Please wear lifejackets when you are in your dinghy...

J

john_morris_uk

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Further to the post on the tragic loss of life on the Deben.

We regularly sail with another family and there is only one major thing we disagree on (but never discuss it either!)

They always wear their lifejackets (with built in harnesses) at sea on their yacht, whilst we put them on when it gets rough or at night.

We invariably wear our lifejackets in the dinghy when going to the shore, they never seem to bother.

I believe that the dinghy is the dangerous bit...
 
We allways wear life jackets when on board, they can't help you if they are stowed in a locker.
Our rule, "Boat underway, lifejackets on!"
 
We wear ours all the time, regardless of conditions, and make those sailing with us do the same. (It is often just the two of us!)

SWMBO would be able to get the boat back to me quickly, but getting me aboard would be somewhat harder! any support/help from a lifejacket will save serious exertion!

Usually people go over for some other reason than simply falling in, so other injuries must be taken into account! Try swimming when unconcious or with a broken arm!

Cold water saps energy very quickly, and so does wet weather gear that is sodden and heavy!

Modern, lightweight jackets are hardly a hindrance!, especially in a dinghy!
 
Interesting enough more power boaters than sailors wear their lifejackets both on the big boat and the tender, the way they are trained perhaps. With modern lifejackets being fairly unobstrusive no excuse not to really. There is of course the syndrome of it will never happen to me. Maybe the answer is more directive and concerted publicity by RNLI, RYA, MCA, CA?

Iota
 
Good point John. Having sailed with young kids we have always worn lifejackets when afloat, on board and in the dinghy, I guess the habit has stuck. However, we have probably relaxed slightly now, in so much as that we would not consider donning an LJ for a summer's, day time, trip ashore in a sheltered harbour like Yarmouth, even though there is probably a deradful risk of being run down.
 
As someone pointed out to me on another thread, it's horses for courses innit? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I wouldn't dream of suggesting to anyone that they don't need to wear one, if that is what you are comfortable doing then fine.

For myself, I don't ship out with sprogs or women, in fact, being a bit of a miserable old scrote, I rarely ship out with anybody, I prefer to be single handed. I never wear the things unless on me own at night in bad weather, then it's jacket and harness, mostly though it's just the harness, which is set to the jackline so even if I fall, I can't go over.

In the dinghy at my home port, very rarely wear one, distance to shore is very short, and even with a tide running I can get to shore no probs. I know cos I dunnit! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Out of interest, how many Mobo Jockies install Jack lines? Cos I think a properly adjusted harness is probably more useful that a life jacket whilst at sea in bad weather.

I might add that I HATE being in the water, but I love being on it, so for me, taking steps to make sure I don't end up in the stuff is more important than wearing a life jacket whilst at sea.

Summat else that is kind of interesting, how many professional seamen do you see wearing a life jacket all the time? Any theories?
 
We tend to put ours on as we get out of the car and take them off again when we get back in it again!

The only time I take mine off is if I am pottering around the harbour and will be in the wheel house all the time (Mobo). If readying fenders etc. then it goes back on.

Kids though, never get to take theirs off :-)
 
I .......errrm........

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Yes I have seen her in your photos, and very nice she looks! I have one very similar but Gaff Rigged. I will PM you a Pic, don't want to hi-jack this Fred! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
We all always put our lifejackets on when we leave the car - this is mainly driven by the wish to emphasise the importance of having them on when anywhere near the water to the kids - I always feel that the most dangerous part of a sailing trip is between the car and the boat - ie along the harbour wall, in the dinghy etc on the basis that taking a tumble in the water is far more likely to also involve a bang on the head!

I feel strongly that as far as the kids are concerned it is 'Do as I do' and I make a point of keeping to this even when they are not around. If it becomes second nature to always have a life jacket on from the work go it should already be on when it is needed - and not be a case of deciding that the conditions are worsening and now warrant them.
 
Very good advice, though I am personally not as consistant as I should be. You,r very right about the dinghy being the dodgy bit.
 
It is a rule on my boat(& dinghy) that lifejackets are worn all the time.When this was discussed some time ago on R2R I had some minor abuse from others(I was called stupid & unreasonable amongst other things) The friends I sail with used to moan a bit but now wear their lifejackets on their own boats.I think people are becoming more aware.I also wear crotch straps.I think these should be standard with all lifejackets & perhaps face screens too.Just my own opinion of course & it is a free country(at the moment)
 
I remember, years ago ,there was a report in the yachting press which I think was derived from rescue service statistics which said that more deaths occurred by drowning through accidents involving tenders ferrying crews to and from their vessel than ever there was from actual sailing incidents.

The message, of course,was 'always wear a lifejacket in a dinghy
 
I always wear an LJ (built in harness and thigh thingies), on the boat and in the dinghy. I've got to the stage where I feel uncomfortable without it.

When I was a commercial fisherman many years ago we never wore LJs, quite the opposite, thigh boots and frock oilskins, we would have sunk like stones.

On the West Coast of Scotland, marine fish farm workers all wear LJs, its a sacking offence not to, but commercial fishermen still tend not to.

This latest tragedy just leaves me thinking there but the grace of god go I
 
We always do, before boarding, it's too easy to fall in twixt pontoon and boat. Modern jackets are so comfortable there's no excuse.
 
Got to agree with you Horses for courses, I am in same situation as you lots of singlehanded so safetylines/ jackstays and harnesses.

When with crew I do insist whenever they want but always at night.
 
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