How often do you wear your life jacket?

For the Skipper - Whenever he fees the need, whenever the sea conditions dictate it, whenever the wind is greater then an F6, whenever the skipper is alone or the only person on watch and always at night.

For the crew - Whenever the skipper tells them to, whenever the sea conditions dictate it, whenever the wind is greater then an F6, whenever you are the only person on watch and always at night.

All our life jackets have both Raymarine MOB and AIS transponders.
 
Never go sailing with a french bloke called Charles. He can't steer straight.
 
To be serious, I wear my lifejacket / harness every time I go to and from my boat in the dinghy to and from the mooring.

However the most useful bit by far is having a harness point.
 
Not as often as I should perhaps. Mostly when I want the harness, so this would be anything boisterous, say F5, or when going on deck on passage, which seldom happens except when poling out the jib. We've never been good at donning jackets to go ashore in a dinghy. Tramping round the shops carrying them is a bit off-putting and we never did find the lockers by the jetty in Salcombe.
 
Seajet said:
To be serious, I wear my lifejacket / harness every time I go to and from my boat in the dinghy to and from the mooring.

However the most useful bit by far is having a harness point.
Click to expand...
Ditto, and when sailing at night and when windy - f6 and above + all children under 16 + all non-swimmers.
 
I just cant believe that the sneaky (and very sweary) French barstewards disabled the "push the scroll wheel down and mouse up" function. Simply not cricket.
 
We usually wear then from when we slip, through the lock and out to sea until we have the sails up and we are settled into our sail plan. No fixed Beaufort scale to putting them on except - on watch from dusk to dawn with either wearing the alarm or clipped on which is common sense, steady 4 we would use the auto alarm, bouncing along an a F(anything) clip on.
We also chose the boat so the video example would be hard to do, make your starting position one of safety when there are only two of you sailing
 
I'll say it then...

Lifejackets - useless unless worn

And that sums up my personal philosophy which predates the RNLI slogan.

My Ergofit l/j is comfortable and eminently wearable all day long so why not wear it all day long?

I reckon I'm far more likely to go over the side in a flat calm than in a strong breeze as I'll be hanging on for grim death in the latter anyway

This reminds me of the arguments that preceded the compulsory wearing of seatbelts. I suspect the wearing of Lifejackets will end up being compulsory too in the end
 
Being a bit of a belt and braises person, I tend to have all persons on board wear life jackets at all times and in all weather, except when in the cabin. All jackets have harness and safety lines if the weather gets rough.

However, I do a lot of single handed sailing (maybe because of the above???) and although the above still applies and I am tied to the boat at all times, I do sometimes wonder what exactly I would do if I do go overboard?

Does anyone know of anyone single handed who has fallen overboard and is able to tell the tale afterwards?



Gitane.
 
Last edited:
Erbas said:
I'll say it then...

Lifejackets - useless unless worn

And that sums up my personal philosophy which predates the RNLI slogan.

My Ergofit l/j is comfortable and eminently wearable all day long so why not wear it all day long?

I reckon I'm far more likely to go over the side in a flat calm than in a strong breeze as I'll be hanging on for grim death in the latter anyway

This reminds me of the arguments that preceded the compulsory wearing of seatbelts. I suspect the wearing of Lifejackets will end up being compulsory too in the end
Click to expand...

do you wear a crash helmet to walk downstairs in your house? If not why not?
 
Gitane said:
Being a bit of a belt and braises person, I tend to have all persons on board wear life jackets at all times and in all weather, except when in the cabin. All jackets have harness and safety lines if the weather gets rough.

However, I do a lot of single handed sailing (maybe because of the above???) and although the above still applies and I am tied to the boat at all times, I do sometimes wonder what exactly I would do if I do go overboard?

Does anyone know of anyone single handed who has fallen overboard and is able to tell the tale afterwards?



Gitane.
Click to expand...

I posted some time ago about a tether which incorporates loops for steps.
 
I only do small open boats so will have a life jacket on from the moment I step off dry land, I hardly notice the jackets there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top