life jacket question

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nemo0515

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Recently got a new life jacket from fiancee...not a huge wearer in the first place and this one came with an understrap. Is there much harm in cutting that strap off or just not wearing it? He's big on me being safe, but it's brilliantly uncomfortable and a huge inconvenience. It's a type I USCG approved jacket and seems to fit fine without. Thanks all!
 
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The strap is to stop the lifejacket riding up when you're in the water. Well worth keeping.


PS. I'm assuming your post isn't a troll to start a lifejacket argument thread.
 
nemo0515 said:
Recently got a new life jacket from fiancee...not a huge wearer in the first place and this one came with an understrap. (strap between your legs) Is there much harm in cutting that strap off or just not wearing it? He's big on me being safe, but it's brilliantly uncomfortable and a huge inconvenience. It's a type I USCG approved jacket and seems to fit fine without. Thanks all!
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So you have never been in the water with an inflated lifejacket then? Anyone who has been will tell you that they are a hinderance without crutch straps.
Allan
 
Without a crotch strap, if you go for an unintended swim, the jacket is liable to ride up and not support you in the water properly. You can reduce this by having the harness tight, but I suspect that if it's tight enough not to allow movement of the jacket, it'll be tight enough not to allow movement of the wearer!

The couple of times I've found myself swimming, I wasn't wearing a jacket, so I've no practical experience, but I don't see why the crotch strap needs to be so tight as to be uncomfortable to do its job.

To my mind, it comes down to a risk assessment. An uncomfortable jacket may be less likely to be worn, which may mean you don't wear a harness, so are more likely to go over the side. On that basis, an imperfect jacket may be better than no jacket.

One last thought: If it's a new one, can you take it back and swap it for a more comfortable one?
 
Strap Thingy

If you do cut it off don't invite the RNLI onboard and tell them what you did :eek: .. They won't be very happy and will call you allsorts of daft words .. Suppose its a bit like a woman buying a new bra and then cutting the straps off because they are uncomfortable .. :) .. Put on for a reason .. If its not comfortable then change it .. I have a CrewSaver that has twin straps .. Pain in the whatsit .. But always wear it .. ;)

Oppppps .. Wrong Login .. SWMBO will shoot me .. This is EXFINNSAILOR's POST ..
 
Nemo,

Crutch straps are usually adjustable. It is probably the wrong size if it cannot be set up comfortably. As already stated, if you ever fall in the water, that strap will save your life by stopping the jacket slipping off over your head as you slowly sink to the sea bed for a permanent snooze. :eek:
 
nemo0515 said:
not a huge wearer in the first place and this one came with an understrap. (strap between your legs) Is there much harm in cutting that strap off or just not wearing it?
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Lifejackets are pretty important, as are the crotch straps.

Take the time to find out how to make it comfortable and keep the crotch strap in place, it should not get in the way if adjusted correctly.

Seriously though, wear it.
 
Last winter I bought one with a fitted crotch strap for the first time. It is so much more comfortable than doing the old one up fairly tight that I wear it most of the time instead of just now and again. It doesn't need to be that tight but I am convinced that it will be more effective than one without straps.
 
nemo0515 said:
Recently got a new life jacket from fiancee...not a huge wearer in the first place and this one came with an understrap. (strap between your legs) Is there much harm in cutting that strap off or just not wearing it? He's big on me being safe, but it's brilliantly uncomfortable and a huge inconvenience. It's a type I USCG approved jacket and seems to fit fine without. Thanks all!
Click to expand...

Crotch strap. If uncomfortable fit one that goes either side. What ever you do leave it on and use it. To many people have I believe drowned as their lifejackets did not have a crotch strap fitted and the LJ "rides up" as the chest strap is / was not secure enough.
 
Probably best to ask a Type 1 United States Coastguard if he wears crotch straps. Surprisingly, they can be found drinking in men's bars, easily identified by the uniform.
 
Did a sea survival course where we tried crotch straps on v's crotch straps off........... no contest. I added crotch straps to all my life jackets after that. They maybe uncomfortable when you're out of the water but they're invaluable if you fall into the briny.
 
I wish LJs could be made like the buoyancy aid I use for kayaking. That has a crotch strap that can be locked away like a belt when not in use.

As a small boat sailor I prefer to wear the LJ fulltime but find that the crotch strap catches on every cleat etc. on the boat. It would be nice if I could tuck it away on a nice day and then use it if I felt it was justified.
 
JCP said:
The strap is to stop the lifejacket riding up when you're in the water. Well worth keeping.


PS. I'm assuming your post isn't a troll to start a lifejacket argument thread.
Click to expand...

Definitely not...I'm new to sailing. Not trying to start any arguments.
 
We have always had (single) crotch straps fitted on our LJs, which we aim to wear whenever on board and topsides or in the dinghy. My attitude on this fortified by the Ouzo review.They are not a major encumbrance provided fitted properly and not a major cost if an addition. If you have them, then use them is best practice- no one knows when an event may occur to put you in the water and you may not then be in a position to remedy the situation. Same reason why I chose auto inflation after weighing pros & cons.
 
Lifejacket Question

I have been waiting for the first L/J thread of 2010, and in fact was going to start one but work intervened.
In reply to nemo (wish people would put some info on their profile -Ok so mine's a bit over the top), please do not cut off the delicately described strap !
Having used lifejackets over many years both professionally and as a yachtsperson, believe me the strap is a must. I have tried it with and without (in the water both deliberately and several times accidentally) and as someone else said above - "no contest".

On another point, SWMBO and I made a conscious decision (well semi-conscious) at the turn of the Year, to wear our lifejackets on marina pontoons going to and from the boat, or in a dinghy. It's not a lot of trouble and it could just save your life.

Safe sailing to all in 2010,

Michael.
 
Croth strap

I was looking at a person't LJ recently. It was sold without strap and she had wisely paid the extra for the strap. however I thought the strap a bit pathetic. Being tied at the back to the LJ belt and brought around under to the front of the LJ.
There are alternatives. My son did a lot of dinghy sailing using a foam buoyancy vest with a lot of in water use. he complained that it rode up in the water, even though arm holes stopped him falling out.
I made from some strong cloth like heavy denim a near triangular piece almost like a diaper. (nappy). It was wide at the back and provided added padding to sit on, narrowed at the crotch and widened slightly to meet the front of the vest. it was velcroed with a large area. For added strength you double velcro ie the flap has hook on both sides going into an area of double fabric with pile on both insides. This type can add padding for sitting on and wear resistance to save your wet weather trousers or jeans.

Now as an alternative you can make like a harness out of webbing. essentially the webbing goes from the front on one side around under the buttocks and back to the front. This is held in place by straps around the legs. ie from the webbing strap at the front between the legs and back to the same strap at the back. The same on both sides. This arrangement can take all of your weight quite comfortably as you are in effeect sitting in the strap under the buttocks. The loops around the legs mostly just hold the buttock strap in place. IMHO this type would be essential if you had a LJ with harness built in and wanted to be able to hoist the person out of the water by the harness. Unfortunately this design is a bit tedious to fit on. Perhaps velcro could be used to good effect again.

To reiterate however some sort of crotch strap is vital unless you go to a foam dinghy jacket type which has armholes so can't ride up so much. good luck olewill
 
Surely for a lady a crotch strap would be less uncomfortable than for a man! That's not sexist is it? How many picked up that the OP is female?:D
 
Lifejackets

If anyone is thinking about retrofitting crotch straps or thigh straps I would strongly advise against the latter.
We had to buy straps to pass our coding survey (the lifejackets did not have them before), and we purchased thigh strap kits, which proved to be impossible to use without considerable discomfort, so we are having the straps modified to become twin crotch straps which hopefully will pass either side of delicate parts in an emergency.
However, I see Jimmy Green has crotch strap kits at a very reasonable price.

Cheers,

Michael, (from a chilly Portugal)
 
No sign of OP's response, or any further participation in any forum. Does any one else smell Troll? The question has already been hinted at, but the smell is getting stronger.

Edit; I see there has been a troll denial statement last night. Does that work like an official Govt denial to prove the case?
 
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