Floatation suit

[Doghousekeeper]

With the cold weather approaching I was thinking of getting a floatation suit to keep me warm (Fladen, Mullion, or similar)

However, I've been told that you can't wear one with a lifejacket. Seems rather strange. Can't find anything on their websites that sheds any light - can anyone here help?

 

[maxi77]

They are certainly warm, Mrs Maxi used to swear by hers when we were in the UK. She wore a life jacket with hers and as far as I am aware many fishermen do too.

 

[penfold]

Sounds like balls to me. I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't have a lifejacket over it. The boatsuits used by the fast rescue boat crew on my north sea standby ship are basically flotation suits with built-in lifejackets, so this sounds like barroom bull****.

In fact, pausing to think about it logically it strikes me as safer than the flotation suit alone; with just the flotation suit you tend to float on your back or front, whereas a lifejacket will tend to lift your head and shoulders reducing the risk from swamping by waves.

 

[awol]

I can certainly recommend the Fladen suit for cold night watches and winter sails. I, too, wear mine with a lifejacket but I suspect the warning refers to the attitude your body will adopt in the water with the suit and inflated LJ, and that I have not experimented with.

 

[Fascadale]

Plus one for the flotation suit, one piece, plus LJ.

Easy

 

[Siochair]

I think the problem with wearing both a lifejacket and a floatation suit is that the lifejacket may have difficulty is turning you in the water so you are face up. I presume using a slightly larger rated lifejacket should solve this.

 

[FishyInverness]

Hi Doghouse,

Can give you a definitive answer on this. As an owner of a Fladen suit for Coastal fishing (and having spent most of a Saturday last month wandering around in Loch Ness wearing one, beaching kayaks for a X-Country triathalon event) and also working for a commercial marine supplier who deal with the suits and various lifejackets.

It's definitely not "balls", just requires an adjustment...When wearing a flotation suit which has an inherent buoyancy, if you wear a 150newton rated lifejacket the two buoyancies are likely to "compete" and the function of the lifejacket to turn you face up will be compromised - It is the same principal as if you wear heavy clothing that may trap air.

So the recommendation is to wear a 275newton rated lifejacket which has the capacity to override the lesser inherent buoyancy in the flotation suit and still turn you face up regardless.

Have to say that I really rate the Fladen suit: warm, well constructed, very hi visibility and with a 68 newton buoyancy - I actually enjoy wearing mine out on the rocks at Tarbet Ness, keeps me toasty and dry in the dreicht spray! the only downside i'd say is that it has no waterproof pouch (the basic model, there is a new model which does) - so anything in your pockets will get drenched if you go for a swim...as the event organiser's PMR will attest from last month....

 

[prv]

When wearing a flotation suit which has an inherent buoyancy, if you wear a 150newton rated lifejacket the two buoyancies are likely to "compete" and the function of the lifejacket to turn you face up will be compromised

Makes sense - but this isn't going to be helped by wearing no lifejacket at all, which was the (garbled?) advice the OP had received. So it's more a case of suit good, suit+150N better, suit+275N best.

Pete

 

[FishyInverness]

Makes sense - but this isn't going to be helped by wearing no lifejacket at all, which was the (garbled?) advice the OP had received. So it's more a case of suit good, suit+150N better, suit+275N best.

Pete

Yep, that's the nail on the head, though i'd add if you want the lifejacket to do it's job as described, ie to turn you face up in the water without your own effort to do so, you must wear a 275n lifejacket in conjuction with the floatation suit. Quote from Mullion's literature follows:

"They (Lifejackets) can also be worn in conjunction with a constant wear suit, the latter being the ideal combination to give the wearer all round protection. Where the two are worn together, it is important to follow the donning instructions strictly and check and test their comptability as one can counteract the other and have a negative effect on the self-righting properties. For example a 150 Newton life jacket worn with a constant wear floatation suit is not recommended for self-righting purposes; for this application we advise the use of a compatible 275 Newton lifejacket"

It's worth noting that all combined floatation suits (designed with an integral auto inflating vest) such as the Mullion 1MC8 and 1MC9 use a 275n jacket as standard.

I wouldn't ever advise anyone interested in using a thermal floatation suit who is travelling away from an inshore position to use just that Floatation Suit as a lifesaving device, and that the 275n jacket should be the standard equipment if the suit is to be used in those circumstances.

 

[awol]

I have never tested my suit in the water, but then I have never needed a LJ either. I would expect the ability to manoeuvre and swim in the suit would be much greater than with an inflated LJ, rather like a buoyancy aid provides support but still allows full movement. The LJ I wear with the flotation suit is manual, its main purpose is to provide the lifeline harness.

 

[FishyInverness]

I have never tested my suit in the water, but then I have never needed a LJ either. I would expect the ability to manoeuvre and swim in the suit would be much greater than with an inflated LJ, rather like a buoyancy aid provides support but still allows full movement. The LJ I wear with the flotation suit is manual, its main purpose is to provide the lifeline harness.

Trying to swim in the suit is the proverbial "Swimming through treacle" feeling. Manoeuvrability is certainly improved over a lifejacket and allows you to turn onto your front to, for example, reach out and retrieve a wayward kayak that a shore crew neglect to notice hasn't been secured and has now drifted 100 yards into a cold Loch...but, like my murphy's, etc! However, on your front in the suit it does tend to push your body up and your face into the water a bit, which could well induce a bit of a panic and certainly requires effort to counteract.

 

[SHUG]

The complete kit would seem to be Flotation Suit, 275N Lifejacket and diver's boots to allow you to float (or sink!) with the correct attitude. (perhaps a salute would be in order!)

 

[Fascadale]

I've only used the Fladen one piece suit during cold dry nights.

How waterproof are they?

 

[FishyInverness]

Hey Fascadale, can only speak for my 2-piece, but I Stood for four hours in the pouring rain at Hopeman Harbour last Saturday and walked away bone dry underneath.

 

[awol]

I've only used the Fladen one piece suit during cold dry nights.

How waterproof are they?

The material is totally waterproof and is not breathable but what do you expect for £85? Front fastening is chunky zip with velcro flap and high crotch flap. Neck is quite short compared with ocean oilies but it does have a hood. My experience in pouring rain, yes it does sometimes rain on the west coast!, was water down neck ( I don't like sailing with a hood up) and possibly through the front. If you wear the thing and sweat then condensation inside can be a problem but sitting still and letting the crew do the work causes no probs.

 

[Fascadale]

Thanks for the info on the Fladen suit.

All part of the never ending mission to discover a way to stay both warm and dry in a downpour.

 

[LadyInBed]

How waterproof are they?

I have a one piece suit, can't remember it's make. Yes it is waterproof but the zip isn't! So if you are sat in the rain you end up with soggy b locks

 

[Cymrogwyllt]

I have a two piece. leggings with bib and shoulder straps top reaches down to the knees. Crotch straps available if needed. Kept me toasty on many a freezing night when throwing a hook out to feed the crabs. Hood up it's as warterproof as it gets even when blowing a hooligan

 

[agurney]

I haven't tried a floatation suit, but I've had plenty of experiences of diving dry suits. The problem I envisage with not having enough buoyancy in a LJ is that with air in the legs you could end up inverted, with a major struggle to turn the right way up.

 

[prv]

I haven't tried a floatation suit, but I've had plenty of experiences of diving dry suits. The problem I envisage with not having enough buoyancy in a LJ is that with air in the legs you could end up inverted, with a major struggle to turn the right way up.

As I understand it, these suits are not sealed. They're basically sturdy nylon waterproofs with a layer of closed-cell foam in them which acts as buoyancy and insulation. Keeping warm in the water is by the wetsuit effect. So there shouldn't be any problem with air-filled legs.

Pete