Lifejackets - manual or automatic?

Are your lifejackets manual or automatic?

  • Automatic (e.g. hammar)

    Votes: 129 80.6%

  • Manual Gas (e.g. I need to pull the red tab)

    Votes: 36 22.5%

  • Manual Blow Up (I need to blow in the tube to inflat)

    Votes: 2 1.3%

  • Does not blow up (e.g. solid foam)

    Votes: 9 5.6%

  • I don't have a lifejacket

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    160
Easy to work out the pros and cons and then it is personal choice. As you see already from your poll the majority go for automatic. Don't expect the proportion to change much as you get more votes.

BTW was looking at new jackets yesterday in a big chandlers and the vast majority on display were automatic with built in harness.
 
I'm one of the few voters for manual. Have had salt-polo-type autos go off when not needed, once when worn on deck (semi-submerged on pitching foredeck), more than once when hung up in lockers - in fact one once managed to firmly jam a locker door very firmly shut against the spring catch. Prefer pull-cord.

I actually have two top-spec auto harness LJs with all the extras like sprayhoods, etc, but prefer the basic manual-harness ones on the boat as they are more comfortable. I only wear LJs in heavy weather or at night, and regard the harness as the important bit.
 
We have auto (Hammar) inflatables with built in harnesses. The USA however only just accepted inflatables with built in harnesses and will still not accept ones without USCG approved stamps, even CE and SOLAS approval is not enough This is slowly changing as Canadians are more educated and many come south every year for winters. I recently bought a new Hammar inflatable with harness that USCG do recognise ( made by Mustang in Canada) but even then USCG apply restrictions, like the tether line on the harness must be less than'xft'. It is hard to overcome NIH syndrome ( not invented here). Because of USCG intransigence and the need to carry sufficient approved LJs on board or be fined by the CG, we also have a bunch of cheapo PVC and foam USCG fully approved ones in a LJ holder case that doubles as a soft seat in the RIB we carry in davits on the stern these things are so bulky and such poor quality I wouldn't ever use them but heck they make a comfy seat and keep the gun toters with badges off our backs.. We also have a couple of very compact mouth inflatable UK Lifeguard ones from way back that live in the dinghy underseat bag easy to use and these can be worn part inflatedfor immediate fall-in buoyancy and top up later and if they get nicked from the dinghy on a beach so what no great loss but they are light enough to wear whilst walking around ashore (especially if we expect tropical rains:D)
 
We wear Kru Pro Sport 175 N.

Really comfortable and easy to fasten.

I have had an auto one go off.

I was clipped on in the cockpit with the water over my head at the time.

No issues with the mechanism-that is what should happen.............................
 
I'm one of the many who voted for auto, as if I get bashed on the head by the boom, and fall OB, I want the thing to inflate while I'm un or semi conscious.

The only time I've had a life jacket go off accidently, I was lying on the foredeck, making fast to a mooring buoy. I must have got the toggle caught under a cleat, as when I got up, the thing inflated, and i was left looking a bit of a muppet, while my wife ran for the camera...... Therefore this can happen with both manual and auto jackets.
 
Hmmm, I've a mixture of auto and manual plus a foam bouyancy aid..... where do I vote on this poll?
I tend to wear a manual on the rare occasions I don one as it's the most comfortable.
The auto goes to anyone of limited sailing experience if aboard and the buoyancy aid is for when it's rough/dark/both on the dinghy ride home.
 
jwilson said:
I'm one of the few voters for manual. Have had salt-polo-type autos go off when not needed, once when worn on deck (semi-submerged on pitching foredeck), more than once when hung up in lockers - in fact one once managed to firmly jam a locker door very firmly shut against the spring catch. Prefer pull-cord.
Click to expand...

It's worries about unwanted inflation that lead me to get Hammar automatics.
 
No question in my mind. Automatic which will still save you if you're unconscious. Don't buy mail order, you need to try the exact model to see if its comfortable. Only witnessed one inflating when my partner fell out of the dinghy. LJ inflated in a blink and she was surprised, wet but OK.
 
ghostlymoron said:
No question in my mind. Automatic which will still save you if you're unconscious. Don't buy mail order, you need to try the exact model to see if its comfortable. Only witnessed one inflating when my partner fell out of the dinghy. LJ inflated in a blink and she was surprised, wet but OK.
Click to expand...
What is she were below decks & a knock down
 
I use a manual gas one (with built in harness). Should I ever go over the side unconscious, and not be brought round by the shock of the cold water, others may regret my choice. Much more likely, especially as I do a lot of single-handing, is that I'll need to swim back to the boat, or elsewhere, and haul myself out. That's very difficult in an inflated lifejacket. So I can decide for myself whether and when I want it inflated. (I've never had one go off accidentally)

I also have an old 'spare' lifejacket that has enough foam to make it a buoyancy aid uninflated, but the buoyancy can be topped up by blowing into the tube to make it a proper lifejacket . (No harness.)

My ideal lifejacket would be something like: integral harness; foam to buoyancy aid standard; manual trigger gas inflated; cunning sensor that detects when immersed, triggers a timer, and if I haven't pressed the cancel inflate button within a certain time triggers autoinflate. (It would also be supremely comfortable, cheap as chips, and elegantly styled ;) )
 
LittleSister said:
I use a manual gas one (with built in harness). Should I ever go over the side unconscious, and not be brought round by the shock of the cold water, others may regret my choice. Much more likely, especially as I do a lot of single-handing, is that I'll need to swim back to the boat, or elsewhere, and haul myself out. That's very difficult in an inflated lifejacket. So I can decide for myself whether and when I want it inflated. (I've never had one go off accidentally)

I also have an old 'spare' lifejacket that has enough foam to make it a buoyancy aid uninflated, but the buoyancy can be topped up by blowing into the tube to make it a proper lifejacket . (No harness.)

My ideal lifejacket would be something like: integral harness; foam to buoyancy aid standard; manual trigger gas inflated; cunning sensor that detects when immersed, triggers a timer, and if I haven't pressed the cancel inflate button within a certain time triggers autoinflate. (It would also be supremely comfortable, cheap as chips, and elegantly styled ;) )
Click to expand...

That is why I asked the question. I don't single hand - but I have doubts in the abilities of the rest of the crew to be able to come and pick me up.

The only time I have gone in, was when tied up to the dock in my home port. I fell in disconnecting the hose pipe from the connector on the shore (it was wet and slippery). A lifejacket inflating would have been very inconvenient and made it very difficult to climb back out.
 
LittleSister said:
I use a manual gas one (with built in harness). Should I ever go over the side unconscious, and not be brought round by the shock of the cold water, others may regret my choice. Much more likely, especially as I do a lot of single-handing, is that I'll need to swim back to the boat, or elsewhere, and haul myself out. That's very difficult in an inflated lifejacket.
Click to expand...

As well as a Hammar automatic lifejacket I also carry a foam buoyancy aid to use in the dinghy, because if I fall out of that I want to be able to swim.
 
sailorman said:
Water down below decks ??????
Click to expand...

When I wrote my reply, you hadn't yet edited your post to add the bit about the knockdown.

To address that though - avoiding automatic lifejackets because you're worried about the thousands-to-one chance of being trapped in the cabin during a knockdown seems like a very odd set of priorities for the average coastal leisure sailor.

Pete
 
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