Life jackets ....food for thought

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Should you wear a life jacket inside a boat?
Yes and No.
If a boat were to suddenly fill with water and you had a life jacket on, you could be nailed to the roof (or floor if the boat turtles up).
I think it should be close to the exit but not worn. The real key to safety is the practicing of doning a life jacket in a hurry.
What say you?

Tony B

 

[Ross]

My life jackets are kept in an unlocked

compartment in the cockpit. Only a collision with a very large vessel would sink us before we had time to don a PFD. The collision would probably kill us so I am not much worried about that. I would not sail at night without a PFD properly worn while top side but down below I would shed it and hang it on the grap at the companion.

 

[Rob]

Nope....

I wouldn't wear a pfd down below as it could restrict your movement and your ability to get out of the boat if you needed to while in a hurry. In the past I've had the crew wear their pfds on a night sail in bad weather, so I am not afraid or too macho to wear one.

 

[Dave D, '94 H26]

not bellow

there is an additional danger in that a pfd adds to the things that could get snagged in an emergency. Here's a tag on: what about kids? do you keep them in a pfd while below?

 

[Ctskip]

I'm one of those guys who

who sheds most of my clothing, once I board the vessel. When I go ashore, I don my shirt and shoes. While on the boat I have either shorts or swimming suit on. Naturally in the colder months I wear all my clothes. My PFD's are readily accessible. Any body can don one anytime they wish. Being on a lake now, I never even considered a PFD to be necessary. Just as when I'm flying in an airplane, I don't wear a parachute. I know where one is located however. Doesn't mean I'm going to wear it. I do know some folks who could talk themselves into falling off a ladder. I'm not one of them.
Keep it up,
Ctskip

 

[Mulf - 2002 H410]

Hung on a hook in the cockpit....

One of my pre-departure procedures is to hang enough life jackets in the cockpit for everyone on board, and be sureto point that out. The hook is one of the big u-shaped brackets you hang a life ring from, and is attached to one of the support legs of the bimini top. That way they're readily available for any reason. For example, it's no big deal, thus no excuse, not to grab one when going forward topsides while underway. Better safe than sorry.

 

[seadaddler]

AUTO

I have plenty of PFD's in the cockpit locker for
anyone to use,we don't wear them below deck unless
maybe an emergency happens.
I did get my wife an Auto inflate for her because she does not
swim,she really only wears it when we are alone out sailing and
I wear a manual inflate when we are alone out sailing.
Most times we don't wear PFD's but keep them handy and tell everyone
on board where they are.
Nick

 

[Nice N Easy]

Never down inside

I absolutely hate to put on a PFD, and never put one on unless it starts getting kind of snotty. I'm more like CTskip, and shuck shoes and shirt when aboard. But PFD's are a necessary impediment. I have a self inflating with a harness that I keep handy. Also have offshore jackets that I clip to the dodger frame. Very handy and easy to get to. Would not think it wise to wear on inside the boat. Should something happen could make it very difficult if not impossible to get out of the boat.