Fire99
Well-Known Member
Why? If people like to talk about it, what's the problem.? It's a public issue these days, and good to discuss.
LifeJackets - is everyone a pansy these days?
- Thread starter fireball
- Start date
Why? If people like to talk about it, what's the problem.? It's a public issue these days, and good to discuss.
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
No one should EVER feel they are a pansy for wearing a LJ, the danger with suggesting that you are a pansy may just make someone who is impressionable, new to sailing looking to more experienced people for guidance, someone who should be wearing a LJ but feels intimidated into leaving it off.
As someone who is a weak swimmer and who sails with a wife who is great with fenders and warps, but thats about it, I always wear a life jacket. Yes the cockpit is relatively safe, but I have no idea when I might have to go forward on the deck to free a snagged sheet etc. Without wearing the LJ I may be tempted to make the trip without.
Only last month, someone coming onto a berth in our marina, single handed, slipped and fell in, he could not get out on his own. Although he was not wearing a LJ, he was found, but he was weak and very very cold. Its so easily happens.
NEVER EVER feel intimidated into not wearing a life jacket, you will not be a pansy.
As someone who is a weak swimmer and who sails with a wife who is great with fenders and warps, but thats about it, I always wear a life jacket. Yes the cockpit is relatively safe, but I have no idea when I might have to go forward on the deck to free a snagged sheet etc. Without wearing the LJ I may be tempted to make the trip without.
Only last month, someone coming onto a berth in our marina, single handed, slipped and fell in, he could not get out on his own. Although he was not wearing a LJ, he was found, but he was weak and very very cold. Its so easily happens.
NEVER EVER feel intimidated into not wearing a life jacket, you will not be a pansy.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that advice. That will certainly make me think twice. Not.Put the bloody thing on you idiots.
Seajet
...
Very well said; my father is of the attitude that only pansies wear LJ's even in the tender, but seeing as I'm a lot more experienced than him and managed to go overboard from the tender last year ( wearing a LJ ) + he's 88 and it's my boat, he's got the message !
Countless thousands of sailors have given their lives to get us to the level of knowledge and equipment development we enjoy today; we owe it to them to be professional and use it.
PabloPicasso
Well-Known Member
Better a live 'pansy' than a dead 'macho-man'. Maybe Darwins law will eventually apply and those who won't wear LJs will remove themselves from the genepool throuigh there own stupidity.
I've wathched eager 'experienced' crew working at the mast to reef at night in challenging conditions when a slip would have put them overboard with little chance of us getting back to them
It's easy to fall in even benign conditions. I mainly sail In Irish waters where wearing LJs is compulsory so the choice doesn't apply Most drownings occur when LJs are not being worn.
Having said all that I've never wore an LJ when chartering in good conditions in the med, only at night when it was rough.
Make your own sensible choices and don't have a pop at others who choose to wear them as i have done at those who choose n ot too. I love double standards
I've wathched eager 'experienced' crew working at the mast to reef at night in challenging conditions when a slip would have put them overboard with little chance of us getting back to them
It's easy to fall in even benign conditions. I mainly sail In Irish waters where wearing LJs is compulsory so the choice doesn't apply Most drownings occur when LJs are not being worn.
Having said all that I've never wore an LJ when chartering in good conditions in the med, only at night when it was rough.
Make your own sensible choices and don't have a pop at others who choose to wear them as i have done at those who choose n ot too. I love double standards
Talulah
Well-Known Member
Is your boat less than 7m?
Talulah
Well-Known Member
Seems you have double standards.
You're calling anyone who doesn't wear a LJ stupid then you go on to talk about sensible choices. A choice can be in the negative as well as in the positive.
ffiill
Well-Known Member
No life jacket;Out on to deck;guardrail open;trip;over the side;Fu...d!
C
Chrusty 1
Guest
Interesting, xiaoneitie made 5 posts in 20 minutes between 0838 and 0858.
and not responded to any of them by way of discussion. Hmmmmmmm.
and not responded to any of them by way of discussion. Hmmmmmmm.
pcatterall
Well-Known Member
Just picked up one point which was a response to the effect that whenever NOT at anchor or moored the writer always wore his life jacket.
Falling off a moored or anchored boat can be very dangerous if there is any current running. Its one time when I always wear mine!!
Falling off a moored or anchored boat can be very dangerous if there is any current running. Its one time when I always wear mine!!
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
Lifejacket - useless unless in the water.
There are times when they should be worn and times when the risk doesn't warrant it.
There are times when they should be worn and times when the risk doesn't warrant it.
onesea
Well-Known Member
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
Surely then he'd have been better off wearing some kind of thermal protection? When the water's cold, ie mid winter to early summer, it's hypothermia which is most likely to kill you regardless of whether you're wearing a LJ or not.
fisherman
Well-Known Member
Here we are, 28 pages in, again. What's the argument? Do what you want. However, I wear one all the time, although single handed. We did when we were two or three handed, ever since a fisherman got knocked overboard and drowned because he was semi conscious, the two who drowned inside St Ives harbour after overturning a dinghy, ect ect. Having picked up a mob who was near drowning I would say it gives the rescuer time: if my (once) crew went over without a LJ I would have to get back to him and grab him quick, with a LJ I have time to organise retrieval. There is also the factor of anguished families who never found the remains of their loved ones, if the worst came to the worst at least she would get the credit cards and car keys back.
C
Chrusty 1
Guest
I don't think there really is any argument, people make their own choices, and that's as it should be I think. I have given life jackets a miss for donkey's years, not from any macho delusions, just couldn't be assed. (yeah I know).....I am of the opinion that preventing oneself from going overboard whilst at sea is a much better option, and those jackstays that one often sees run down the side decks of yachts are in my opinion, about as much use as a chocolate fireguard, they wont stop you going. over.
However, I digress, now that I am entering me dotage, am non too fit, not as steady on me pins as I once was, I have come to the conclusion that wearing an LJ whilst transiting betwixt shore and boat in the dinghy is just plain sensible. I have heard of far too many lives being lost by folks falling from dinghies, for me not to be taking note, and doing something about it.
I am also going to be investigating dry suits, with a view to Winter sailing, for somebody in my state of health, cold shock could be as much of a killer as drowning, in Winter, more so. Mind, the cost of them has caused me to have a sharp intake of breath, but then, me missus still thinks I'm worth more alive than dead.
pagoda
Well-Known Member
Not a bad idea. Don't delude yourself about being OK in the water in summer. Particularly in the North Sea, which never qualifies for remotely warm..
There are 2nd hand (ex helicopter use) survival suits available in Aberdeen which could offer the kind of protection you're after.
Provided you wear enough under them, and the seals are OK , they keep you fairly warm. A nice bright yellow or orange for people to spot you as well
If there are enough crew on board, a single MOB should not have to be in the water long . Short handed or single handed is a very different matter.
I wear a LJ at all times under way (and dinghy), and don't see any problem doing so. When single handed I use harness lines when I go on deck, and occasionally at the helm, if it's a bit lively.
Just do what is appropriate for the prevailing conditions and your conscience ?
Graeme
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
Crabman thinks you are an idiot.
There is an argument. It's about whether someone has the right to call names because somebody (who is in possession of the facts) makes a choice different from their own.
stevebrassett
Well-Known Member
C
Chrusty 1
Guest
He is not alone!
Ok, let 'em have an argument, I don't care, I'm off to me boat, have nice day y'all!
PabloPicasso
Well-Known Member
As i said double standards are allowable for me, myself, I
D But never for others
dumb choices may lead to genetic material being removed from the genepool (Darwinism), repeated dumb choices multiply these chances in a logarithmic manner So if you wear a LJ it increases survival chances when we make other dumb choices (often referred to as mistakes)
