It`s a small,dangerous world we inhabit

[robertsapp]

A life jacket in Florida on a boat our size anytime except the middle of winter just isn't going to happen. It's miserably hot and uncomfortable, and no amount of unzipping zippers is going to change that. Put your winter coat on and sit in a sauna for a few hours and tell me how much fun you're having. But that's our choice, and I don't worry about the approval of others in that regard, nor would I ever try to impose my choice on them. What really really bothers me is the Coast Guard telling me I HAVE to have life jackets with me. I have never been able to understand the logic behind being subject to a fine if we row the dinghy ashore without having life jackets taking up room on board and having to lug them to restaurants and bars with us or leave them in the dink to be stolen, but I can jump off the boat and SWIM ashore without one and there's nothing they can say about it.

The Coast Guard has floated for comment a proposal that paddle boards be regulated as vessels and occupants be required to wear a life jacket, similar to the requirement for jet skis. But it's gotten the attention of the local surfing community, who are very vocal and realize that if it's allowed to pass, then they'll be next, as it's pretty hard to justify requiring paddleboarders to wear life jackets and not surfers also. Try telling a surfer sometime that he has to wear a life jacket.

 

[WayneH]

On the big boat, we ran jacklines while offshore, wore inflatable vests after dark and ALWAYS tethered when out of the cockpit. I know the Admiral can drop the sails and start the engine by herself but I still like the first rule. "Stay ON the boat."

Test wear the life jackets/vests before you buy them. Like it has been said above, If it doesn't fit right, you won't wear it. Same goes for motorcycle helmets. I had to try on quite a few before I found one that fit and didn't scrunch my head up. So I wear it ALL YEAR LONG, including the hot Texas summers.

(Mainly because they can't do brain transplants yet and I'm not done using mine.)

 

[dooley1]

Agree with Higgs

Cold water + centerboard = PDF

I agree with Higgs. Though, like me, he is apparently caught up in technology acronyms. I think he meant PFD, not PDF. I doubt the latter would be much help. ;-/

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I think it would be a good idea to have inflatables for your location, but I might be more inclined to have the manual inflatable (with integrated harness) if you wear it all the time even in warm weather. I would think about a flotation coat or jacket if you sail in cold weather.

It is likely that hypothermia had a lot to do with the December tragedy. Don't get in a comfort zone with just a pfd for cold water. It won't help much if you are in very cold water for just a short period of time. A wetsuit or a steamer provides plenty of flotation and keeps you warm enough to swim, that is why windsurfers and surfers can rely on them without need for PFD, which only gets in the way for certain activities.

I, too, get annoyed with the safety police who believe that outside regulators should dictate how we live. If you use your dink in the cold waters of Maine or the PNW, and places to climb out of the water are difficult to find because of terrain or high docks or whatever, then it makes a lot of sense to have a PFD with you. When you drive up to a shallow beach in warm weather, it is really annoying to have some testosterone-laced authority berate you or ticket you for not having a pfd when you know that having to go for a swim would be no more than an amusing episode.

Sometimes perspective is amusing as well. My wife and I frequently kayak on the Delaware River up above NJ in NY/PA where there are very minor rapids and the trip is normally accompanied by frequent swims in the current (on purpose!). We pulled up to the shoreline where there were some other people lounging on the beach when one old busybody type gave us a stern look and snapped at us that we should be wearing our pfd's instead of strapping them to the kayak. Sue said, "Seriously, dude? You're smoking a cigarette ...

 

[thinwater]

I think it would be a good idea to have inflatables for your location, but I might be more inclined to have the manual inflatable (with integrated harness) if you wear it all the time even in warm weather. I would think about a flotation coat or jacket if you sail in cold weather.

It is likely that hypothermia had a lot to do with the December tragedy. Don't get in a comfort zone with just a pfd for cold water. It won't help much if you are in very cold water for just a short period of time. A wetsuit or a steamer provides plenty of flotation and keeps you warm enough to swim, that is why windsurfers and surfers can rely on them without need for PFD, which only gets in the way for certain activities.

I, too, get annoyed with the safety police who believe that outside regulators should dictate how we live. If you use your dink in the cold waters of Maine or the PNW, and places to climb out of the water are difficult to find because of terrain or high docks or whatever, then it makes a lot of sense to have a PFD with you. When you drive up to a shallow beach in warm weather, it is really annoying to have some testosterone-laced authority berate you or ticket you for not having a pfd when you know that having to go for a swim would be no more than an amusing episode.

Sometimes perspective is amusing as well. My wife and I frequently kayak on the Delaware River up above NJ in NY/PA where there are very minor rapids and the trip is normally accompanied by frequent swims in the current (on purpose!). We pulled up to the shoreline where there were some other people lounging on the beach when one old busybody type gave us a stern look and snapped at us that we should be wearing our pfd's instead of strapping them to the kayak. Sue said, "Seriously, dude? You're smoking a cigarette ...

Enjoy:

http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2010/03/are-you-captain-safety.html

 

[DAVA390]

Thanks everyone for replies and opinions. Now , just this am , I see stuff online about a recall of some Mustang Infl. this winter, did anyone have any experience with that or an inflate failure? Dave Coughlin

 

[kenn]

I see stuff online about a recall of some Mustang Infl. this winter, did anyone have any experience with that or an inflate failure?

Details of the recall. It's limited to two models, and I doubt that any reputable retailer would still have any in stock.

 

[Kettlewell]

My position is that yes we carry lifejackets on the boat and in the dinghy, but no we don't wear them most of the time. More people drown in the bathroom and swimming pools each year than drown off of boats, and then if you eliminate the number of people who drown falling out of small boats you end up with a very small number. For cruising sized sailboats there are usually less than a handful of deaths each year from all causes in the entire USA. 2010 was a bad year apparently and there were 13 drownings off of auxiliary sailboats of all sizes. I suspect most of those were off of smaller boats too. It's a pretty remote possibility. If I was sailing a small boat in very cold waters I might very well wear a lifejacket, but more important would be having on a dry suit. If the water is cold the lifejacket just helps them find your body. Use your best judgment for your situation and the type of boating you do.

 

[Prime Time]

All the time...

Accidents happen when least expected.
I wear an inflatable PFD/Harness all the time on my keel boat or when sailing on others.

I own a Mustang, Sospenders and West Marine brand. They are all fine. The Mustang has an inflator that relies on water pressure and not moisture. It has winglets that curve backwards under the arms that helps to lift you higher. It really works. I tested it in a safety at sea seminar last yr at MIT in the pool. When you jump in, with a life guard technique and don't go that far under, it did not inflate. I had to jump in and go down a bit for it to inflate automatically. It really did make a difference in how high your mouth was away from the water. A spray hood is another option. In serious waves, you can still drown with a PFD. The mustang with lift is a bit hotter because the back structure is a bit different than the others, but they have other comparable units. Pockets and attachment points are some differences between the brands and models. Besides the whistle, mirror and strobe light, you might want to have a place to keep a personal epirb or some other type of MOB signaling device that is coming to the market. Also a flash light and laser flare is nice and a hand held VHF. You will be able to see your boat, they likely won't see you as easily. I purchased a workmans nylon pouch with multiple zipper compartments that I attached to the nylon webbing belt to some of those goodies.

When sailing my Flying Scot I have an interesting Hybrid CG approved belt that has foam and can be manually inflated as well. I bought it in 2001. It was made by TRC (Texas Recreation Corporation). It isn't hot to wear at all. There are also inflatable belt pacs that are easy to wear, but you have to be able to help yourself to put it on.

I have had to retrieve a MOB on Raritan bay on a Weds. night race and I (and he) was very glad he was wearing a PFD.

Just my opinion

 

[Prime Time]

Addendum:

This applies to offshore, but if you fall overboard and are separated from the boat, the safety at sea seminar teaches that you have a 50% mortality. Being in the middle of the Long Island Sound or Chesapeake is probably almost as dangerous.

 

[Douglast]

and possibly an elevated blood alcohol level..