Life-jacket under waterproofs - dangerous

[dylanwinter]

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

 

[Salty John]

Wow, Dylan, what with boiling tins in a pan, poking moboers with a stick and wearing your LJ under your coat you're living on the edge!

 

[shaunksb]

.

and when the sun comes out

If it warms up and you are tempted to strip off for a swim DON'T under any circumstances wear the lifejacket under your trunks............

It will only end in tears



.

 

[vyv_cox]

I think it is very risky - for your top layer of clothing. Quite surprising how much pressure an inflated lifejacket can exert if restricted in its expansion. One of ours went off inside a locker a couple of years ago when a deck fitting leaked onto it. Took real effort to get it out.

 

[dylanwinter]

top layer damage

I think it is very risky - for your top layer of clothing. Quite surprising how much pressure an inflated lifejacket can exert if restricted in its expansion. One of ours went off inside a locker a couple of years ago when a deck fitting leaked onto it. Took real effort to get it out.

not sure I am that bothered about damaging the top

my main wet weather top is one of these

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/53061...PPE/Hi-Vis-Clothing/Hi-Vis-Coat-Size-XL-46-48

so if it gets ripped apart superman style when I hit the briney - £25 -

Dangerous Dyl

 

[Chrissie]

Its a worry Dylan, what if the lifejacket going off expands your outer layer and the zip or other fastening tightens round your neck.

It might be worth a controlled experiment, and filming it, great safety video material

 

[Avocet]

If the top layer of clothing is strong enough to restrain it, might it make breathing a tad tricky? If your top layer has a zip fastener, would you be able to undo the zip (if it didn't burst anyway)? I have no experience of this but my gut feeling is that I might not want to try!

Oh, and if you had a little light on it, nobody would see it!

 

[savageseadog]

Its a worry Dylan, what if the lifejacket going off expands your outer layer and the zip or other fastening tightens round your neck.

It might be worth a controlled experiment, and filming it, great safety video material

Yeh do a video for us. I'll fund the CO2 bottle.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Here's a friend of mine setting off a 275N lifejacket in the bath. Reckon you could fit that under your clothing? A 150N one will be smaller, but not a not smaller.

 

[Searush]

Good thread, Dylan;

Auto L/Js have a pressure release valve don't they? - So that the CO2 doesn't burst them as, when new, it has more CO2 than needed. If you are wearing the L/J under a coat, then the L/J probably won't fully inflate.

If you can wear your coat over a fully inflated L/J, there probably won't be a problem. But that means it has to be a very large & loose coat & probably won't keep you that warm.

FWIW; I own, & sometime wear, a "Life-coat" which is a waterproof jacket (well not so w/proof these days) with a manual inflatable bladder inside it. I can partially inflate it for deck work &, if I fall in, I can top it up to keep me afloat. The partially inflated bladder is great insulation & the jacket is really warm. I don't think the are made any more as I doubt it will pass current regulations.

So you could manually add extra air when you fall in I suppose. Your choices, all I did was point out that there may be an issue with wearing it under a coat. I still think that people need to think about the potential consequences of their actions.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Personally, I think it's a silly thing to do.

Heaven knows what the effect of the LJ inflating under your top would be but you'll certainly loose the visibilty of the flourescence and reflectivity of the LJ. I also rather doubt that you will have easy access to the "ripcord" or the "topping up" inflater.

However, the ability to confuse the authorities is a real positive and I will probably be using your technique if they impose more regulations on us!

 

[Lakesailor]

You could paint your face green and do a vid along the lines of the Incredible Hulk.

We won't like you when you're angry.

 

[bobgoode]

Wow, Dylan, what with boiling tins in a pan, poking moboers with a stick and wearing your LJ under your coat you're living on the edge!

Yup..he'll be writing posts about anchors next.

 

[Searush]

It is essential that you wear the right lifejacket for the job at hand and never wear anything on top of your life jacket.

Taken from this advice to broads boaters

Now, you know that I am not one to believe everything I am told, or to follow rules blindly, but I do think they have a point. Wearing it under your coat may make you feel safer, but I am not so sure that the reality is the same.

I'd like to see the video of your test tho!

 

[dylanwinter]

living dangerously

the broads info says this

It is essential that you wear the right lifejacket for the job at hand and never wear anything on top of your life jacket.


but why?

as for reflectivity my top is reflective - so that solves that problem

hard to reach the hook on the life jacket of course



I think I shall continue with this dangerous practice when I am feeling like behaving badly.


I would also like the authorities to take several other dangrous practices into account including - as

boiling things in unpeirced tin cans

riding a bike without a helmet

walking along the canal towpath at night

heating a cabin with a plate full of tealights

running with scizzors

if you would like to see more dangerous practices please feel free to take a look at we well known circumnavigators website and get outraged

Dylan

Ps its hard to beat the danger involved in driving to the boat

 

[Ubergeekian]

the broads info says this

It is essential that you wear the right lifejacket for the job at hand and never wear anything on top of your life jacket.

but why?

Because inflatable lifejackets have to, erm, inflate to do any good. That means they have to get a lot bigger. Wearing anything on top of something which has t o get a lot bigger to save your life is not sensible.

If you are willing to go over the side - or even jump into a swimming pool - wearing clothes on top of your lifejacket and put a film of the results on Youtube, I will buy you the re-arming kit. Deal?

 

[Mal113]

Are you not all missing the point by suggest the outer clothes may not be strong enough to resist the pressure etc. A life jacket is so called because unlike other flotation devices it will support the wearer so his head is above the water even if the wear is concussed at the time. The question must be not only will the jacket support the victim but will it provide support so the head up. I am sure manufactures would not suggest wearing a life jacket under any outer garment.

 

[Alpha22]

I used to sail with a gentleman who's wife almost died when her jacket went off under her oilies.

The pressure from the jacket on her lungs was preventing her from breathing. He took his knife out and stabbed her in the chest.

He later commented on what a satisfying feeling that gave him!!!!!

End result, one knackered lifejacket, waterproofs with a knife slit in but a happy wife!!!

 

[dylanwinter]

amazing story

I used to sail with a gentleman who's wife almost died when her jacket went off under her oilies.

The pressure from the jacket on her lungs was preventing her from breathing. He took his knife out and stabbed her in the chest.

He later commented on what a satisfying feeling that gave him!!!!!

End result, one knackered lifejacket, waterproofs with a knife slit in but a happy wife!!!

well that sounds like an amazing story.

Not sure my screwfix site jacket is tight enough for that to happen

as for Uberkeekians generous offer of replacing the cyclinder on my life jacket

let me get this right.... you want me to set up a camera.... hurl myself fully clothed into cold water.... then climb out ... edit and upload the film just for the price of a replacement cyclinder which I will need to replace after doing the stunt anyway .....

doesn't sound like that good a deal..... however, if enough poeple offered to pay me to do it....

well then perhaps I would as a bit of cash flow would help KTL along nicely.

Maybe PBO will do it as one of their uber sensible tests on cotton socks or £5,000 yacht tenders


Dangerous Dyl

 

[Ubergeekian]

let me get this right.... you want me to set up a camera.... hurl myself fully clothed into cold water.... then climb out ... edit and upload the film just for the price of a replacement cyclinder which I will need to replace after doing the stunt anyway .....

Yup, you've got it. Except that I did say you could use a swimming pool, so the water shouldn't be too cold. And there would be a qualified lifeguard handy, which I think you'd appreciate about five seconds after the lifejacket triggered ...