Picton Castle

[Tom]

PFD's and Survival at Sea

I am not against PFD use but in this case a PFD might have only helped them find the body. Cold water kills. Unless she was wearing some kind of survival suit she would have just drowned after she lost conciousness from the cold instead of when she got tired. The value of a PFD decreases greatly as the water temperature falls. Even with 70 degree water you freeze to death if you aren't rescued with several hours. In 50 degree water the time drops to minutes unless you are very fat. So if we are going to talk safety standards that have meaning a crew member should probably be required to wear a survival suit at least during the winter. Even if you saw someone go overboard at night in rough conditions with 50 degree water they would probably be dead by the time you could drop sails on the Picton Castle and motor back to find them. Again the PFD would help you find the body but not save the life.

 

[Franklin]

Tom

I thought I read somewhere that if you fall into 40 degree water and try to swim 100 yards (or feet...I forget) you will freeze before you get there, but if you stay still with a PDF on, you have about 2 hours. If that is true, it must mean that your body heats up the water around you. I guess the killer to that tip is if you happen to fall into a current. Anybody else read or hear the same thing?

 

[tom]

PFD's great sometimes

Been to Las Vegas several times..without condoms. My wife would get awfully suspicous if she saw me packing condoms if she wasn't going. PFD's are great when there is a reasonable chance of rescue. Especially in lakes and coastal waters where self rescue is possible. But cold water kills. Even kayaking I've had my legs go completely numb before I could wade/swim to shore and most people wear wetsuits in winter. But in cold water offshore PFD adds little to safety. A harness to prevent you going overboard is much better. If you do go overboard a survival suit or at least a wetsuit is the only thing that will save you. Even a wetsuit will not extend your survival time more than a few hours once the water temperature is below 50. I am saying this as a scuba diver who has spent time in 50 degree water. After an hour or an hour and a half most people start getting real cold and must leave the water. In 50 degree water a drysuit is required for long term survival. By long term I mean several hours to a day or so.

 

[NautiDuck]

For your loved ones

Even if you die of from the cold water at least wearing a PFD increases the chances of finding the body. The fellow who fell off the Volvo racing boat and died - I bet his family feels better with the closure of having his body recovered.

 

[David10790]

Water Temp was 72f, 22c

The ship was in the Gulf Stream.The U.S. Coast Guard estimated Gainey would be able to survive about 36 hours, based on factors that include her age, her physical fitness and the water temperature of around 22 C.Clearly if she was wearing a PFD with a strobe, she would be alive today.

 

[tom]

I am not advocating not wearing a PFD

I think that wearing a PFD is a good thing and I wear one whenever I feel the need... Usually cold water and night time offshore. I am saying that a PFD alone may not change the outcome. I read that almost everyone in the water after the titanic disaster was wearing a PFD but when help arrived 2 hours later most were dead. Some types of clothing insulates even when wet. Polypropylene and wool will help keep you warm even when wet. So just simple thermal underwear may increase survival for hours or maybe even indefinately in water that is in the mid-60's. Clothes that are basically waterproof and have a tight fit around the ankles hands and neck can help also. So if you are sailing in cold water wear clothing that will help you survive longer. My life jacket is a vest that is warm. They sell life jackets that are of the "bomber" style that provide flotation and warmth.