Life-jackets advice?

Rob_Webb

Rob_Webb

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I want to upgrade my life-jackets to automatic/self-inflating, with integral harnesses and ideally, a crotch strap. As always prices vary hugely and it's difficult to know whether the higher prices (e.g. Crewsaver) really do give you a better product or just a fancy name.

I'm tempted to regard this as the one piece of kit NOT to bargain hunt on - but would welcome thoughts/experience from people to justify this?

Thanks
Rob
 
My Crewsaver is approx 15 years old. I check it over at the start of every season and it still holds pressure over a 48 hour period. I reckon so far it has cost me about £5 per season, and decreasing.

Whether 'lesser' brands would perform as well is the big question.
 
I think maybe the other posters here are answering the wrong question. I have sold lifejackets in the past, and will be selling them again soon. My question is whether we rely on standards and accepts minimums instead of demanding maximums?

There is the 150N CE is standard for which we all seem to shop, but there is also the 275N standard, and nobody has explained to me what that's for except to say it's for Ocean use. Well one thing you get is greater "freeboard", so less chance of drowning whilst afloat, and what difference does it make where you are, the short channel seas I would have thought could be quite as damaging as the "Ocean", whatever that is.

For me next time I'll be going for the Secumar 275N Windows Duo Protect. All the bells and whistles, twin air bags, proven inflator never had a recall, and you can check the state of the inflator through a window each time you put it on, (not once a year if you're careful). It's the top product from a German quality manufacturer who impressed me at METS. It's quite probable Crewsaver do an equivalent.

This is only a personal opinion.

John
 
I'm just a fair weather cruiser but I always clip on when out of the cockpit to reef, pull down the main or sort out any mess. After wearing a separate harness and lifejacket for a time, I would always go for an integral lifejacket/harness.
 
Buy the best you can afford.. but forget the crotch strap. buy the "thigh" strap. much more comfy and there will be no change in your voice. Also dont buy the automatic.
I wanted to upgrade to the automatic, just in case I went overboard etc ec. Having talked to a lot of "offshoe " sailors ,I was convincd that the manual was better.
Good luck
BrianJ
 
We used to issue the Secumar LJs on board our survey ships, but they were very heavy and nobody could stand wearing them for hours on end when working the back deck. We changed to Crewsaver some years back- much more comfortable for extended use.

Maybe Secumar make a lighter version now (the ones we used were fitted with protective covers etc)
 
I'm toying with the idea of putting these on the web site as a "top product" with the XM Crewfit as the everyday product, but I haven't priced them yet. If I do this before the thread drops off the screen I'll advise.

John
 
Serious thoughts on lifejacketsu

1. A lot of research and experience suggests that the sprayhood is absolutely worth while, not to say necessary, and I would certainly add these. None of the lifejackets that I have looked at had them integral, which is a pity

2. Thigh straps better than crutch straps.

3. An EPIRB in the pocket is worth more than a whistle
 
Just a thought on the Manual vs. Automatic Debate.... my XM automatic lifejacket has a removable 'detonator', and a toggle to pull if the auto-inflate doesn't work.

I usually leave the detonator on (figure if I go over the side I'm likely to have been hit by something hard and heavy!), but take the detonator off if I'm doing any Fordeck work or am likely to get very wet, hopefully avoiding the accidental inflate!

By the way I did hear a story of a particularly lightweight girls lifejacket going off in whilst racing, got caught in some rigging and flipped her upside down where she was suspended for 10 minutes whilst the rest of the crew tried to free her!
 
I wrote to Crewsaver to thank them after a childs auto lifejacket dutifully went off saved the life of a 5 year old guest when he fell off the jetty. They sent me a re-arming kit and a wallet by return - They certainly have retained me as a customer.

Praise where it is due - Crewsaver - seen it in action - quality product.
Ian
Ian
 
I'm very impressed. I was thinking of getting one for our seven year old, who is fed up with the rigid kind; I think I will do so.
 
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