Life Jackets - which one?

[themount2]

Recommendations please.
Not good swimmers so need to know if we go in we will stay safe. Have already decided on integral harness but~
150N or 275N?
Auto inflate or just pull cord?
Sprayhood or not?
Auto head up?
Good value suggestions greatly appreciated.

Got our Day Skipper Practical / ICC tickets last week, chuffed or what!!! Brilliant week with John Clarke & Co at Team Sailing. Particular thanks to Nigel.

Would recommend them to anyone.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[PortsmouthBird]

Did my sea survival course recently with Capital Sailing who restored my faith in RYA schools but the biggest thing I learn't was to make sure it has a crouch strap. Otherwise its bloody useless trying to get into a raft or even staying afloat as it rises up above your head and you spend more time pushing it down.

If you are going to pay money you may as well get one with spray hood, light the lot simply because in the unlikely event you do need it, it needs to be to the bees knees, as you only get one life.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mike2822425]

Did mine recently as well. So decieded (as a solo sailer) to check it out. My very expensive 275 made me look and feel like the provervial "Michelin Man" when inflated, and I was not able to enter the 12 man even with help!

But it did turn me "face up" so "you pays your money ect".

Mike.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[davidwf]

Personally think 150's are Ok but main issue is comfort when wearing them, I find my XM jackets much more comfortable to wear for long periods than my Crewsaver. So put them on in the Chandelers and check they feel OK, make sure to check around back of neck.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Shanty]

Some thoughts:

150N is a good general purpose size - 275N tends to be a bit on the big size for geeral use

Get a set of thigh straps. Without them, the lifejacket is liable to ride up in use, and in extreme circumstances, slip off entirely

A sprayhood is a good idea - you will tend to turn face into wind when floating in your lifejacket - liable to breath in a lot of spray

If night passages are a possibility, get a lifejacket light & fit it

I don't like auto lifejackets. If they get wet, they can set themselves off in lockers etc. (I was scrutineering at the Scottish Series this year, and had the disconcerting experience of having an auto lifejacket self inflate as it was handed to me for inspection). Either go for a hydrostatic unit (Hammar), or a manual (pull cord) system.

BTW, one frequent problem we found at Tarbert this year was gas cylinders that had started to come unscrewed. There has been a MCA safety notice on this. Normal use of the lifejacket causes a small, but repeated turning force on the cylinder - in extreme cases, the cylinder can come completely unscrewed. Check the cylinder frequently It should be as tight as you can screw it by hand - I do this every time I use my lifejacket now.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Ohdrat]

You only need 275 if you are carrying heavy tools and/or wearing heavy (and I mean Industrial heavy not Musto/Gill Ocean stuff) otherwise 150 is perfectly OK.

I have just bought an Ocean Safety auto (retailed as the Ocean Passage Plus Mk2) with the Halkey Roberts super bobin (a Mk II version which will not inflate unless submerged) which is rated as better than the Hammar type. This is the Harness version with a crutch strap and spray hood.. the Aquaspec light came as an extra.

It all looks convincing and is comfortable to wear i.e. good spec and quality without paying for the name as you would with Crewsaver.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Ohdrat]

You only need 275 if you are carrying heavy tools and/or wearing heavy (and I mean Industrial heavy clothing not Musto/Gill Ocean stuff) otherwise 150 is perfectly OK.

I have just bought an Ocean Safety auto (retailed as the Ocean Passage Plus Mk2) with the Halkey Roberts super bobin (a Mk II version which will not inflate unless submerged) which is rated as better than the Hammar type. This is the Harness version with a crutch strap and spray hood.. the Aquaspec light came as an extra.

It all looks convincing and is comfortable to wear i.e. good spec and quality without paying for the name as you would with Crewsaver.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Mirelle]

150, Hammar, harness, no spray hood

The 275 is for people jumping into -2deg seas wearing hard hats, safety boots and heavy kit - and expecting to be recovered - you cannot move in it!

The Hammar or similar hydrostatic release is preferable, as it will not auto-inflate at the wrong moment so readily - BUT it is unsafe for children, who can drown before it reaches trigger depth, so kids should have ordinary auto-inflates.

I personally think auto-inflation is just about essential.

ALWAYS CHECK THE BOTTLE IS SCREWED IN - EVERY TIME!!!

An integral harness is practically essential.

Unfortunately, no-one, not even Crewsaver (whom I have been in touch with about this, following an earlier posting) makes a face mask which is worth a damn. It should be integral with the jacket and deploy automatically, as Cosalts (Crewsaver's parent company) professional models do.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Ohdrat]

Re: Hammar v Halkey Roberts & Sprayhood deployment

Re Hammar v Halkey Roberts Super Bobbin Mk2

I think the jury is now out as to which is better.. from what I have been told and the kit I bought has yet to prove itself the Super Bobin Mk2 is better as it will fire (inflate the jacket) without water pressure but is now much more tolerant of damp so that it wont inflate in the wet locker.

The sprayhood on the above lifejacket is automatically deployed. I asked and this was confirmed. I wouldn't buy a lifejacket without a sprayhood that did.

Whilst I have no quarrel with Crewsaver/Cosalt quality I do think you pay for the name as much as the specification whilst with the Ocean Safety model you get a comparable quality.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

There are two buoyancy standards, 150N and 275N. LJs are therefore sold as 150 or 275. But they might exceed this - I know Secumar claims its 150 is actually a minimum of 170. So it's worth reading the small print.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Mirelle]

Thanks, interesting

I'll look for one.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[StephenSails]

I had this very problem with my lifejacket - I have now used self emalgamating tape to hold the cylinder in position. Lucky it was in the pub when we tried to inflate it!

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.yachtinguniverse.com

 

[themount2]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I think we will check out the Ocean Safety with Super Bobbin.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Gunfleet]

The only trouble with integral harness is that you can't thread it through your oilies as a semi permanent arrangement - which you will want if you are doing a lot of night sailing or whatever. On deck at night a harness is a lot more use than a life-jacket, which may well only guarantee that you take longer to drown. Much better to stay on the vessel and leave swimming skills for the pool!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[kingfisher]

[url]www.secumar.de[/url]

NM

<hr width=100% size=1>Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[GeorgeP]

Re: Life Jackets

Congrats on your D/S.

I suggest you start with a 150N auto with harness and crotch strap. Like others, I was nearly strangled on my sea survival course. Also, you don't want to be messing with a manual if you fall into the UK sea this time of year - it's cold. The autos will go off if they get too damp (one of mine did last year). So keep them dry.

Upgrade if you start to do more night sailing/deep sea/rough weather/etc. These inflatables don't last very long.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Peppermint]

Re:Ocean Passage Plus MK2

From Alladins Cave Auto with spray hood 69.99 of your earth pounds. The auto claims to be resistant to firing cos of a bit of spray. I've ordered 2 to go with the 2 XM's I've got which look OK after 3 years. Yes have the crutch straps whichever you buy.

<hr width=100% size=1>