I'm picking up my new-to-me 260 this weekend and need to get PFD's for myself, my wife, and 2 kids ages 9 & 5. Anyone have an online source for quality stuff? Will start out sailing two lakes, with the intent of "graduating" to the ICW and sounds of NC. Also, what do I need? Bells and whistles, auto inflate, pretty colors???;-) Dave s/v Vida Mimo
pfd's
- Thread starter Dave D 94 H26
- Start date
- Status
PFD input
Here is my general take on PFDs. Get something that you will be comfortable wearing. If you're wearing yours, it sends the appropriate message to your kids and it will be easier having them wear theirs. I got Mustang auto-inflate PFDs for my wife and I this year, and I wear it A LOT more than I used to, just because it's easy and there is no reason not to. My kids have PFDs from Extrasport which are actually made more for paddling/kayaking, but they work great for sailing. They are cut shorter in the torso, so are comfortable to wear sitting down. Bells and whistles? Well, no bells - but they do have whistles on them!
Also, the Mustangs have built in harnesses. Makes tethering in easier should the conditions necessitate. T J
Here is my general take on PFDs. Get something that you will be comfortable wearing. If you're wearing yours, it sends the appropriate message to your kids and it will be easier having them wear theirs. I got Mustang auto-inflate PFDs for my wife and I this year, and I wear it A LOT more than I used to, just because it's easy and there is no reason not to. My kids have PFDs from Extrasport which are actually made more for paddling/kayaking, but they work great for sailing. They are cut shorter in the torso, so are comfortable to wear sitting down. Bells and whistles? Well, no bells - but they do have whistles on them!
Also, the Mustangs have built in harnesses. Makes tethering in easier should the conditions necessitate. T J
The school answer is that you should wear a Type II at all times when on the water and have the required number of Type II PFD's on board. In actual practice I use different PFD's for different conditions. I have plent of those ugly uncomfortable Type II vests on board. However, I wear a Type III fisherman's vest for calm conditions/and daysailing/fooling around the marina. This is the most comfortable. I have an autoinflate Type III Sospenders with harness/teather for more serious sailing or when sailing with inexperienced crew or when sailing alone. It has a whistle and strobe that lights up when the vest inflates. Now that should get some discussion going...
Most important is it fits and is comfortable
If it is not comfortable, people won't wear them. For kids, pretty color is great too. This will encourage the kids to wear them. I love the inflatables. They are not bulky, and we can wear them for a whole day if needed and after wearing them for a while, I don’t even know they are there. You can choose auto or manual inflate, and everyone has their preferences. We wear Sospenders with built-in harness, and we also clip ourselvs in when sailing in real rough weather, or only a single person in the cockpit, or at night. We also have 2 type III as backup, and 8 type II horse collars as backup's backup, and for guests. You will encounter people who wants to be macho, and says they don’t need PFDs, or they already know how to swim. Well, let the boom whack them on the side of their heads, and then you can watch them swim, if they are able. There are different types of PFDs. Type I, II, III, IV, V. I have included a link for them. Don't get Horse Collars. Well, get them but keep them as backups. They are cheap, works, but are ugly, hot, and very uncomfortable. Of course, it goes without saying that it should be USCG approved, and keep the person's face above water, which is a must for life saving.
If it is not comfortable, people won't wear them. For kids, pretty color is great too. This will encourage the kids to wear them. I love the inflatables. They are not bulky, and we can wear them for a whole day if needed and after wearing them for a while, I don’t even know they are there. You can choose auto or manual inflate, and everyone has their preferences. We wear Sospenders with built-in harness, and we also clip ourselvs in when sailing in real rough weather, or only a single person in the cockpit, or at night. We also have 2 type III as backup, and 8 type II horse collars as backup's backup, and for guests. You will encounter people who wants to be macho, and says they don’t need PFDs, or they already know how to swim. Well, let the boom whack them on the side of their heads, and then you can watch them swim, if they are able. There are different types of PFDs. Type I, II, III, IV, V. I have included a link for them. Don't get Horse Collars. Well, get them but keep them as backups. They are cheap, works, but are ugly, hot, and very uncomfortable. Of course, it goes without saying that it should be USCG approved, and keep the person's face above water, which is a must for life saving.
Do yourself a favor...
get the inflatables for you and your wife. Auto inflate is very good feature IMHO. Strobe light will make it easier for your wife to find you when u get knocked off the first time... Best money you will ever spend because you will wear then and they're there when you need them. Make realistic rules about when and how you wear them and stick to it (ex: mine are (1) anytime the sails are up, (2) big water (3) dark, storm, etc.) IMHO, the smaller the boat, the easier it is to fall off. Not sure about the kids, look at BoatUS web site for some test they did on kids and inflatables.
get the inflatables for you and your wife. Auto inflate is very good feature IMHO. Strobe light will make it easier for your wife to find you when u get knocked off the first time...
Best money you will ever spend because you will wear then and they're there when you need them. Make realistic rules about when and how you wear them and stick to it (ex: mine are (1) anytime the sails are up, (2) big water (3) dark, storm, etc.) IMHO, the smaller the boat, the easier it is to fall off. Not sure about the kids, look at BoatUS web site for some test they did on kids and inflatables.Having actually used one in a real
accident, I suggest that you get the autoinflate type with a built in harness and WEAR THEM. Note that the harness on some types is of no actual use (ie: inaccessable) after inflating the vest when the person is floating in the water. A short tether will probably change that a lot. Wearing it in the store will not indicate how it will function in the water. Inflated, with the person in the water is very different than you might think. PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE LIFTING STRAP. Especially for the kids models. That is what you have to grab onto to pull a wearer out of the water. There is very little to get a good grip on when someone is in the water. I found in my case that the only good hand hold was a pant cuff. She was not happy about being pulled out of the water upside down any more than I was to do it. TRY THEM OUT IN A POOL OR OTHER SAFE PLACE EXACTLY AS YOU WEAR THEM. That means wearing all of your clothes, jacket, sweater, etc. I was very surprised how heavy someone is wearing wet clothes. Try to lift a victim onto your boat without their help. It is very easy for them to be injured, lose strength or consciousness and then they cannot help you. If you have some kind of hoist system, try it out too before you have to actually use it in bad conditions. Lots of people drown around here by falling in at the dock or at the shore. They panic, or hit their heads, become weak from the cold and are not able to swim a few yards to the shore or to a ladder. If no one sees them in time to help, it is bad news. It happened here recently to a harbor patrol officer who had a partner just a few feet away. He was a good swimmer and he died on a beautiful day just a few feet from shore.
accident, I suggest that you get the autoinflate type with a built in harness and WEAR THEM. Note that the harness on some types is of no actual use (ie: inaccessable) after inflating the vest when the person is floating in the water. A short tether will probably change that a lot. Wearing it in the store will not indicate how it will function in the water. Inflated, with the person in the water is very different than you might think. PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE LIFTING STRAP. Especially for the kids models. That is what you have to grab onto to pull a wearer out of the water. There is very little to get a good grip on when someone is in the water. I found in my case that the only good hand hold was a pant cuff. She was not happy about being pulled out of the water upside down any more than I was to do it. TRY THEM OUT IN A POOL OR OTHER SAFE PLACE EXACTLY AS YOU WEAR THEM. That means wearing all of your clothes, jacket, sweater, etc. I was very surprised how heavy someone is wearing wet clothes. Try to lift a victim onto your boat without their help. It is very easy for them to be injured, lose strength or consciousness and then they cannot help you. If you have some kind of hoist system, try it out too before you have to actually use it in bad conditions. Lots of people drown around here by falling in at the dock or at the shore. They panic, or hit their heads, become weak from the cold and are not able to swim a few yards to the shore or to a ladder. If no one sees them in time to help, it is bad news. It happened here recently to a harbor patrol officer who had a partner just a few feet away. He was a good swimmer and he died on a beautiful day just a few feet from shore.
tape too?
Hey Don, My wife said if I get an inflatable with a strobe, that I should stop by the hardware store and get her a roll of black electrical tape. What does that mean?*666
Hey Don, My wife said if I get an inflatable with a strobe, that I should stop by the hardware store and get her a roll of black electrical tape. What does that mean?*666
tape too?
Hey Don, My wife said if I get an inflatable with a strobe, that I should stop by the hardware store and get her a roll of black electrical tape. What does that mean?*666
Hey Don, My wife said if I get an inflatable with a strobe, that I should stop by the hardware store and get her a roll of black electrical tape. What does that mean?*666
Mandatory
Dave, Keep in mind that in NC kids 12 and under must wear their PFD at all times, so make sure you get something confortable for them too.
Dave, Keep in mind that in NC kids 12 and under must wear their PFD at all times, so make sure you get something confortable for them too.
PFD
PFD's are only half of the Equation Now that your COB is in 60-degree water floating head up (not always a certainty), how are you going to get him aboard before he drowns or dies of hypothermia? Most boats will require that you hoist an exhausted, very heavy swimmer up over the rail (hopefully before they drown). The Lifesling system has a lot going for it. Your boat has a slight advantage. I've tested the lifesling on my H260 and it's fairly easy to winch the COB over the stern if they are conscious because of the self-bailing cockpit and stern ladder. But this is a slow, laborious process. Suggest you do a live test under calm, controlled conditions - it will give you something to think about over the winter. If the boat is still underway all bets are off.
PFD's are only half of the Equation Now that your COB is in 60-degree water floating head up (not always a certainty), how are you going to get him aboard before he drowns or dies of hypothermia? Most boats will require that you hoist an exhausted, very heavy swimmer up over the rail (hopefully before they drown). The Lifesling system has a lot going for it. Your boat has a slight advantage. I've tested the lifesling on my H260 and it's fairly easy to winch the COB over the stern if they are conscious because of the self-bailing cockpit and stern ladder. But this is a slow, laborious process. Suggest you do a live test under calm, controlled conditions - it will give you something to think about over the winter. If the boat is still underway all bets are off.
Lifesling Tackle
I use the Sospenders autoinflate PFD's. As stated earlier, comfortable and after a while you forget it's even there. If I were to buy again I would get the built in harness just 'cause it's easier than a separate harness. Has anyone USED the hoisting tackle with a Lifesling? 3:1 or 5:1 models?
I use the Sospenders autoinflate PFD's. As stated earlier, comfortable and after a while you forget it's even there. If I were to buy again I would get the built in harness just 'cause it's easier than a separate harness. Has anyone USED the hoisting tackle with a Lifesling? 3:1 or 5:1 models?
AUTO INFLATE PFD
I agree with everything said and would like to add this…. I bought an auto inflate SOS vest for my Wife earlier this season. The design at the neck had changed dramatically over previous versions and would have rubbed the back of her neck raw very quickly. We returned it for a refund. It took a couple of months to figure out that SOS was in a state of flux and we eventually bought the MUSTANG, which is extremely comfortable. Paul s/v The Lord Nelson
I agree with everything said and would like to add this…. I bought an auto inflate SOS vest for my Wife earlier this season. The design at the neck had changed dramatically over previous versions and would have rubbed the back of her neck raw very quickly. We returned it for a refund. It took a couple of months to figure out that SOS was in a state of flux and we eventually bought the MUSTANG, which is extremely comfortable. Paul s/v The Lord Nelson
hmmm...Black electrical tape...
not sure about that one....makes you wonder tho. Maybe your boat is gonna be more fun that we think....
not sure about that one....makes you wonder tho. Maybe your boat is gonna be more fun that we think....
- Status