TeamO Back-Pull Lifejacket

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yachtorion

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I've read the article in PBO and watched the video of the TeamO lifejacket and I'm pretty impressed by it - enough to want to buy a couple.

But I find myself wondering about it...

The TeamO lifejacket will help you a lot more if you do go overboard, in that it won't drown you, but perhaps it won't stop you going overboard - once that 15kg rated plastic pin snaps and releases the tether - will it be short enough to stop you going over?

Or should we stick with a shorter tether on a traditional harness with a safety cutter that might?

I suppose it might depend partly on whether you are single handed or not.
 
I'd like to see a traditional front D-ring on that harness as well as the shoulderblade strap. Different uses for different situations - sometimes you want to be solidly held in place which the new arrangement won't do. Use the D-ring to secure yourself firmly with a short tether, or use a long one on the new strap when you want freedom of movement but some connection with the boat just in case.

Pete
 
prv said:
I'd like to see a traditional front D-ring on that harness as well as the shoulderblade strap. Different uses for different situations - sometimes you want to be solidly held in place which the new arrangement won't do. Use the D-ring to secure yourself firmly with a short tether, or use a long one on the new strap when you want freedom of movement but some connection with the boat just in case.

Pete
Click to expand...

+1 though I'd worry that people would get confused which ring was which.
 
prv said:
I'd like to see a traditional front D-ring on that harness as well as the shoulderblade strap. Different uses for different situations - sometimes you want to be solidly held in place which the new arrangement won't do. Use the D-ring to secure yourself firmly with a short tether, or use a long one on the new strap when you want freedom of movement but some connection with the boat just in case.

Pete
Click to expand...

+ another on this.perhaps a longer than normal to the shoulder strap and a reall short one for working close ( at the mast say)
Also the crotch strap security needs to good. I read that the breaking strain on the conventional buckles was quite low, ok for keeping the jacket down when just floating but not strong enough for a bulky wet body being towed through the water at 6 knots!
 
While trying to get into the habit of always wearing a life jacket I decided that I must buy a new one. My current one is uncomfortable to wear hanging around the neck all day, so much so that I only wear it when I think I may need it.

While at the last SBS I tried on jackets from all the major manufacturers but by far the most comfortable for me was the new Team O design. The new jacket was due to come to the market in December and I decided it was so comfortable I would wait and purchase one – But, I too had reservations about the new tether system and could see that in situations where you want a short tether to keep you in the boat this new system would not work. I discussed this problem with the guys on the stand and they said they were working on a solution.

I see that the jacket has just won Y&Y magazine innovation of the year award and I have tried emailing the company to see if the jacket has been revised and whether it is now available, but to date have not heard back from them. Has anyone heard any news ??
 
Hi guys,

I have heard a word on the wind from TeamO. They have been delayed in bringing to market because they were making some improvements, what i heard was that the harness is now water activated. so you could use it as a standard harness and then when you fell in it would deploy with the lifejacket. im not sure how they have made this work, but im hoping to speak to them at the London boat show next week and see if they have one i can see, so will post any info i can find out, i heard they were around on the 17th for the Y&Y prize giving.
 
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