Life-jacket under waterproofs - dangerous

[toad_oftoadhall]

Based on Dylan's known tendencies to dangerous practises it wouldn't surprize me to find out that he doesn't regularly clip on when the wind exceeds F2

I once saw him walking with a shoe lace untied. Doesn't he realize he could trip over? This crazy Maverick is way out of control.

 

[dylanwinter]

rumbled

Based on Dylan's known tendencies to dangerous practises it wouldn't surprize me to find out that he doesn't regulary clip on when the wind exceeds F2

I am going to die eventually - hopefully of old age

- but perhaps through drowning, exploding cans, holes in boats, driving too many miles to get to the boat, falling into the dock while walking back from the hostelry, being mugged in Ramsgate

but the point of all this is to avoid dieing of boredom



so far so good



Dylan

 

[All The Gear No Idea]

I am going to die eventually - hopefully of old age

- but perhaps through drowning, exploding cans, holes in boats, driving too many miles to get to the boat, falling into the dock while walking back from the hostelry, being mugged in Ramsgate

but the point of all this is to avoid dieing of boredom



so far so good



Dylan

You forgot assassination by the Google police!

 

[Seakindly]

under cover

Twenty years ago I had a Musto jacket that included a removable closed cell foam vest that fitted neatly inside the jacket lining. It was stamped 'not to be used as lifejacket' and was probably sub-newton, but it would certainly keep you afloat, and most importantly, was very wearable and maintenance free. It was full length, but in sections so flexing at waist. There were three main advantages. It gave the impression of more muscular bulk than I actually had, but proved hot to wear in pubs. It kept me warmer on night watches, and a real benefit, cushioned me from knocks, bangs and the cheesecutting action of guardrail activity ie leaning on it or over it. The jacket was nicked, but the vest survives in my boat locker. I always thought it was a sensible compromise between wearing LJ and nothing. ..especially in the dinghy but it clearly met some regulation fate and is no longer in production.

 

[nautibull]

lifejackets

A lot of fun replies but on a serious note, the lifejackets do have a built in pressure valve which will release any excess pressure. Inflation under oilies will probably result in all the gas being released with little pressure excerted on the chest and probably a sinking feeling.
Come along to the safety demo at Port Edgar and we can try it.

 

[Alfie168]

It was never a problem for Mae West

(apologies if already said by someone..havn't trawled through the whole thread..I'm lazy)

Tim

 

[Searush]

It was never a problem for Mae West

(apologies if already said by someone..havn't trawled through the whole thread..I'm lazy)

Tim

You'll miss a lot of the fun that way . . .

 

[alant]

Well I will be radical and say that I am yet to be convinced of the value of inflatable LJs. In fact the thought of having one inflate really worries me. All that pneumatic bladder around the ears and on the chest seems to me that it would reduce you to a bobbing michelin man who has to be hoisted out of the water. The picture of the LJ in the bath confirms my fears.
I like to wear a buoyancy vest that has foam buoyancy just around the torso. It is comfortable to wear indeed warm protection against spray and when in the water I can float or swim and gives very little restriction when climbing unaided back onto the boat.
Yes I know the idea of buoyancy behind the head and on the chest means you float face up even if unconscious. I have not heard of any cases around here of being knocked unconscious compared to a large number of people who have fallen of a boat.
So I reckon I am better off being able to swim and work in buoyancy rather than be made immobile just for the sake of keeping head up at all times.
I actually made my newest buoyancy vest from a sail bag of red dacron. It has 2 layers with strips of high density foam (actually a camping type sleeping mat. It has reflective tape and a whistle. it is warm and comfortable and in the water works well. So yes I carry fixed buoyancy approved type to make the boat legal in the ocean. But all of the crew wear ordinary dinghy sailing type vests except in really calm hot weather. Just an opinion olewill

But in Oz, its pointless wearing anything like an LJ surely.

If the sharks, jellyfish & crocks don't get you, your likely to be killed by being bonced by a tinny being thrown by a passing boat in an attempt to revive you.

 

[oldsaltoz]

It was some years ago that I posted about my forward hand who made his way forward to do a sail change, The short version is.

I looked up in horror when I saw my forward hand clinging to the pillpit rail repaetedly stabbing himself in the chest.

Seems that in the rough conditions with waves ans spay everywhere, his self inflating life preserver had fired, problem was he could not breath at all, luckily he always has a knife on his belt.

We laughed in the end as did he, but he said he was so surprised at how quickly it restricted his ability be breathe was so frightening.

I now make sure no one has one under clothing.

 

[Lakesailor]

I think Dylan has a serious point here.

Perhaps something more discreet

 

[David52]

Just my twopenneth,

I have twice been pinned by self inflators going off onboard, once having to be retrieved by another crew member the other time after a lot of struggling with the deflation tube while being dragged through waves on the pulpit. An interesting gulping, swearing red and yellow figure head I made too. I can pretty much vouch for the forces involved and suggest outside the oilies only.

Two things come to mind: Firstly the life jacket is a safety device so I assume you would wear it only when there is some perceived peril I think it would make sense to wear it correctly, so that the haul out loop is available to rescuers and the inflation tube/whistle/light are available to you.

Secondly know a lot of sailors who ignore a life jacket in favour of a harness, but there seem little harm in using both since most life jackets of the self inflator kind have a built in D-ring for harness clipping.

I too used to have a built in buoyancy aid in my oilies, but they can get kinda warm, I have seen (some time ago) bladders and inflation pipes put into oilskins so that in the event the could be used as a bouyancy aid. There are a few US coats with CO2 self inflating bladders built in.

Best advice is stay out of the water!

Cheerio,

GB

 

[FishyInverness]

Initially - At last, we can finally prove one of the oldest Clichés wrong "Two wrongs don't make a right" - As if Dylan Runs with Scissors AND wears his LJ under his coat, at least if it goes off he can fall on the scissors and Voila...Two birds, one stone!

Secondly, and I know I keep going on about it on the forum, but the Auto element of a Lifejacket is designed as a 'piece of mind' backup. As mentioned by a previous poster, it can sometimes take a longer time for the plunge cup to fill and the tablet to dissolve...It is "best practice" to have the pullcord accessible and train yourself to go for it in a MOB situation, whether you're wearing a manual or Auto LJ.

Wearing an inflatable LJ under clothing means that air can get trapped where you don't want it to be trapped - potentially counteracting the "face - up" effect of an inflation LJ. As other people have mentioned, the inflation in a restricted space can also cause breathing difficulty - clearly the pressure relief systems in LJ's are designed at the strength of the bladder and not the strength of your human diaphragm!

As for the comment about heavy rain inflating an Auto Inflate LJ, it is very rare these days, the Plunge Cup system used by Halkey Roberts is designed to inflate only when the cup is filled by an in-pouring of water to the lifejacket, the seams are closed by Velcro or a Zip in most quality lifejackets and so it requires immersion (or at least being swamped by a heavy wave) to activate it. The use of a jacket with a Hydrostatic (Hammar) or Pro-Firing system (UM and HR) pretty much eliminates any chance of an accidental inflation via the use of a U-Bend system to ensure only a in-pour of liquid will activate the jacket.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Five years ago my crew got swamped in very heavy conditions and his LJ automatically inflated.
Without a crotch strap it rode up around his neck and the LJ was choking him.
I was desperatly trying to let air out for him via the tube but struggled to help as I was on the tiller. I was just about to stab the LJ to relieve him when he found the tube and released some pressure.
He is a big strong middle aged man but could do little to relieve the force around his neck.
I would think you would have a better chance of surviving without a LJ than one worn under a top if you were to fall in.
I hate wearing an LJ but if solo I would recommend always wearing one unless you'r up a river on a nice warm day where there are lots of people to give help or perhaps you should wear a lifeline tethered so it's impossible to go over...... another pain to wear, but whats your life worth?
Of course Lin Pardey would probably say you should learn all the skills to prevent going in in the first place, but what about that rogue wave out at sea????

 

[Stu Jackson]

It is "best practice" to have the pullcord accessible and train yourself to go for it

I was steering one day with my inflatable LJ on outside my clothes. As I was turning the wheel I felt some restriction and just turned harder. The LJ inflated!!!

I looked down at the manual handle, which had gotten caught on one of the spokes of the wheel.

Here's what it read: "Jerk to inflate."

I surely qualified.

 

[FishyInverness]

It is "best practice" to have the pullcord accessible and train yourself to go for it


Here's what it read: "Jerk to inflate."

I surely qualified.

Excellent! Gave me a Friday afternoon chuckle that!

 

[Boathook]

For many years I have been wearing my self inflating life-jacket under my top layer of clothing - the reason is that with a small cabin I often have to remove the outer layer to get anything from the cabin and when the sun comes out or it starts raining it saves me time. I am more likely to keep it on that way.

I am now told this is really dangerous and that it says on the instructions that one should never do this

is it really that dangerous?

Do other people live dangerous things just for the pure devilment of it?

and

when we get a lifejacket law - as in ireland - how will the authorities tell if I am, or am not wearing one. Here are two films - one with life-jacket on and one with it off. V tough for the harbourmaster to know I reckon

yours

Dangerous Dyl

Like a few others I suggest you do a film clip. Have a good friend with a sharp knife ready just in case.

 

[PeterR]

I think Dylan's idea is really good. Now waterboarding has been banned we could recommend it to the CIA for use on terrorists. Just dress them up Dylan fashion and take them for a swimming lesson. No one could call it torture, after all Dylans prepared to do it to himself!

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

It is "best practice" to have the pullcord accessible and train yourself to go for it

I was steering one day with my inflatable LJ on outside my clothes. As I was turning the wheel I felt some restriction and just turned harder. The LJ inflated!!!

I looked down at the manual handle, which had gotten caught on one of the spokes of the wheel.

Here's what it read: "Jerk to inflate."

I surely qualified.

thanks Stu ..... started my day with a grin.