It`s a small,dangerous world we inhabit

[DAVA390]

We had a family visit here testerday, my cousin from Salisbury (Md. Eastern Shore) brought her elderly parents up to visit my elderly parents. Our mom`s are sisters. The party stopped here on their way home, they wanted to see our house, (first visit) and this sailboat that we suddenly bought out of nowhere 2 yrs ago.This move by Annie and myself startled the whole family, believe me!
As the crowd climbed out of the van and walked up the driveway approaching the , a strange look passed over my cousins face for just a moment. After everyone moved in the house, we had a few moments alone to talk.
As you all may recall, In Dec. we lost a P18 off Sandy Point in the bay. 2 Men died, 1 that day, the second victim floated ashore later below Annapolis.

His mother is a family friend of my cousin and cuz did the flowers for his funeral. Her description of events around that were just mind numbing to me. To finish , cuz grabbed me by the collar and demanded "LIFE VESTS ALL THE TIME!!!

On my next trip to Worst Marine, I am going to take a good,long look at the expensive,lightweight self inflators I see in many of your avatar photo`s.
Comments, recomendations anyone?

 

[gettinthere]

Try them on.
I like the fit of my revere hydrostatic w/harness. Wife didn't. At a large boat show she tried on a mustang hydrostatic w/harness and felt more comfortable. If it's not comfortable, you won't wear it.

 

[higgs]

I only wear them in rough conditions and when single handing.

 

[PaulK]

K.I.S.S. Inflatable life vests are another thing that can malfunction. You don't have to worry about a standard life jacket not inflating when you need it. You don't have to worry about a standard life jacket deflating a couple of hours into your swim. Find a comfortable standard type, and live with it. Ther're les expensive and more foolproof

 

[monkeybars]

only if alone in a storm, when its 100 degrees out its difficult to even wear a swimsuit much less a life vest.

 

[higgs]

monkeybars - how right you are - and overheating can kill you.

 

[higgs]

Life is, indeed, dangerous. Your probably most likely to die in your car driving to your boat. Why not put on a nomex driving suite and a helmet before you get behind the wheel?

 

[kenn]

On my next trip to [WM], I am going to take a good,long look at the expensive,lightweight self inflators I see in many of your avatar photo`s.

Comments, recommendations anyone?

On a "big" boat (like > 26 ft) with lifelines, I might agree that always wearing PFDs or life-jackets is less of a requirement, but on smaller boats like ours (< 20 ft), often without lifelines, it's more important. In cold water... even more so.

We sprang for 2 Mustang hydrostatic PFDs and don't regret it. They're not that hard to get used to. Also, don't neglect the other components of your safety strategy: well-maintained boat, and above all - training, experience and good judgement.

If soloing or in rough conditions, harness and jacklines are recommended.

 

[higgs]

Cold water + centerboard = PDF

 

[sinnettc]

The grandkids, always, and none of them up on the bow if the wind is blowing hard. For us, it really depends on the wind. 6kts, hot, and a drifter, then not. If the wind comes up, especially early in the season when the water is cold, then definitely. We've got a pair of the WM auto inflators, plus a couple of pull-cord waist types that we offer to guests if it's sweltering. Otherwise they get regular vest type life jackets.

We've also got one orange horse collar style just to remind me how awful they were when I was a kid.

 

[John Howitt]

Always always always wear my mustang self inflate. Might not be able to pull the cord.
I've been clocked by the boom while doing a 360 penalty turn.
Don't care how hot or nice it is.
Period

 

[kloudie1]

has to be comfortable to be worn.. The heat here in the summer will dehydrate ya and over temp ya if ya try to wear a vest..Imagine wearing an insulated jacket at 98 F and 75% humerdiddy .. Not pleasant.. I use the inflatables in bad weather/ rough conditions.. I have the orange horse collar ones to wave at the Coasties/Sheriff.. but never wear them. water here rarely gets below 65F .. The dissolving inflator tabs are not in place in the summer because we scoop water up and slosh it on ourselves on the really hot days. Have not sprung for a hydrostatic inflator yet.. Will when the price comes down a bit.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Having a Coastie as a close friend has led to many conversations about life jackets. The one fact that is hard to ignore is the high frequency of drownings on hot days. Probably because of the often stated comment about jackets being too hot to wear.
Naked is naked, dead is non-reversable.
Ray

 

[Lake Superior Sailor]

Be careful as inflatables are only counted as lifejackets if worn !...Dale

 

[AtlanticAl]

I find the self inflating life jackets to be useless, on one trip, I had two on the boat, and one re arming kit, by the end of that trip, i had no self inflating jackets servicable, as they had gone off three times, without being over the side.

 

[arknoah]

I wear my $15 vest fro Wal Mart all the time no exceptions. Even though the heat can make them uncomfortable, I still insist everyone wear one. In fact, I came in one time when my wife kept unfastening hers because of the heat, which didn't make me too popular.

Guess I'm becoming a curmudgeon.... (not Like I wasn't before...)

 

[thinwater]

Personally, for active sailors on boats that can capsize, I would give SERIOUS consideration to non-auto vests. In the Wing Nuts accident and several others I have read of, it is clear that an inflated vest makes it very dangerous if you find yourself under a boat. I don't believe they are the safest option, though they may make you feel safer.

The real mistake off Sandy Point, as I recall, was NOT PFDs, it was cold water and incorrect clothing. Even with vests, they would most likely have died. When I sailed a small boat like that, I wore a wet suit or dry suit in the winter. We flipped many times, most often without PFDs (the suits provide a lot of floatation by themselves and a PFD great hinders your ability to get untangled from and right your boat), no problem. So while we think the solution is obvious "safety gear" and demand one-size-fits-all solutions, we aren't thinking about actual function and situational awareness.

 

[Bill Roosa]

I read a report that indicated that men are more likly to drown than women. It also went on to note that 50% of the men who had drowned had their fly open when they were recovered.
I'm thinking some sort of waste disposal/storage device (the HEAR (Human Element Range Extender) device on small planes??)would be in order also.

 

[bria46]

My guests and I ALWAYS wear life jackets. I also give them a short explaination on engine starting procedures just in case I fall overboard! Floating seat throwable cushions are alway in my cockpit.

 

[rgranger]

This is the life jacket I use. It is very comfortable and I seldom notice I'm wearing it. I like having pockets to stash stuff. I keep a whistle in each vest.

I usually sail with my kids and I'm not sure how able they would be to come back for me if I was the MOB.


If it gets too hot, I pull the zipper down 3/4 and that seems to be just fine. The winds keeps you cool. This type seems to be less hot than the squishy foam ski-style PFDs.

2 cents.