Fools

[Seastoke]

Just watching a guy showing a couple how to leave a berth like ropes thruster fenders etc. Now the fool was not wearing a life jacket nor was the couple , is it me or is he an fool . Targa 34 by the way.

 

[Fire99]

You can mark me down as an idiot too. I often leave the berth minus life jacket. (Trader 47). I tend to decide on what I'm doing. And if you think logically.. Falling in etc. How many of us work on our boats on the decks etc or dare I say having a few drinks socialising on deck not wearing a life jacket? Which action has a greater likelihood of falling in (or bumping your head on something). I see the merits of life jackets and use one a lot but I don't like this culture we are in where we seem to want to scrutinise other people on what they're doing. Run your own race.. Unless it's something utterly ridiculous. I think we are gifted with intelligence on what is an absolute risk to other's safety compared to a situation that realistically is pretty normal behaviour.

 

[Seastoke]

I Take on board what you say and agree with some points , but it looked like first time out, you do the maths .

 

[julians]

doesnt sound like an idiot based on what you've said so far.

Ive never worn my lifejacket on any of my boats, it doesnt mean I never would, but I dont believe they are warranted for the day to day boating I do. They are on board though if conditions/situations take a turn for the worse.

I did help a mate sail his boat from falmouth to gib, and on that trip I had my jacket on whenever I was on deck - we were sailing 24x7 in some pretty rough conditions and clambering round, so in that scenario I would have been an idiot not to wear it IMO.

 

[Elessar]

Just watching a guy showing a couple how to leave a berth like ropes thruster fenders etc. Now the Idiot was not wearing a life jacket nor was the couple , is it me or is he an idiot . Targa 34 by the way.

I rarely wear a life jacket on my cruiser.
I could list when I do, but judgemental people don’t listen so what’s the point?

 

[Daydream believer]

I always wear a life jacket from the moment I leave the berth to when I return. But then I have been over the side 3 times in my earlier gung ho days. At 76 I do not think that I would survive No 4. If I have a crew I ask them to do the same (put on the LJ, not fall in 3 times ). If they opt not to, then so beit. However, My rules are:- always clipon if going on deck at any time whilst under way, Except for berthing. If a reef goes in, or it gets dark, then they MUST wear the LJ & clip on if leaving the cockpit. If they do not want to, then they can sail with someone else.

 

[jon and michie]

All is good not wearing a lifejacket that is until something goes wrong - yes you can risk assess it as much as you want but a lifejacket is basic ppe.
what was the chances of the Titanic hitting an Iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean in terms of the size of the Berg x the Size of the Ocean ??

 

[Fire99]

All is good not wearing a lifejacket that is until something goes wrong - yes you can risk assess it as much as you want but a lifejacket is basic ppe.
what was the chances of the Titanic hitting an Iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean in terms of the size of the Berg x the Size of the Ocean ??

Yep it is PPE but as much as hate the term 'risk assess' (as it puts all kinds of pictures in my head) but if you want to draw a definitive line then you do. The fact is we all have our own biases when it comes to taking risk and often it is inconsistent. Will I walk on an exposed harbour wall without a life jacket? Will I (as already said) have visitors onboard without going anywhere, having a drink or four (so increasing risk significantly) without them wearing LJ's? Will I wear a climbing rig and have a belayer on the ground when I'm walking on my boat on the hard?
The answer to all the above is in my mind, it's up to you! But I don't think any justify someone else wagging their finger at them. Life is full of risks.

PS.. When I had a fairly small sailing boat on a swing mooring, I wore an LJ almost all the time. It's a funny ol game.

 

[Scubadoo]

You can assess your own risk not to wear one, but perhaps not force that on the people with you such as guests etc. For us we always wear a life jacket when leaving our berth and to be honest I see more boaters doing this than in the past, it is like putting on a seat belt in a car, routine. I think most boaters in the UK are more safety conscious but you do see exceptions that can be alarming, e.g. I have seen some very young children in small boats with no lifejackets.

 

[jon and michie]

Yep it is PPE but as much as hate the term 'risk assess' (as it puts all kinds of pictures in my head) but if you want to draw a definitive line then you do. The fact is we all have our own biases when it comes to taking risk and often it is inconsistent. Will I walk on an exposed harbour wall without a life jacket? Will I (as already said) have visitors onboard without going anywhere, having a drink or four (so increasing risk significantly) without them wearing LJ's? Will I wear a climbing rig and have a belayer on the ground when I'm walking on my boat on the hard?
The answer to all the above is in my mind, it's up to you! But I don't think any justify someone else wagging their finger at them. Life is full of risks.

PS.. When I had a fairly small sailing boat on a swing mooring, I wore an LJ almost all the time. It's a funny ol game.

Yes it is true life is full of risks but without being the pointy finger - As this next bit is always drilled into our team at work "you may have done the job a 1000 times without incident doesnt mean the next the next one is going to be incident free"
Now that being said if the this couple (what the OP witnessed) were newbies to the boating world it would be good practice to set a safe standard but this would only happen in a perfect world which were not in.

 

[Fire99]

I have seen some very young children in small boats with no lifejackets.

Personally I think in most cases it's a good move to put LJ's on very young kids. I think that's a wise move without a doubt.

 

[Wansworth]

Running for the Thames through the sandbanks in force 10,in a small coaster the Cape Verde crew sat with life jackets on clutching their worldly goods,it was just up to the skipper to keep it stearn to the seas and dodge the sandbanks and other shipping,in the wheelhouse things were tense

 

[PaulRainbow]

All is good not wearing a lifejacket that is until something goes wrong - yes you can risk assess it as much as you want but a lifejacket is basic ppe.
what was the chances of the Titanic hitting an Iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean in terms of the size of the Berg x the Size of the Ocean ??

Do you take yours off when you go below decks ?

 

[jon and michie]

The only time myself or the swmbo have gone below decks - the boat has been at anchor or moored up is when our jackets are removed like being in a helicopter or aircraft never inflate till outside of the craft

 

[Momac]

The chief officer and I started with a 25ft sports cruiser .
The boat was small and moved a lot when someone went along the side deck. If the crew went in the skipper might have had to go in to save the crew. So we have always worn our life jackets when under way.

It's like wearing a seat belt in a car - something we do as normal routine and we have continued with that even with a bigger boat.

 

[alandalus11]

I always wear a lifejacket when going out. Whether its moving boat round to get fuel or on a voyage. I wouldn't criticise someone else for not wearing one either. It's their choice and their life.
I do have a story though. A chap was moving his boat one day from his berth to a new berth he was allocated. The marina was a river based marina with strong current running through that day. No wind and the chap was experienced in handling his boat. He and his wife were wearing lifejackets. Just as they were getting clear of the pontoon his wife fell in, hitting the edge of the pontoon with her shoulder which was immediately dislocated, she was in excruciating pain and could not move. Luckily her lifejacket inflated and kept her afloat but she was not in a fit state to swim. She was eventually pulled out but could have drowned. This couple never wore lifejackets but for some reason on this occasion decided to put them on. You never know when your luck will run out.

 

[doug748]

MDL have said this:

“Ideally, every person around water, whether working or for pleasure, would follow the same precautions as MDL and our teams. Unfortunately, all too often the only times people consider donning a lifejacket is when they prepare to sail out the marina.”

The next step may be a resort to the old forum favourite: our....................insurance will be invalid. Maybe not, but whoever thought in a billion years that boatyards would ever dictate that you can't work on your own boat?

 

[jon and michie]

To add to the lifejacket rule that we wear whenever we go out - is that the only time we drink alcohol is only when moored up in the marina without any intention of going out ie end of the day or if the weather decides you're not going sailing today.
yet we've seen many boaters with wine glasses or beer bottles in hand whilst underway and majority of those times without life jackets

 

[PaulRainbow]

To add to the lifejacket rule that we wear whenever we go out - is that the only time we drink alcohol is only when moored up in the marina without any intention of going out ie end of the day or if the weather decides you're not going sailing today.
yet we've seen many boaters with wine glasses or beer bottles in hand whilst underway and majority of those times without life jackets

So do you wear it when you are walking through the marina, on the pontoons ?

 

[Seastoke]

Maybe idiot is wrong more like foolish , the point I was making was the guy showing what to do , after training , choose yself.