Offshore lifejackets: Spinlock Deckvest Vito vs Crewsaver Ergofit vs what else?

[MattS]

Just seems like overkill to me - it looks bulkier than the 5D/6D and I can't see what the advantages are.

I don't think there's any real benefit to hammar activation - the only time I've accidentally set off a lifejacket is when I dumped it (my cheap one for the tender) in a marina wheelbarrow that had an inch or two of water in the bottom. I guess a hammar one would have prevented this, but I believe they're also more expensive to rearm (and doesn't this need redoing every few years even if you haven't used it?).

Biscay is a milestone, and you're right to be excited about it. But it's not the southern ocean - there's a good chance the conditions will be benign, or that you'll have to motor all the way. I'd guess you're an experienced enough sailor that you'd consider force 6/7, even force 8 fully reefed, to be jolly good yachting, and these conditions are not by any means exclusive to Biscay.

I think there's an element of marketing to lifejacket design, in that the cheaper designs are deliberately basic looking, and then the premium models are styled to visually convey how rugged and roughty-toughty they are. They're advertised as "designed in conjunction with the Volvo Ocean Race" because it's natural for enthusiasts who are passionate about yachting to want the best. But I don't see that they're doing anything different - both models have the same 175N of buoyancy.

I was surprised how comfortable the 5D was, and that's the only justification I can give for spending so much on a flashy-looking LJ.

Finally, I would guess that the biggest contributor to lifejacket safety is just wearing the damn thing, I often don't, in benign daytime conditions. One night on my mile builder (from Southampton to Malta - the biggest conditions we saw were off the Spanish coast, past A Coruña and towards Gib) I came on deck for my watch to find us sailing in good conditions - the boat was heeled in a good breeze - and one of the lads on the low side of the cockpit pissing over the side. He was wearing no lifejacket and it was pitch dark - when I wondered out loud how long it would take us to find him if he went overboard, one of the other lads remarked that we were flying a gennaker (or an A2 or something?), so it would take us some minutes to get that under control before we could even start looking. In a case such as this the choice of lifejacket is irrelevant - it probably doesn't matter if your lifejacket keeps you afloat 36 hours or 48 hours; probably only the first 24 hours matter.

Thank you - all very considered thoughts.I have pondered whether the ‘offshore’ versions are that much more competent than my Crewfit 180N with hood and light…

The key is clearly the comfort of the fit, likelihood to wear, and some key minimums like sprayhood, light etc. everything else does seem a bit of an ‘optimisation’. It would be nice to have PLB and AIS beacon properly attached, and that’s probably a main criteria.

Although I certainly wasn’t expecting Biscay to be like the Antarctic, especially in July, it is useful to hear that confirmed from experience.

I promise I will go try them on before doing anything else

 

[[70521]]

Thank you - all very considered thoughts.I have pondered whether the ‘offshore’ versions are that much more competent than my Crewfit 180N with hood and light…

That sounds a perfectly good LJ to do the trip in. If you are near a Crewfit Service Center get them to service it before you go. An experienced set of eyes and replacing items that are or about to go out of date will be useful.

 

[DownWest]

The key point is to not 'go over'. Next is to wear the LJ. After that, the ability of the crew to get back and pick you up. As long as the LJ can fire and keep you up, the rest of the bits are marginal. I prefer manual activation, as I mostly sail small boats and don't want it to inflate by itself. Once that happens, you cannot do much to help yourself.

 

[KompetentKrew]

After that, the ability of the crew to get back and pick you up. As long as the LJ can fire and keep you up, the rest of the bits are marginal.

Not sure if all lifejackets come with them, but I quite like the strobe light supplied with some.

One of those in the dark will give the crew a much better chance of finding you.

 

[[70521]]

Shall we move onto safety lines now?

I like these Spinlock safety lines, if only the 'third clip' had some way of being locked.

 

[MattS]

That sounds a perfectly good LJ to do the trip in. If you are near a Crewfit Service Center get them to service it before you go. An experienced set of eyes and replacing items that are or about to go out of date will be useful.

Well, I am wondering this - whether what I've got is sufficient. But I also know that I would never regret spending on safety, but I would definitely regret scrimping on it...

 

[MattS]

Shall we move onto safety lines now?

I like these Spinlock safety lines, if only the 'third clip' had some way of being locked.

Now, I do have an abundance of safety lines, albeit only two clip!

 

[Norman_E]

Trying them on is absolutely vital. For me the main issue was the position of firing mechanism, and all of the ones with the cylinder on the right hand side hurt me after quite a short time becauce they pressed in just the wrong place for me or almost any hiatus hernia sufferer. A life jacket is useless if you take it off because it starts to hurt you.

 

[[70521]]

Now, I do have an abundance of safety lines, albeit only two clip!

I prefer the three clip ones as you are never unclipped from the boat as you move about.