Crutch straps

awol said:
On the other hand I find the crotch strap a bloody nuisance while racing - catches on the tiller, cleats, winches, though quite useful for catching crew falling overboard. If it's tight enough not to snag I can't stand up straight.
It seems about time somebody produced foulies with an integral LJ so there are no straps to catch and wearing it is automatic with anything other than clement weather. If Musto want to trial a set of HPX with integral LJ I'll volunteer!
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Both SWMBO and I have Henri lloyd jackets from the 70s fitted both with bladders and flotation kapok .very warm.
when I ordered the first one for SWMBO Henri remarked that I must love my wife!
 
Adonnante said:
On that basis any lifejacket you are wearing needs to be able to do it's job without any help from you for those crucial first minutes.
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Which has to be balanced against being trapped under or in a capsized boat which would make escape and survival problematic.

Peter.[/QUOTE]

That's a debate about automatic v manual inflation, not about crotch straps.

From my POV, the likelihood of falling off seems considerably higher than the scenarios you present. So my current thinking is that the balance is very heavily in favour of automatic.
 
On the basis that you are likely to need help to survive the first few minute, especially in colder water my vote is for an auto jacket every time.
 
I've got 'em on all the boats LJ ans on the bouancy aids we have for wearing in the tender. They're cheap enough and don't get in the way, so why not?

Though swmbo did get up come and sit the the cockpit in her nothings the other morning as we sailed along in nice sunshine and wondered aloud why I, as a very strong swimmer, was wearing a LJ and harness while the most precious one to me wasn't. The simple answer was that if she fell overboard in those conditions, then I could get back to her and get her out in minutes where as if I went over I'd be dead of hypothermia before she figured out what to do. That is if she even noticed that I'd gone.
 
I don't have auto-LJ's. It's a debate I had with myself when looking at purchase.

Still today I sit on the fence with it ... but straps I am definite for. And as the OP was about straps - that's what I am posting for.
 
To respond to the OP...

Can I claim the prize for feeblest excuse? I bought crotch straps two years ago, but although they're on the boat, they're still in the chandler's plastic bag. No real reason, just another round tuit.
 
Slow_boat said:
if she fell overboard in those conditions, then I could get back to her and get her out in minutes where as if I went over I'd be dead of hypothermia before she figured out what to do. That is if she even noticed that I'd gone.
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sounds like you need to do some MOB practice - i hope she at least knows how to put out a mayday or mark a MOB position on the plotter so someone else can come along a get you! not sure how long you can stay alive in UK wintry coastal waters but a lifejacket doesn't stop hypothermia!
 
Hmmm . . . sorry, I know this will make me a safety pariah, but I don't much wear a life jacket (with or with or without crotch straps).

My aim is to stay on the boat! I have continuous hand grips along the cabin top, super excellent non-skid, I ALWAYS have one hand for myself (and the other for the boat) and I occasionally use a harness and wear a dry suit (in the worst conditions).
 
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estarzinger said:
Hmmm . . . sorry, I know this will make me a safety pariah, but I don't much wear a life jacket (with or with or without crotch straps).

My aim is to stay on the boat! I have continuous hand grips along the cabin top, super excellent non-skid, I ALWAYS have one hand for myself (and the other for the boat) and I occasionally use a harness and wear a dry suit (in the worst conditions).
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You seem so safety conscious I'm rather surprised you don't wear a lifejacket. is there a reason ("aiming to stay on the boat" just sounds more like optimism than reason)?
 
LIFEJACKETS and Crotch Straps

Where have all you puritans come from? I wear a lifejacket at night and when out of sight of land. As for crotch straps, I find them extremely uncomfortable. I too have done the MCA Sea Survival course which reinforced a lesson that my father taught me at the age of five whilst sailing in the Baltic in the 1960's.On no account do you want to end up in the water. One hand for the boat and one hand for yourself.

Come on people get real! You will all be wearing hard hats next to protect your head from the boom.
 
You will all be wearing hard hats next to protect your head from the boom.


Ah! A Fine Idea... would you have any idea of were I can obtain one??
 
When out on the dory, I wear a the same bouyancy aid I wear for kayaking. It fits me well, gives me enough bouyancy and has a pocket for my knife. My mate wears his jet ski vest. Having said that, in the dory, we never go out of sight of land. For off shore I'd probably wear LJs with straps though.
 
RAF said:
On no account do you want to end up in the water. One hand for the boat and one hand for yourself.
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Just because I wear a life jacket with crotch straps does not mean I charge about the boat with abandon in the belief that I will be saved if I ever fall into the drink. I always clip on in bad weather and at night and during other times I move about the boat carefully thinking about my actions and position. But I wear the life jacket should fate slip me the wrong card and I tumble over the side.
 
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