When do you wear a lifejacket?

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In general, I sail in nice weather (it's a hobby innit?) so lifejackets are seldom likely to be required. But we ended up with a F6 astern last year on the way to Bardsey & we all wore them then.

I used to cross a fast flowing channel in my rubber duck to reach my mooring - I nearly always used a lifejacket then because around 1 a year die on the Conwy. I am now in Caernarfon & it is FAR safer & the distance is minimal, so only use a lifejacket if VERY windy - or I've had a few beers!

I have just replaced my old (probably no longer self-inflating) lifejackets with a full set of Auto, Harness & leg strap ones. Old ones still inflate manually & stay up, I just wouldn't trust the CO2 canister mechanism any more.
 
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Eating a meal in the cockpit at anchor?
Going for a swim?
Sunbathing?

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A) For non swimmers and the nervous, yes.
B) Well then they're in the water aren't they /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
C) I have a boat, not a sun lounger!!

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+1....
 
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Shouldn't the question be:

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You have missed out heart attack. Since being diagnosed with coronary artery disease I wear a lifejacket mostly to facilitate retrieval of my remains as it's a fair bet that falling into cold northern waters would not be something I would survive. Climate change might be to my benefit in that respect.
 
I keep my life jacket permanantly fitted on my waterproofs so when it is cold and dark or rough and wet I automatically put on my waterproofs and life jacket.

However the RNLI always wear them at all times. Bearing in mind that they are the creme de la creme, perhaps we ought to follow their example.

However when it is a loverly wam day with just eneough wind to give you 3 or 4 knots, and you have just shorts and tee shirt on I certainly don't want the life jacket as well.
 
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However the RNLI always wear them at all times. Bearing in mind that they are the creme de la creme, perhaps we ought to follow their example.

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The RNLI come out to rescue you when you get into difficulty, they are not there for their own enjoyment (although they probably enjoy what they do - even though they'd prefer you not to be in difficulty to start with) ...

At night - LJ's on (or you're down below with LJ to hand).
Other than that it is down to our own discression ... so not usually if we're mooching around the solent on sunny days with not much wind ... however, last years trip to Cherbourg in 25knots and a lumpy sea - LJs on ...
 
easy:
1. when the skipper says so
2. whenever you feel like it (the harness line comes in handy stopping you falling off the bar stool)

ps - secondary question - do you use the thigh loops/crotch strap? (now required under RORC regulations)
 
We wear ours from the point of blowing up the tender to the point of deflating it and putting it back in the boot - and we sail on Windermere. Once put on I don't take it off unless I'm crawling around inside working on something - have never found it a problem or uncomfortable.

SWMBO's a non-swimmer and I've done enough dinghy sailing and kayaking to think that wearing a bouyancy aid or LJ is second nature. Have done race rescue boat duty in the snow and pulled people out of very cold water. Very rarely see anyone else wearing one on the lake but thats their own choice.
 
Now if I am racing my laser I wear a dry suit and bouyancy aid all the time, on the yachy if I am singlehanded I were a proper lifejacket all the time and clip on outside the cockpit.

With a crew it depends on the conditions, but almost always outside the cockpit, with a lifline if there is any significant seaway, and in bad weather all the ime again with a lifline outside the cockpit.

I have not sailed in weather bad enough to have the lifeline on inside the cockpit, though on an open bridged ship I have worn a life line on the bridge, but the waves were breaking over us.

Children and the dog have lifejacket and lifeline at all times.

I think the answer is be sensible and don't be macho.
 
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Why do peeps find life jaclets uncomfortable?

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Sailing in the Med is vastly different to sailing in UK. The water is warm. Wearing a lifejacket when the sun is burning down on a nice hot day is no fun. Wear a lifejacket at night or fog, or very rough. Otherwise relax!

TudorDoc
 
We are old and there is no hope that my wife could get me out of the water, I'm just too fat. We both wear lifejackets at all time on deck unless moored or anchored. The lifejackets have harnesses and we are clipped on as well. It is a simple rule, we and our guests accept it. It also save a lot of worry. We are each reasonably sure the other will not go overside.
Try doing man overboard drill with a cardboard box. Can you get back to it before it sinks?
 
Just as a matter of interest on my boat we wear or at least offer bouyancy aid type vests to everyone when racing. The bouyancy aid keeps us a little warmer when it is blowy ( we don't have oilies) and minimises bruises.

However in our club in a fleet of 30 boats there might be 2 or3 individuals (poor swimmers) who wear the inflatable life jackets and all the rest wear none.

In fairness though all would be good swimmers in warmish water.
Different conditions you see.
olewill
 
You forgot the option
I wear a harness and tether attached to the safety line.

I only wear a LJ when in the dinghy. It is, however, available next to the flares and such. The crew is unlikely to save the skipper so as skipper I am always attached to the boat. All others wear LJ with harnesses and clip on whenever leaving the cockpit. In fine weather and while in the cockpit, LJ can be taken off up to Force 4.
 
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