Curious as to other sailors recommedations for life jackets under various sailing conditions, cruising, racing or offshore. also any other recommended safety equipment. Bill Schuck bschuck@rmfinc.com
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Start with U.S. Sailing's pub for cruising boats
Bill, U.S. Sailing initially published these guidelines for racing sailboats; they reflect guidelines imposed by sponsoring organizations in a variety of races. They were later adapted (I see few changes...) for cruising boats as a revenue producer and the content is very relevant to your question. I believe the price is $7-8. (www.ussailing.org - see their store). If you ask yourself which lifejacket will do the following, you'll have your own answer: 1. What can be worn on multiple layers of clothes including foul wx gear with a minimum of adjustment required? 2. What will allow maximum movement while working the boat - a safety issue IMO, not a 'convenience' or 'comfort' issue alone - including working on deck? 3. What will provide highly buoyant flotation relative to your body weight? 4. What will raise your head above the water even should you be unconscious when hitting the water? 5. What will not interfere with your harness - or better stated, what will work in concert with your harness/safety line? To my knowledge, there's only one 'life jacket' which meets these criteria and can also be found as a USCG certified flotation device: an inflatable vest with integral harness. WM sells these but there are other products of similar design out there, as well. Jack
Bill, U.S. Sailing initially published these guidelines for racing sailboats; they reflect guidelines imposed by sponsoring organizations in a variety of races. They were later adapted (I see few changes...) for cruising boats as a revenue producer and the content is very relevant to your question. I believe the price is $7-8. (www.ussailing.org - see their store). If you ask yourself which lifejacket will do the following, you'll have your own answer: 1. What can be worn on multiple layers of clothes including foul wx gear with a minimum of adjustment required? 2. What will allow maximum movement while working the boat - a safety issue IMO, not a 'convenience' or 'comfort' issue alone - including working on deck? 3. What will provide highly buoyant flotation relative to your body weight? 4. What will raise your head above the water even should you be unconscious when hitting the water? 5. What will not interfere with your harness - or better stated, what will work in concert with your harness/safety line? To my knowledge, there's only one 'life jacket' which meets these criteria and can also be found as a USCG certified flotation device: an inflatable vest with integral harness. WM sells these but there are other products of similar design out there, as well. Jack
USCG Minimums Plus
I have inflatables for everyone aboard & insist they be worn anytime a person is on-deck (i.e., any time not down below in the cabin). Most people that go overboard do so under fairly ordinary (and unexpected) boating situations, not "sinkings". A PFD IS ONLY OF VALUE ONLY IF YOU ARE WEARING IT WHEN YOU GO INTO THE WATER! That said, if the boat was really in danger of sinking, and we have time to prepare, I have Type-I offshore vests on board for everyone. They provide superior floatation, visibility, and thermal protection. --RonD
I have inflatables for everyone aboard & insist they be worn anytime a person is on-deck (i.e., any time not down below in the cabin). Most people that go overboard do so under fairly ordinary (and unexpected) boating situations, not "sinkings". A PFD IS ONLY OF VALUE ONLY IF YOU ARE WEARING IT WHEN YOU GO INTO THE WATER! That said, if the boat was really in danger of sinking, and we have time to prepare, I have Type-I offshore vests on board for everyone. They provide superior floatation, visibility, and thermal protection. --RonD
lifejackets
Us sailing's guide is a good place to start. we use the inflatable belt pouch type for swimmers-recommended in the cockpit and mandatory on deck,and inflatables for non swimmers at all times. If it kicks up, we switch to integral harness, auto-inflatable units, and rig jacklines and tethers
Us sailing's guide is a good place to start. we use the inflatable belt pouch type for swimmers-recommended in the cockpit and mandatory on deck,and inflatables for non swimmers at all times. If it kicks up, we switch to integral harness, auto-inflatable units, and rig jacklines and tethers
I'm not Capt. Bligh
There are life jackets for everyone aboard, as well as flotation cushions. Each "new" crew-person is shown where the life jackets are, and they are welcomed to put them on at any time. Personally, once underway, I don my SOSpenders and that usually causes some of them to put on a life jacket, but I don't make them do it unless the main is reefed and/or the waves are washing on deck. Children under 14 must wear them at all times while underway. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
There are life jackets for everyone aboard, as well as flotation cushions. Each "new" crew-person is shown where the life jackets are, and they are welcomed to put them on at any time. Personally, once underway, I don my SOSpenders and that usually causes some of them to put on a life jacket, but I don't make them do it unless the main is reefed and/or the waves are washing on deck. Children under 14 must wear them at all times while underway. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
Captain Bligh ...
Was much maligned by history & popular literature. He was actually a pretty good skipper for his era and a darned good navigator. Unfortunately, he wasn't well connected politically. However, I doubt if he insisted that his passengers & crew wear PFDs. --Cap'n Ron
Was much maligned by history & popular literature. He was actually a pretty good skipper for his era and a darned good navigator. Unfortunately, he wasn't well connected politically. However, I doubt if he insisted that his passengers & crew wear PFDs. --Cap'n Ron
Everyone on deck under way
We have inflatables and jackets. There is always a comfortable alternative for the weather. A harness and tether is required to forward with a reef in the main. The skipper is tethered unless one of the crew is qualified to run the MOB drill. These are not options, it's just part of sailing on Lady Lillie. David Lady Lillie
We have inflatables and jackets. There is always a comfortable alternative for the weather. A harness and tether is required to forward with a reef in the main. The skipper is tethered unless one of the crew is qualified to run the MOB drill. These are not options, it's just part of sailing on Lady Lillie. David Lady Lillie
I am Captain Bly
I have several SOSpenders type inflatable jackets and several type III and type II's. Everyone wears one. Anytime I'm aboard solo, or without someone I've seen operate _my boat_ well enough to be sure they can get me, I wear a harness. Everyone on deck at night is harnessed. Anyone forward of the cockpit is harnessed. Anal? Definitely. But its my boat and no one has to sail with me. I figure its my responsibility to return my crew and guests safely to shore, and a little insurance can't help. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
I have several SOSpenders type inflatable jackets and several type III and type II's. Everyone wears one. Anytime I'm aboard solo, or without someone I've seen operate _my boat_ well enough to be sure they can get me, I wear a harness. Everyone on deck at night is harnessed. Anyone forward of the cockpit is harnessed. Anal? Definitely. But its my boat and no one has to sail with me. I figure its my responsibility to return my crew and guests safely to shore, and a little insurance can't help. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
isn't it the same thing? <g>Mustang AirForce the best inflatable
My wife and I both use the Mustang Airforce automatic inflatable with harness. I think it's the best for many reasons: Has spare canister built in. Harness pulls corners behind your head down, so it doesn't snag on anything. Longer body fits us better than SOS/WestMarine Get to choose colors (blue, red, black). Much cheaper (if I remember right, I got mine for $169 Seattle Marine Supply (http://www.seamar.com/)). Harness d-rings have snaps to keep them from flopping when not being used. We wear them any time we're on deck alone, all the time when we're under way, and whenever we're in the dingy. When in the cabin they can come off, but it's so unobtrusive I often don't bother. Adult guests are treated as adults; as such, they are highly encouraged to wear PFD while not in the cabin, but not required. We have a bunch of type II's and a couple of manual inflation West Marine vest/harnesses for their use. Children under 12 are required to wear one when not in cabin, period, and older are subject to their parent's rules. Our own children, 2 and 4, are required to wear one when not in the cabin, the 2 year old isn't allowed out of the cockpit w/o adult help, and the 4 year old isn't allowed out of the cockpit w/o adult supervision. The waters of Puget Sound are cold; when boating on the Chesapeake, I had much looser rules in the summer, when a fall overboard is a lark. Up here, it gets serious fast, even in the height of summer.
My wife and I both use the Mustang Airforce automatic inflatable with harness. I think it's the best for many reasons: Has spare canister built in. Harness pulls corners behind your head down, so it doesn't snag on anything. Longer body fits us better than SOS/WestMarine Get to choose colors (blue, red, black). Much cheaper (if I remember right, I got mine for $169 Seattle Marine Supply (http://www.seamar.com/)). Harness d-rings have snaps to keep them from flopping when not being used. We wear them any time we're on deck alone, all the time when we're under way, and whenever we're in the dingy. When in the cabin they can come off, but it's so unobtrusive I often don't bother. Adult guests are treated as adults; as such, they are highly encouraged to wear PFD while not in the cabin, but not required. We have a bunch of type II's and a couple of manual inflation West Marine vest/harnesses for their use. Children under 12 are required to wear one when not in cabin, period, and older are subject to their parent's rules. Our own children, 2 and 4, are required to wear one when not in the cabin, the 2 year old isn't allowed out of the cockpit w/o adult help, and the 4 year old isn't allowed out of the cockpit w/o adult supervision. The waters of Puget Sound are cold; when boating on the Chesapeake, I had much looser rules in the summer, when a fall overboard is a lark. Up here, it gets serious fast, even in the height of summer.
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