Lifejackets?

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mikefleetwood

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When I bought Musketeer I found 7 lifejackets stuffed in lockers. I took the newest looking one and have been using it on the two trips made so far. At the mooring yesterday, I thought it would be a good idea to check the state of the Lifejackets. Fortunately, the one I've been using checked OK - stays inflated, trigger works, no corrosion or fraying. Next one, doesn't stay inflated and gas bottle quite rusty, then all downhill from there - corrosion, frayed webbing, automatic triggers look like already used, etc. So I've decided I need to buy some new ones.

The decent one is a Crewsaver Crewfit 150N with a substantial "D" ring on the harness for a safety line. I'd quite like to buy more the same. On looking at online chandlers, they seem to be offering 180N or even 200N for adult lifejackets, as well as 150N. I'd like to have your views on the pros/cons of the 150/180/200N (apart from the obvious greater buoyancy) and manual/automatic inflation? I want the harness attachment as most of my sailing will be single/short handed.

Many thanks.
 
I'd like to have your views on the pros/cons of the 150/180/200N (apart from the obvious greater buoyancy) and manual/automatic inflation?
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the pro is simple - more N = more bouyancy (your mouth is slightly further from water or perhaps more importantly there is more chance of it turning you the right way up). In a chandlery they actually go all the way up to 275N (and in special circles beyond that if you might be wearing a rucksack or carrying a machine gun!). The more the inflation the harder it is to do anything in the jacket - 275N is what is recommended for offshore people wearing drysuits etc because the suit makes turning you the right way up harder, and the waves are likely to mean you appreciate the buoyancy. At 275N though, if you fall in whilst getting from dinghy to yacht (or hooking a mooring etc) you may find you have to let air out the jacket to be able to swim to your ladded and climb it. 180/190 jackets offer at least a marketing advantage over the 150 without being that downside being anywhere near as big. If you are coastal sailing in the UK "fully clothed" but not in a dry suit that traps air I would say that the 180/190 size is a good idea. If you are in the med / caribean and just in shorts and t-shirt 150 will probably work.

The auto/manual is an even easier decision. Do you expect to ever go in the water intentionally whilst wearing the LJ? if not go auto. If unlucky you might trigger one with constant big waves. Early ones used to go off in damp lockers but not so much now. If you actually like getting drenched on the foredeck then one with a Hamar firing mechanism (£££) will avoid false triggers. If you think a manual one is a good idea to save £10, look up cold shock...
 
mikefleetwood said:
When I bought Musketeer I found 7 lifejackets stuffed in lockers. I took the newest looking one and have been using it on the two trips made so far. At the mooring yesterday, I thought it would be a good idea to check the state of the Lifejackets. Fortunately, the one I've been using checked OK - stays inflated, trigger works, no corrosion or fraying. Next one, doesn't stay inflated and gas bottle quite rusty, then all downhill from there - corrosion, frayed webbing, automatic triggers look like already used, etc. So I've decided I need to buy some new ones.

The decent one is a Crewsaver Crewfit 150N with a substantial "D" ring on the harness for a safety line. I'd quite like to buy more the same. On looking at online chandlers, they seem to be offering 180N or even 200N for adult lifejackets, as well as 150N. I'd like to have your views on the pros/cons of the 150/180/200N (apart from the obvious greater buoyancy) and manual/automatic inflation? I want the harness attachment as most of my sailing will be single/short handed.

Many thanks.
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For me, the two main factors affecting choice:
1) Choose one that fits you and is comfortable to wear. Higher Newton's versus bulk/weight. If you have a regular crew when you are not single handed he/she may want a different one to you.
2) if you want to fit a PLB inside, on the inflater tube, make sure there is space inside. I found that the chandler's would not (understandably)allow me to test before buying and the manufacturers I contacted did not know which PLBs would fit their LJs.

Also, I ruled out one manufacturer entirely as their policy was to not issue repacking/rearming instructions saying it should always be done by them or one of their approved agents. Yes I know it's not difficult to work out, just disliked their policy
 
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mikefleetwood said:
The decent one is a Crewsaver Crewfit 150N with a substantial "D" ring on the harness for a safety line. I'd quite like to buy more the same. On looking at online chandlers, they seem to be offering 180N or even 200N for adult lifejackets, as well as 150N. I'd like to have your views on the pros/cons of the 150/180/200N (apart from the obvious greater buoyancy) and manual/automatic inflation? I want the harness attachment as most of my sailing will be single/short handed.
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Like you I mostly single hand.

I went for a Crewsaver ErgoFit 290N EX, see profile picture, as I sail throughout the year; hence I wanted something that would keep me afloat in bulky kit.

A secondary consideration was its Hamar inflation system, i.e. less likely to inflate due to damp or spray, and it is really, really comfortable.

I would never get a manual LJ as you never know when you might end up in the oggin and finding the inflation toggle could prove a challenge.
 
When it comes to life jackets price should not come into it as you buy the best available within your budget as at the end of the day 'You are the one wearing it' and I would also go for the Crewsaver ErgoFit 290 expensive yes But its your life !
 
Sounds like you did the right thing checking them-some of those older jackets can be pretty dodgy. I’ve got a 150N Crewfit too and it’s been solid. For solo or short-handed sailing, I’d stick with automatic and with a harness, just like you said. As for 150 vs 180/200N, unless you're wearing heavy gear or sailing offshore in rough weather, 150N should be enough.
 
I have an ergo fit also when I bought it I thought it was really uncomfortable and awkward, but after a few wears it became much less so and I really like it now...
Hammer auto with an auto light and hood is essential..my plb lives in a pouch under my armpit tied to, but outside of the jacket.
 
Keep the good manual jacket. If you need to go in the water, perhaps to clear the prop, get weed of the rudder, you could wear it as a backup in case you got separated from the boat
 
crewman said:
Keep the good manual jacket. If you need to go in the water, perhaps to clear the prop, get weed of the rudder, you could wear it as a backup in case you got separated from the boat
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Yes, I was planning to keep it - as you say, you never know when it will come in handy.

I'm now looking around to see what I can find - 165N+, auto with harness. Torn between Crewsaver Crewfit at around £90, Lazilas Sigma or Alpha under £60 or Seago Seaguard around £65 (and Seaguard active 190N around £95).

These all, on paper, do the same job, but I would be interested in opinions on longevity and servicability etc.

Thanks
 
Plum said:
1) Choose one that fits you and is comfortable to wear.
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This is the most important decision. There’s an element of personal preference in that.
yoxyn438 said:
As for 150 vs 180/200N, unless you're wearing heavy gear or sailing offshore in rough weather, 150N should be enough.
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the standard for 150N is measured in a swimsuit!
mikefleetwood said:
Torn between Crewsaver Crewfit at around £90, Lazilas Sigma or Alpha under £60 or Seago Seaguard around £65 (and Seaguard active 190N around £95).
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I’ve not checked - but they are probably all using the same style (but subtly different to make it a pain when you need to buy one!) rearming kit. Look at buckles and crotch/leg straps and make sure you test it sitting down.
 
The Teamo back tow LJ works very well for me as a regular singlehander. I have 170N offshore model.
Well made, comfortable. Good compromise of performance, bulk and fit/weight.

PLB fitted to belt. AIS beacon inside. (Both bought prior to release of the very latest combi beacons.).

To my mind, not much point being hooked on as a single hander if you may then be towed face down, and drowned while still attached to your yot?

I also keep several more ordinary LJs (Baltic and Kru) for crew, or use when going ashore in the dinghy. Teamo too expensive to risk leaving in the pub/club!


Whatever type you decide to buy, carry at least one rearming kit if you ever sail fully crewed up - all LJ in use.
 
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Plum said:
Also, I ruled out one manufacturer entirely as their policy was to not issue repacking/rearming instructions saying it should always be done by them or one of their approved agents. Yes I know it's not difficult to work out, just disliked their policy
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Which one was that?

I'm in the market for a new LJ and wouldn't want to be in a situation where I physically couldn't easily do it myself because - let alone their policy - it's too complicated!
 
Babylon said:
Which one was that?

I'm in the market for a new LJ and wouldn't want to be in a situation where I physically couldn't easily do it myself because - let alone their policy - it's too complicated!
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It was regarding a Kru lifejacket, by Ocean Safety, 4 years years ago. In an email exchange they did say the instructions were "in production" and would send me a copy when ready. 5 weeks later I sent a chaser but got no response so I did not buy.
 
yoxyn438 said:
Sounds like you did the right thing checking them-some of those older jackets can be pretty dodgy.
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I was given some old ones a while back, still in their packaging. Upon testing, not one of 8 inflated properly. 7 didn't inflate at all - the bladders had sort of welded themselves together. One of them the gas cylinder was empty, it must have leaked out slowly apparently from corrosion.
 
I found Crewsaver very uncomfortable to wear, older model than current offerings. Also the zip on the stoles kept opening up because the yellow coloured weak link on the zip constantly unzipped. They were very difficult to repack as well and absolutely no room for an PLB device to be fitted inside. The newer versions do not appear to be so tightly packed, so perhaps the design has improved, but the way they wrapped around the neck was uncomfortable.

I bought Ocean Safety Kru a few years ago for the boat, 8 off. A good weight, not too heavy, comfy to wear, very easy to clean, check, inspect and service. I added the automatic light and Lifesavers (MOB retrieval line) easily to the LJ, no hassle. Comfortable to wear.

My personal lifejacket is a Spinlock D6 which I selected because it is very comfortable to wear.
 
mikefleetwood said:
The decent one is a Crewsaver Crewfit 150N with a substantial "D" ring on the harness for a safety line. I'd quite like to buy more the same.
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This is just a big standard bottom-of-the-line lifejacket though? it doesn't even have keg straps?

There's a bloke in Southampton who sells these, 1 or 3 years old, for £15 or £20 each because the cost of recertifying them for his commercial use is nearly as much as replacing them.

I didn't see the point in fancy lifejackets until I tried a Spinlock 5D. I was surprised by it, as I had never previously thought normal lifejackets uncomfortable.
 
crewman said:
Keep the good manual jacket. If you need to go in the water, perhaps to clear the prop, get weed of the rudder, you could wear it as a backup in case you got separated from the boat
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I'd always assumed that any standard automatic lifejacket can be converted to manual just by unscrewing the cylinder - except the arming mechanism would still fire?
 
Babylon said:
I'd always assumed that any standard automatic lifejacket can be converted to manual just by unscrewing the cylinder - except the arming mechanism would still fire?
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Not quite - manual implies you pull the toggle to trigger inflation. Unscrewing the cylinder means you need to blow into the tube!
 
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