Lifejacket recommendations.

[Plum]

Still not bought anything.
None of the local swindleries have any in stock.
They can order them for me, but I want to try one on before I buy.

Yes, very important to try on.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Daydream believer]

. Keep your deck line tight or hooked over a high place so you dont get in the water.

I read this so many times. It is a pointless comment. (Just like saying- do not fall over board) On 90% of boats it is impossible to rig a jackstay in such a way. Furthermore moving about the deck with a safety line that is too short can be dangerous. I had a crew who turned up with one & very soon asked for a longer one.

It would be a thread drift too far to comment further & the matter has been debated in depth elsewhere. Everyone having their own opinion.
However,
There are lots of other times one needs a LJ. I bet many can quote stories of people falling from dinghies when going from moorings to & from the boat. No safety line or jackstay there. A few beers & a night time return & it could be all over. That is the one place where a single hander really does need the LJ. Let alone a crewed boat.

As for LJ choice, If possible borrow one that has been inflated & see how it comes under the chin. The crewsaver has a nasty seam that can draw blood from the soft skin, when it inflates & will chaffe badly if it rides up an inch or two , which it surely will. We tested one on my wife & it pushed her head back hard & drew blood.

 

[thinwater]

I read this so many times. It is a pointless comment. (Just like saying- do not fall over board) On 90% of boats it is impossible to rig a jackstay in such a way. Furthermore moving about the deck with a safety line that is too short can be dangerous. I had a crew who turned up with one & very soon asked for a longer one....

My avitar shows a multihull. It is VERY easy to rig safe jacklines when the deck is wide. On my tri it is fully 6 feet from the lines to the outboard hulls. The lines also end 6 feet short of the bow and transom (with stretch, I can reach all I need to, and they can be extended).

Monohulls... there are challenges on smaller boats, but the 90% figure for all boats is a discouraging exaggeration. Solutions are found with practice.

 

[david_bagshaw]

I never found lifejackets annoying or restrictive until I tried a Spinlock Deckvest 5D and realised how much better it was. I used one on a delivery I did, and it was amongst the first things I bought when I got a boat of my own.

another vote for spinlock. well designed, and particularly suited for the female form as well.