, likely 10-15 knots max.
Thanks

Lake sailing, 10-15 knots max. On a Hunter 240 - clearly that's wind speed...

How big is the lake? Are we talking the Great Lakes or ???

If you are on the Great Lakes, then maybe an inflatable PFD. But I think you'd be in good shape with a comfortable vest that doesn't need the inflation mechanism.

Unless you are crossing one of the Great Lakes, I don't think you need a tether. Especially in 10 to 15 knot max winds. Also, besides in the Great Lakes, what are you going to be seeing for wave heights? Now the Great Lakes can get mighty feisty. But most of your inland lakes, not so much. In any inland lake, I'd just get a comfortable life vest. Now if you feel more comfortable setting up a tether, as others have said - set it up so when you are tethered in you can't go overboard - period. But honestly, I think that is way overkill for inland lakes...

dj

 

[Davidasailor26]

In addition to the reasons @Davidasailor26 mentions and one mentioned frequently by the Coast Guards is wearing a PFD makes it easier to find the body.

Yes, but I don’t tell my wife that part.

 

[SteveHughessails]

Thanks guys. I have a mustang self inflating pfd. I do feel a higher level of security when it’s on. The key factor I’m seeing, short tether so if you do fall you want go overboard and have multiple points to attach to. I never have an issue with fair weather sailing. I just want to make sure I’m safe. My thinking was definitely a long tether to reach all corners of the vessel.

I will be single handing the Mac25 on Okanagan Lake.
Land all the way around.

PFD makes it easier to find the body. That’s funny lol likely true too.

 

[jssailem]

PFD makes it easier to find the body. That’s funny lol

Funny yes. Easier to get the insurance claim paid.

Short tether is nice.

What I found works best, is a jack line from cockpit to mast and a jack line from the mast to a hard point at the bow. When attached the tether keeps me from falling over or through the life lines. I stick two tethers on the jack lines. When I leave the cockpit I ride the tether to the mast. If I need to go to the bow I attach the bow tether and disconnect the cockpit tether. It works smoothly and fast.

When sailing alone and in weather I choose to wear a dry suit. Keeps me dry, warm and if I fall into the water it extends my rescue time.

Best option is to stay on the boat and between the lifelines.

 

[JBP-PA]

I adjust according to "what bad things will happen if I fall overboard?"

On a small lake or harbor, with lots of other boats, and warm water. I'm a strong swimmer and can easily flag someone down. My boat will crash into shore close by, probably with no damage. I don't normally wear a PFD. If the water is cold, I will.

On Lake Erie where I mostly sail. I can not reliably flag someone down and the thought of watching my boat happily sailing off into Canada on auto-pilot makes me weak in the knees. I wear my PFD, a handheld VHF, strobe light, and whistle. I should probably get a PLB. I am always short tethered. I stay tethered even in the cockpit, because I know me. If I'm not tethered and I need to go forward, I'll say "meh, just this one time."

Note that it is not always rough weather that makes people fall overboard. If your standing on the bow on a calm day enjoying the view or prepping lines, a surprise wake can make you lose your balance.

 

[capta]

There was a day, on a crossing to Hawaii, when we were windless, and bored. We knotted up an old sheet, probably a 3'4" braided line, and tossed it overboard with a fender on the end.
The sails were down and the boat was rolling gently in the low swells. I jumped in (sans lifejacket of any kind) and frolicked around a bit, only to find the boat was still moving, faster than I had expected. Thankfully, the line was within reach, and I began hauling myself back up to the boat, but it was a beast of a pull, and I was young and fit.
By the time I got to the boat I was so exhausted that I couldn't climb the ladder. Fortunately, I had crew aboard and they helped me up.
If you go over the side from a moving boat, unless you have superhuman strength, I doubt you'd be able to get back aboard unless she rounded up right away and you could easily get to the ladder. That leaves you a good flotation system and a radio to call for help.
I never wore a PFD, even in heavy weather, and didn't like harnesses, so I kept to the rule I was taught by some real, commercial Cape Horners, "One hand for the boat, and one hand for me." That never failed to keep me aboard, even in the worst weather. To me, a PFD offshore is only a certainty of a long and tortuous death, so I won't wear one.

 

[thinwater]

Well for starters , if you can get your sailboat to to 10-15 knots .. my hats off to you sir !...

Uh ... pretty much every time, if the wind hits 10 knots.

(I'm pretty sure the OP means the wind speed).

 

[thinwater]

Uh ... pretty much every time, if the wind hits 10 knots.

(I'm pretty sure the OP means the wind speed).

Honestly, on a lake that is only 3 miles wide, a PFD and swimming for shore is probably your best best. If the water is cold (The lake is in BC), hope you are wearing a dry suit or an exposure suit, because drowning is not the problem. A short tether and don't fall off.

 

[Richard19068]

To me, a PFD offshore is only a certainty of a long and tortuous death, so I won't wear one.

Probably better if don't learn to swim either.

 

[MFD]

Thanks guys. I have a mustang self inflating pfd. I do feel a higher level of security when it’s on. The key factor I’m seeing, short tether so if you do fall you want go overboard and have multiple points to attach to. I never have an issue with fair weather sailing. I just want to make sure I’m safe. My thinking was definitely a long tether to reach all corners of the vessel.

I will be single handing the Mac25 on Okanagan Lake.
Land all the way around.

PFD makes it easier to find the body. That’s funny lol likely true too.

If you already bought the tether, than fair enough. Just be sure the shackle on the end that connects to you is one of those that releases naturally even when there are loads on the line. So it still works if you choose to use it while being dragged underneath or alongside or behind the boat.

Overall, for solo sailing, we should rewrite rule #1 James Bond style from:

#1. Keep the crew on the boat.
#2. Keep the ocean outside the boat.
#3+. etc, et-all, and whatnot where nothing has changed in thousands of years…

To rule:
#001 If sailing solo, do not fall off the boat.

Anyway, I have found very good practical value out of the dual legged tethers that have each a short and longer length for the boat side attachment points.

 

[thinwater]

On a boat as small as the Hunter 24 you should never use the 6' tether outside of the cockpit. It won't keep you on-board. Scoot or crawl going forward as needed. I sit to work at the bow in a blow.

 

[JBP-PA]

To me, a PFD offshore is only a certainty of a long and tortuous death, so I won't wear one.

That is an interesting statement. You could always take off the PFD after falling in, if you decided there was no hope.

 

[dLj]

That is an interesting statement. You could always take off the PFD after falling in, if you decided there was no hope.

Hahaha - I was scratching my head after reading that but couldn't put my finger on why... Very well said!

Really, that's just a personal choice, then looking for some excuse to justify that choice rather than just admitting it's personal choice.

Heck for years I never wore a life jacket sailing. It was just how we sailed. I wear one today, but really it's main purpose is as a harness. When I'm teathered in on my boat - I can't go overboard. The only way would be some kind of catastrophic failure of the harness, the teather or the jackline. Since I keep them all in very good condition - I physically would likely be in pretty bad shape. If not dead.

dj

 

[JBP-PA]

I can see it, though phrased differently. "A PFD will not save you in the middle of the ocean and only serves to give you a false sense of safety. Better to be scared enough to stay on the boat at all costs."

 

[pgandw]

I mostly sail solo on my Mariner 19. I sailor I trust told me I should wear a water pressure activated inflatable PFD. Realized he was right, if only to make things easier on DW. I equipped the PFD with a PLB and strobe because AIS-equipped vessels and even VHF-FM coverage can be pretty scarce where I sail. Wear it religiously, even when on the power boat solo. As has been pointed out, the chances of getting back on the boat are not all that great, even with small boats.

While the PFD improves my odds of survival significantly, it is no guarantee. But if I don't survive, and authorities can find the body without an exhaustive search, it makes things a lot easier for DW. And she deserves that.

Fred W