Crotch Straps

[Refueler]

I think my spinlocks have a single strap...

but anyway, the most important thing is to have easy access to the adjustment, so you can tighten it if you ever fall in.

i have worn mine in the water for safety training, and i definitely wanted the strap tighter than is comfortable to wear on deck.

you should be able just to reach down between your legs and pull the strap end to tighten it.

There are two aspects to the straps :

One is that jumping into the water causes the LJ to ride up ... in extreme can end up with victims head / mouth under water, fighting to get back up. The BoT Grip as we called it (Board of Trade .... ) was to fold arms across chest and grip opposite sides ... to hold the LJ down while jumping.

Second is that LJ will try to rise to surface without elevating the torso - adding to the 'slippage' of torso down and possible problem keeping head above water.

Therefore the primary function of the strap is to maintain the LJ in position against the torso and avoid its 'riding up'.

I suggest that trying to tighten once in water is very difficult as the LJ will be fighting you ....

 

[penfold]

I think my spinlocks have a single strap...

but anyway, the most important thing is to have easy access to the adjustment, so you can tighten it if you ever fall in.

i have worn mine in the water for safety training, and i definitely wanted the strap tighter than is comfortable to wear on deck.

you should be able just to reach down between your legs and pull the strap end to tighten it.

That does seem the general rule; if it's comfortable it won't be when you go for a swim. The waist and strap need to be snug to avoid appendages being trapped.

 

[Refueler]

The problem with safety training today is the training itself has been (forgive the pun) 'watered down' to usually in a swimming pool. Nice and warm ... no waves or swell to speak of ... and I've seen participants 'slide' into the water instead of full on jump.

Having had 'old school' training outside Plymouth Breakwater in cold end of winter conditions with a BoT LJ .... I can say with hand on heart ... trying to tighten a strap or literally do anything meaningful is extremely difficult ...

 

[penfold]

One is that jumping into the water causes the LJ to ride up ... in extreme can end up with victims head / mouth under water, fighting to get back up. The BoT Grip as we called it (Board of Trade .... ) was to fold arms across chest and grip opposite sides ... to hold the LJ down while jumping.

Second is that LJ will try to rise to surface without elevating the torso - adding to the 'slippage' of torso down and possible problem keeping head above water.

I was taught to cross the arms, but one grips the LJ by the opposite shoulder and the other covers the nose and mouth, as if we're not entering a raft via the pilot ladder we're jumping from height and a sinus full of briny is distracting.

 

[Refueler]

I was taught to cross the arms, but one grips the LJ by the opposite shoulder and the other covers the nose and mouth, as if we're not entering a raft via the pilot ladder we're jumping from height and a sinus full of briny is distracting.

Yes ... one of the two prescribed methods ...

I kept to the other based on usually a yottie will be going in a lot closer to water than of a ship ...

But valid point.

 

[Daydream believer]

On my last spinlock I chucked the leg straps & fitted a sail tie. I just did a half hitch to tighten it which could be any tension I wanted & could be adjusted in 4 seconds.

 

[Alan S]

Definitely double straps. One each side of the wedding tackle.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I was taught to cross the arms, but one grips the LJ by the opposite shoulder and the other covers the nose and mouth, as if we're not entering a raft via the pilot ladder we're jumping from height and a sinus full of briny is distracting.

When SCUBA diving you are taught to hold regulator and mask when jumping entering the water to avoid the water knocking them out same applies to LJ

 

[Daydream believer]

..

 

[lustyd]

Spinlock have two straps-so twice as much to trip over when you forget to clip them!

The old ones did and were a pain. Based on climbing straps but didn’t really work that well.
New Spinlocks have a single large offset strap that works extremely well and I hardly notice it. It’s off to the side so somehow doesn’t get in the way at all.

 

[Refueler]

The old ones did and were a pain. Based on climbing straps but didn’t really work that well.
New Spinlocks have a single large offset strap that works extremely well and I hardly notice it. It’s off to the side so somehow doesn’t get in the way at all.

Its the side based ones that I have a real problem with. Fine while standing ... but sit down and after a few minutes the strap works its way down the thigh - so when you stand up - the leg is trapped.

 

[lustyd]

Its the side based ones that I have a real problem with. Fine while standing ... but sit down and after a few minutes the strap works its way down the thigh - so when you stand up - the leg is trapped.

Somehow my new Spinlock doesn’t do that at all. I think the angle they have it at allows it to be tighter while maintaining movement so it just doesn’t droop down

 

[Stemar]

I was taught to cross the arms, but one grips the LJ by the opposite shoulder and the other covers the nose and mouth, as if we're not entering a raft via the pilot ladder we're jumping from height and a sinus full of briny is distracting.

That's all very well, but I'm very unlikely to be jumping in with an LJ. Far more likely that I'll be going in A over T grasping for anything that'll keep me on board

 

[B27]

On Saturday, I tested my dinghy sailing buoyancy aid with a couple of high-speed downwind capsizes.
No need for a crotch strap on a waistcoat-style BA.

Years ago, I had a Baltic auto LJ which worked fine without a crotch strap.
The main 'belt' was around the waist.
LJs have evolved into a 'man bra' with a chest strap, so the crotch strap is a necessary part of it, but looks like a half-baked afterthought.

 

[lustyd]

I was taught to cross the arms, but one grips the LJ by the opposite shoulder and the other covers the nose and mouth, as if we're not entering a raft via the pilot ladder we're jumping from height and a sinus full of briny is distracting.

Either way, hoping to grip an inflating LJ is a losing battle and completely ineffective hence crotch straps are standard kit now. The inflated diameter will be 5-6 inches, nobody is keeping a grip on that while it inflates and starts to shoot upwards without them.

 

[jaminb]

My Crewsaver LJ has a very useful leash for my hand held VHF but this unfortunately renders the clip ineffective so I often find the HH flying around at the most inconvenient of times. Can anyone recommender an aftermarket holster that I can thread on to the waist strap. Would like one for my knife as well. I like them attached to the lifejacket as I know they will always be with me in the event of an overboard not in my sailing jacket hanging up in the saloon! thanks

 

[Refueler]

Either way, hoping to grip an inflating LJ is a losing battle and completely ineffective hence crotch straps are standard kit now. The inflated diameter will be 5-6 inches, nobody is keeping a grip on that while it inflates and starts to shoot upwards without them.

The old hold it down method is based on the old Kapok non inflatable LJ's of yesteryear ...

Interesting that Airline Safety Instruction makes no mention of holding the jacket ... and according to my Father - who was Senior CAA ... basically because its expected passenger will be sliding down a chute into the water ...... but still the problem exists because most people will not tighten waist strap enough.

In theory - inflation of the LJ should tighten the waist strap ... mmm yeh well.

 

[Halo]

Definitely prefer single strap after consistent snagging problems with my spin lock especially when wearing oilies.
I wear l j all weathers so really don’t want to be bothered with snagging

 

[William_H]

I think OP should get a load of velcoe straps and 25mm webbing and get out the sewing machine. I am advocating he try to develop his own style of crotch strap. It does seem to me that the problem is trousers that are worn under strap. Perhaps an attachment to trousers waste would be more comfortable. Or perhaps make strap around the legs with lead then up to LJ. Presumably it is the front bouyancy of LJ that is the problem of riding up. So straps down from front to leg circle.
I would not think it wise to jump into water with inflated LJ. Just inflate when in the water. (as with auto inflate)
What I would advocate is actual testing in water of any crotch strap system.
To B27 yes I issue my crew with buoyancy vests when wind gets up. No need to inflate, able to swim in BV and keeps you warm. No good if you are unconscious but then manual inflate LJ no good either. ol'will

 

[Caladh]

One thing to add about crotch straps… some weeks ago we arrived in St Evette off Audierne in France and anchored. Tidied up and doing stuff on deck I heard a scream from the the 1st mate who I quickly found in a heap at the bottom companionway steps very shaken up and faint with her leg at a strange angle. She could not weight bear initially but after some time of rest could hobble. We eventually arrived in St P P after a stressful few days getting there via various French ports. She had in fact undone the crotch straps on her LJ but had tripped on one going down the companionway steps. An MRI scan in St P P found 2 broken bones in her knee and a torn cruciate ligament. Back home in the U.K. now, she is now seeking treatment. So…crotch straps …..great for landing in the water, not so good when relaxed and not thinking* about anything in particular. Sh1t can happen anywhere when you’re not expecting it.