Life Jackets

muckypup

muckypup

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Harlequin has a few good lifejackets, but I would like a couple more, but rather than just buy regular ones, I thought I could get a couple of very good ones for SWMBO & I.

I know basically what to look for, auto hammar style activation, light, whistle & sprayhood.

Any recommandations on which brand to go for? I was sort of thinking of the Crewsaver Crewfit 150N PLUS...

Steve
 
Yip, crewfit i think are one of the best, but another brand is Baltic.
A forum member here sent me a Baltic brochure, and looking through it the stuff looks very good and i wasn't dissappointed when i happen to see some in the flesh.
Why not PM him and ask for a brochure his prices are pretty keen too.
His name is Malthouse and his web site is www.malthouse-marine.com

Cheers

Alistairr.
 
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What is the harness part? is this something that I need (being a mobo owner)?

[/ QUOTE ] Oo-er; this may start an impassioned debate.

Many will argue that, as a moboer, you don't have the need to go out on deck in rough weather in the same way that raggies do, and therefore don't have the need to hook on a lifeline - which is the only reason for a harness.

I'd say that there is no knowing when you might need to clip on somewhere and, on balance, I'd get a jacket with an integral harness. But it'll be pretty useless without a lifeline to go with it.............
 
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we do keep lifelines on board (and harnesses) on our mobo

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes good idea - Interesting, I used to wonder about same when we had a flybridge boat, and we were up top on a heaving sea. Nearly got chucked over once. Felt quite insecure the odd time, and the flybridge helm was sometimes a disaster for sea sickness. Our corrent mobo has a single secure aft cockpit helm (ie broom), feels very secure on lumpy seas and seems to help with sea sickness for crew due to lower rolling moment. Everybody out in fresh air looking at the forward horizon, but snug as bugs in a rug! Eats deck space, but suits us for now.
 
If it's that "hang-on-tight" sea running that you need a harness to stop being thrown out of the cockpit, I will probably be hanging onto the pontoon (or the bar.. in fact I often have to hang onto the bar to try and stop myself from being thrown out) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

S.
 
There are definitely times when you may need a harness and lifeline on a mobo - removing fouling from a strendrive in lumpy sea, manually deploying anchor if the engines fail and you're drifting towards the hard stuff, lifting an MOB aboard etc.
 
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Agreed. Just out of interest, where do you attach your lifelines? Not many secure attachment points spring to mind on yer average mobo.

[/ QUOTE ]

We have an atlantic 38 ie single outside helm. We attach lifelines to the s/s footrail of the helm seat so if you get up to cross the deck for whatever reason and miss a handhold (agreed - not enough of 'em) at least you stay on board!
 
Have a look on YBW Gear - we've changed the format, and while there's still much to be done, you can now search by price, rating and company. There are 14 full reviews if you click the lifejacket tabs, they should give you some good advice.

Dan YBW Gear
 
Yes - Would be a requirement to have one. There have been lots of threads on here about the pros and cons of these (mainly pros).

S.
 
Life jacket wishlist:
275n 150n dependant on body mass downside 275 is very difficult to swim or see where your going plus getting into liferaft VERY difficult....but then a 275 is like wearing a liferaft around your neck /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
plus side 275 in big seas will float you much higher and generally two chambers to jacket dependant on make plus in winter with lots of wet clothing 150n may not be enough buoyancy


Fully automatic probably hanmar
Full harness with D ring ( in the unlikely event you want to clip on)
crutch straps To stop Lifejacket trying to strangle you when your in the water
Bladder seperate to cover to prevent wear of bladder from chaffing
Spray hood to prevent secondary drowning from spray

whistle ,lights, retroreflective tape, arm straps, etc etc

NB: Wouldnt buy one of the zip up variety again as the bitch tried to drown me when the zip only undid part way and the bellows refused to inflate on one side!! would always stick to velcro fastenings on the cover in future.
And would maybe look for a life jacket with some foam buoyancy as a gas only life jacket with a puncture is bloody useless
 
Was acually thinking of something quite light (in red) that when in contact with water expanded into a 30' flybridge cruiser....

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
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