Safety First ?

[Warren Milberg]

I wear an inflatable PFD every time my boat moves. I have experimented with both a harness and a PFD and feel the harness is more dangerous in terms of just prolonging my death if I go overboard. My reasoning is as follows: Most people who use a harness connect it to jacklines running fore and aft on the P/S sides of the boat. They connect to the bow cleat and to the stern cleats. That means the jackline runs along the toe rail. Since a tether should be short, i.e., less than 6 feet, if you go go overboard you'll be dragged in the water at the waterline. I think you'd have to be a Circque d'Soleil athlete to get yourself back aboard if you had no crew to help. Try it sometime in calm, warm water if you doubt this view. What would make sense on a small boat like my H28.5 would be to install secure pad eyes on the centerline of the cockpit, cabin top and foredeck so you would have one main jackline going down the center of the boat to which you would connect a haress to. This would keep you on board if you were headed for the drink. I've also had problems with a tether getting wrapped around my feet on the foredeck and creating more of a hazard than they should. So, I use an inflatable thinking that if I go in while under sail, the boat will head up and I can float long enough to get to the stern of my boat and pull down my swim ladder (which is rigged with a looped line that reaches the waterline just for this purpose). Clearly, the best idea is do everything you can to stay aboard in the first place. Whatever works, works.

 

[Moody Buccaneer]

One of the things to consider is how your "I only wear it when it is cold/nasty/at night." works against you when you do have it on.

Try sailing and doing all your normal things and see how much your choice of PFD effects normal operations. Any PFD will get in your way at some point. Unless you wear the damn thing ALL the time until it becomes as second nature as wearing the seatbelt in your car, you will be fighting the PFD *and* the conditions that made you decide to put it on.

The same hold true for harnesses. You have to actually wear it often enough to be used to working with it on.

The WM branded inflatables use to be re-branded Mustang Survival units. They are as comfortable as a PFD can be IMO. They do require some annual maintenance, but if you have ever been in the water with a 15# flotation Type 2 PFD then try the same trick with a 35# flotation inflatable you will value and care for the PFD. I've been knocked of racing boats more than once. Popping to the surface with 35# of flotation is a wonderful thing. You float high enough that you almost don't worry about the waves washing over your head because so few of them do compared to even a 22# flotation Type 1.

When I was sailing in Canada, I took care of two issues with one solution. A Mustang Survival immersion suit. Keeping warm and wearing flotation all in one. At night or out of the cockpit the inflatable PDF/Harness goes on over the suit. Personal strobes and LifeTag MOB transmitters are part of the kit too.

My other passion was motorcycles. The old guys and the non-macho young guys have an ATGATT view. All The Gear All The Time: Boots, Armoured Riding Suit, Gloves, Helmet ... EVERY time you ride. It only takes once.

So you have a permanent SOSpenders tan line ... at least your grandchildren can tease you about it.

 

[David in Sandusky]

When we are under way, all wear PFD's when on deck - no exceptions. We have good, comfortable inflatables for all, and comfortable life jackets as back-up. The Admiral and I wear the inflatables with integrated harnesses - they don't seem to add to discomfort when the temp is over 90 degrees.

We always rig jacklines when under way. The other rule is that the skipper must tether his harness unless there is another crew on board who has proven capable of the M.O.B. drill. Since the Admiral says she is not capable, I wear the tether much of the time. Mostly, it doesn't bother me at all.

I have noticed that the M.O.B. situations I have heard of arise in an unexpected event. So putting on the PFD before the unexpected happens really doesn't work.

 

[RonRelyea]

Mock PFD for sale

For everyone that doesn't usually wear a PFD but would like to set a good example ....
I've just patented a T-Shirt ... you know the ones you can buy that look like you are "wearing a tuxedo" ? well .. my T-Shirt design has an inflatable PFD printed on it ... It comes with a cheap CO2 cartridge that velcro's (tm) onto it. In your choice of colors!
Impress the kids even if you do drown!

 

[Maine Sail]

I wear an inflatable PFD every time my boat moves. I have experimented with both a harness and a PFD and feel the harness is more dangerous in terms of just prolonging my death if I go overboard. My reasoning is as follows: Most people who use a harness connect it to jacklines running fore and aft on the P/S sides of the boat. They connect to the bow cleat and to the stern cleats. That means the jackline runs along the toe rail. Since a tether should be short, i.e., less than 6 feet, if you go go overboard you'll be dragged in the water at the waterline. I think you'd have to be a Circque d'Soleil athlete to get yourself back aboard if you had no crew to help.

This is why when I clip in I always use the windward side of the vessel to move fore and aft. If I fall, and the boat is heeled, I have a lot to grab and my tether won't quite reach the lee rail.. Learned this in a nasty storm when the rail was buried for the better part of two straight days and it just made more sense once I started doing it. That being said I don't need to clip in often and don't wear a PFD unless solo and on deck.....

 

[firehoser75]

I will start this off by saying that I almost always wear my PFD when the boat is under way. The very few times when I haven't (when we were motoring in very hot and sunny, calm weather) I actually felt guilty and somewhat "naked". Let's just say that I am very used to wearing it! It is an automatic Mustang inflatable with built in harness, and I find it very comfortable. Also, if I went overboard when unconscious, it would turn me face up, increasing my chances of survival. I do not "force" guests to wear one, but I very strongly suggest it, and only once have they decided not to. No children on board so far.

However, the first and best way to stay as safe as possible is to stay on the boat! I agree with Warren Milberg about jacklines and harnesses...... they must be well thought out and tested as to their ability to actually keep you on board and ensure that they will not just drag you along at the wrong height (forcing water into your face) resulting in an early drowning!

Accidents happen. They are not planned, they just happen. Years ago, most people did not wear seat belts in cars, now most do, as well, all new cars have multiple air bags, yet, when I go for a drive, I don't plan on having an accident! Experience has shown that these safety devices (seat belts, air bags, and life jackets) do actually save lives! I agree with those who have made statements about "getting used to wearing one" all the time, and not having to make a decision "when to put it on". It is just simpler and as has been said before on this site on other topics "simple is good".

Check out the web site www.coldwaterbootcamp.com. I boat in the Pacific Northwest where the water is almost always on the cold side. Statistics say that 90% of drowning victims (boating accidents) are not wearing lifejackets, and that 43% of the drowning victims died within 2 meters of safety! When you fall into cold water you first experience "cold shock" and hyperventilation. If you can't keep your mouth and nose above water (almost all the time) you will drown in the first minute after you fall into cold water. Within 10 minutes of immersion, you will suffer cold incapacitation and most likely be unable to help yourself any more. Hypothermia takes much longer, somewhere around 1 to 2 hours depending on a number of factors. Personally, I want to increase my chances of surviving an accident, although I plan on staying on board (remember the definition of accident).

One last point. Those who argue that wearing a PFD is overkill (after all I don't walk around wearing an amour suit) is just not logical, it is a (weak, IMHO) justification for not wearing one. Those who make a choice not to wear one are "legally correct", it is not a law, and I wish them good luck.....because that is what they are banking on! (but each to their own)

My point with this post really isn't to "lecture" (even though it sure sounds like one), but to try to get some of you to re-evaluate the reasons for your decisions/actions. If you still think your decisions are prudent, then by all means carry on.

Good luck,
Tom