Life Jacket recommendations

[brockangelo]

I would like to get setup with a nicer life jacket than what I currently use, and would love some recommendations. I'm open to inflatable, and would like it to be not as bulky; but ultimately, I'm planning to wear one no matter what.

I'd love to find one that I can easily clip my VHF radio to, and potentially a life-line (though I do not yet have that setup on my Cat).

 

[sail sfbay]

If you want a life jacket that attaches to a tether then to a jack line suggest an inflatable offshore one with a built in harness. That is what I have for offshore sailing. Suggest attaching to a jackline vs. lifeline since your lifelines are your last line of defense to keep you and your crew going overboard. Many suppliers of these lif jackets. Mine came from West Marine.

 

[MikeHoncho]

I really like my Spinlock with built in harness. It is one step down from there too if the line model. They will all be a little bulky due to there intent. I have two of them and are our primary PFDs and mandatory when sailing. My jackline is mandatory when single handed in any significant wind.I actually have it on in my picture.

 

[AaronD]

I really like my Spinlock with built in harness. It is one step down from there too if the line model. They will all be a little bulky due to there intent. I have two of them and are our primary PFDs and mandatory when sailing. My jackline is mandatory when single handed in any significant wind.I actually have it on in my picture.

@MikeHoncho just added one more to a long list of recommendations I've heard for Spinlock. We've had Mustang HITs (with harnesses) for ~8 years. We've been happy with them; but the next time they're up for recharge kits (or when the kids are big enough we can hand them down), I'll be trying on a Spinlock.

 

[Sailfanatic]

If your sailing is primarily day or coastal, I would get an inflatable without the harness, A harness adds a few pounds tothe unit weight, and if your arn't routinely using the harness, it makes the daily wearing of the lifevest less comfortable, and discourages its continual use. We use Crewsaver 165s, which include a crotch strap, where a comfortable fit for all day use was a major decision factor. We keep separate harness for use when needed.

 

[brockangelo]

This is good advice. It’s all been good advice, but this probably applies to me the most. I appreciate it.

 

[mermike]

We have the West Marine inflatables on board but the weight was all on the back of my neck and became annoying after a few hours. I got a Spinlock 6D and the fit is so much better, with the weight distributed more to my shoulders. I recently brought it on a 27 day passage and wore it 10-12 hours a day. Still comfortable.

 

[pclarksurf]

Admiral and I both have the spinlock deckvest lite-- can't say enough about them for comfort. Admiral never gets on board without out it-- so she puts it through the "comfort" paces.

 

[Marmalade]

I'll add another vote for Spinlock, they are well designed.

@Sailfanatic mentioned crotch straps, and although I've been guilty in years past of thumbing my nose at the idea... a couple incidents the past couple years opened my mind... now, count me in the camp of how important they are.

I did the US Sailing Safety @ Sea this spring, and added an aftermarket set to my old West Marine Offshore. Jumping in a pool in full foulies, I was amazed the difference. I was able to adjust the tightness while floating, and it really helped get a comfortable position, without fighting to keep the lifejacket sliding-up your face. Was night and day difference when I unclipped them.

If you don't have them, only costs $16 to add them to any inflatable. And, I learned that I can leave them a little loose for comfort, and easily pull them tighter if I ever go in. So there is no excuse about comfort.

They will be required on our boat for distance racing starting this year... I will buy them for anyone on my boat that thinks $16 is too much.

I encourage everyone to consider adding/wearing them!

 

[RoyS]

Give some thought to the trigger mechanism on an inflatable. There are manual triggers and automatic triggers. The automatic ones supposedly inflate upon contact with the water. I heard somewhere that these sometimes deploy while stored aboard due to moisture. I have one of these and keep it in a giant ziplock bag so that it does not see moisture. I have five of the manual trigger ones and those are all we use. Maybe for single handing the automatic one might have a place. Think about that feature before buying.

 

[MikeHoncho]

I’ve hat mine on in Wa State downpours with no issue. I guess that could mean it won’t trigger in water but I have my doubts.

 

[brockangelo]

This video is 10 years old, but gotta appreciate this guy being a good sport and showing a demo of how it doesn't go off from spray

I think I'm gonna go with a Lite for my wife and a Lite+ (that adds the harness) for myself.

I haven't really looked into how people rig up a harness line for walking around the boat, but would be curious in hearing the right approach for that as well.

 

[brockangelo]

Correction: the Lite and the Lite+ appear to be the same weight, and are only $40 difference. At that price, I'm inclined to get us both the Lite+ so that we both have the harness capability.

 

[Ward H]

I originally bought Mustang HTs but after wearing a Spinlock w/ Harness on a cruise with @jssailem and @LeslieTroyer I bought a Spinlock 6D with harness and crotch straps. I found it much more comfortable.
Which reminds me, I need to buy one for my new Admiral.

 

[AaronD]

I haven't really looked into how people rig up a harness line for walking around the boat, but would be curious in hearing the right approach for that as well.

You'll get a lot of thoughts and advice. Listen to anything you hear from @thinwater - he's done a lot of thinking and quantitative research in these areas. My thoughts are at Sailing and restoring #9874. Maybe better to start at the bottom of that post with the links to sources more authoritative than me.

 

[pclarksurf]

I haven't really looked into how people rig up a harness line for walking around the boat, but would be curious in hearing the right approach for that as well.

Typically called "jacklines" sometimes lifelines-- webbing that you run from forward cleat to midships or aft cleat both starboard and port. With the jacklines laid in you have a tether usually comprised of a long (3+') and short (less than 2') length-- one end with a one handed locking carabiner on your harness the other two leads in sequence to tie off either the jackline with the long lead walking forward.. then re clip on the short for close work at the mast or wherever your work puts you. So long when moving-- short once static.

There are a million versions out there to consider-- but a sample of the tether and poly jacklines here:

 

[Kings Gambit]

I’ll go along with the WM inflatable with harness being a bit heavy and uncomfortable when working the boat. Might be OK to sit hooked-up at the helm all day but moving around doing work, it’s not so wonderful!

 

[Gene Neill]

We have Mustang Survival autos with built-in harnesses. I would say they are a step down from Spinlock, and have no crotch strap, sadly. (@Marmalade, where do you get one added for $16 bucks??) But I can say they have never deployed accidentally, and whenever it's time to re-arm them, we first jump overboard to test them - why waste the old kit? They have never failed to deploy ... or to amuse.

 

[brockangelo]

Yeah, I looked at Mustangs. They were about 80% of the price of Spinlock's, so that's kind of why we ended up going with the Lite+ model with harnesses. The only downside is that I could only get them in a black/grey color, so I don't even know if they'll work. (we like bright colors)

 

[Marmalade]

(@Marmalade, where do you get one added for $16 bucks??)

I added these to my WM Offshore. Honestly, the directions weren't great, but it was intuitive to put them on. Landfall has a couple different aftermarket options, but I picked these and happy with them.

Landfall - Crotch Straps