Vitesse
Well-Known Member
All the time on my little boat including rowing out to the mooring.
When not to wear a lifejacket?
- Thread starter wonky
- Start date
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
And the added complication, especially on wet boats, of them going off at inappropriate times - when you are still in the boat. Personally I prefer manual jackets.
Prhperio
Well-Known Member
There's certainly a risk of that but I think you are better off than not being turned over and held the right way, especially if you're only momentarily dazed (in which case you'll pretty quickly automatically protect your airway). If you're knocked unconscious for a sustained period you've probably a lot more to worry about anyway even if you get fished out, unless you're very close to help.
sampeeter
Member
life jacket wearing is the matter of safety. it's not depend on boat size.
Greg2
Well-Known Member
SOLAS approved life jackets are designed to keep the head well clear of the water to cater for unconscious casualties and whilst not meeting the same standards I think that many 'leisure' life jackets would achieve the same because they effectively cause the causality to float on their back. Not saying they are the complete answer but certainly a lot better than no jakcket.
prv
Well-Known Member
SC500
Well-Known Member
Some interesting points here, and on reflection you think “what do I Do”
Historically we tended to wear Life jackets when mooring, going through locks or if there is a bit of a sea. Generally they weren’t worn when on board, enjoying the sun at planning speeds in relatively calm weather. Learnt my lesson as my previous blog, everything can be perfect, then suddenly your are out of control in a dangerous situation without warning. I nearly hit a buoy when there was a problem when the Autohelm engaged inadvertently and turned our boat towards a BIG buoy. We got away with it, didn’t have life jackets on and retrospectively wished we had. You never know what twist is coming, it’s always the unexpected that will catch you out. In fact several people have contacted me to say they have had the same situation occur where boats have turned towards each other. Personally all my LJ’s have crutch straps fitted, but I’m always a bit surprised when we have visitors who bring their own and they don’t have crutch straps, mostly the ladies I’m afraid for obvious reasons. I have heard of many precarious situations occurring when falling in without a crutch strap fitted. With reference to the Harwich incident whereby a small yacht hit a dredger and the lady on board unfortunately lost her life, as mentioned a report is due, but I was advised that the Life jacket inadvertently caused this situation. As the boat was sinking, she went below to rescue a dog, the auto life jacket inflated when exposed to water in the boat and she could not get out, so there is a case for the Manual type in this instance, or if you maybe exposed to water. I stand corrected if facts are not correct. We now tend to wear life jackets most of the time with greater reassurance. Problem is we all tend to plan wearing lifejackets when situations are ideal or if weather demands. On a nice day it can all go wrong.
Historically we tended to wear Life jackets when mooring, going through locks or if there is a bit of a sea. Generally they weren’t worn when on board, enjoying the sun at planning speeds in relatively calm weather. Learnt my lesson as my previous blog, everything can be perfect, then suddenly your are out of control in a dangerous situation without warning. I nearly hit a buoy when there was a problem when the Autohelm engaged inadvertently and turned our boat towards a BIG buoy. We got away with it, didn’t have life jackets on and retrospectively wished we had. You never know what twist is coming, it’s always the unexpected that will catch you out. In fact several people have contacted me to say they have had the same situation occur where boats have turned towards each other. Personally all my LJ’s have crutch straps fitted, but I’m always a bit surprised when we have visitors who bring their own and they don’t have crutch straps, mostly the ladies I’m afraid for obvious reasons. I have heard of many precarious situations occurring when falling in without a crutch strap fitted. With reference to the Harwich incident whereby a small yacht hit a dredger and the lady on board unfortunately lost her life, as mentioned a report is due, but I was advised that the Life jacket inadvertently caused this situation. As the boat was sinking, she went below to rescue a dog, the auto life jacket inflated when exposed to water in the boat and she could not get out, so there is a case for the Manual type in this instance, or if you maybe exposed to water. I stand corrected if facts are not correct. We now tend to wear life jackets most of the time with greater reassurance. Problem is we all tend to plan wearing lifejackets when situations are ideal or if weather demands. On a nice day it can all go wrong.
Bandit
Well-Known Member
On my boat, good high guard rails, stable 48 ft, large walk around decks with a gunnel over the deck.
Lifejackets are to hand inside the patio doors.
We tend to drive from the saloon and we don't wear jackets on passage unless very rough.
Berthing in marinas we don't wear life jackets.
In the dinghy in good weather we don't tend to use lifejackets.
In a rib I wear lifejackets.
At work around boats the ruling is off the mooring or in the dory/zodiacs all wear lifejackets.
If I am moving the boat on my own I wear a lifejacket.
Lifejackets are to hand inside the patio doors.
We tend to drive from the saloon and we don't wear jackets on passage unless very rough.
Berthing in marinas we don't wear life jackets.
In the dinghy in good weather we don't tend to use lifejackets.
In a rib I wear lifejackets.
At work around boats the ruling is off the mooring or in the dory/zodiacs all wear lifejackets.
If I am moving the boat on my own I wear a lifejacket.
boatingdave
Well-Known Member
This is a repetitive thread and as can be seen is very much personal choice. I wear a jacket all the time when moving or preparing to move and this includes the sea or the river as we've done a good amount of both on a mobo. Got in to the habit to set an example to the kids and it now just 'feels right'. It's like seat belts, fine when all normal but if the unexpected happens it has the potential to save your life. However also appreciate some feel it restrictive but no one will criticise you for wearing a LJ!
Personally I also prepare automatic for the reasons cited here already. There will always been exceptions to the rule but many many more lives have been saved by automatic deployment than those lost, as desperately sad though that latter point is.
Personally I also prepare automatic for the reasons cited here already. There will always been exceptions to the rule but many many more lives have been saved by automatic deployment than those lost, as desperately sad though that latter point is.
epervier
Well-Known Member
This all comes back to the RNLI's mantra, "useless unless worn" institutionalised brainwashing,without doubt LJs save lives, but you don't need them on 247, you don't sleep with them while at anchor overnight, but the boat could still sink, I own a walkaround with guard rails, and helm inside a wheelhouse, yes I have LJs on board but don't wear them all the time, why would I? I've been a boat owner for well over 50 years and haven't drowned so far
MapisM
Well-Known Member
When not waterskiing.
AndieMac
Well-Known Member
A similar thing could happen for smaller cabin cruisers using ocean barways at river/estuary entrances, where big tidal variations, combined with an opposing wind direction can cause large, steep waves, resulting in a vessel capsize, either heading out to sea or returning to port.
The helmsman of course, stays at the wheel trying to maintain control till the last second, then the boat is on top, inverted, the water activates the jacket, forcing/trapping the wearer underneath.
rwoofer
Well-Known Member
Like many I only wear when conditions dictate. On the mobo that means never as I don't go out in rough weather. On the sailing boat it is usually around 25 knots in a small boat and >30 knots in a larger one.
Cozzy
Well-Known Member
It's a personal choice thing IMO.
I very rarely wear mine but have it close to hand when helming. My wife wears hers when on berthing duties and she takes it off when we are under way only to put it back on at a port entrance.
I very rarely wear mine but have it close to hand when helming. My wife wears hers when on berthing duties and she takes it off when we are under way only to put it back on at a port entrance.
sampeeter
Member
Life Jackets and the Law
For a boat less than 16 feet long, or a canoe or a kayak of any length, you are required to:
Everyone on board a personal watercraft (popularly known as “jet skis”) and anyone being towed behind a vessel must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
A Coast Guard-approved life jacket must be carried for each person on board. If stored, these life jackets must be readily available (easy to get to), and you must show passengers the location of life jackets and other safety equipment.
Anyone using an underwater maneuvering device is exempt from wearing a life jacket. An underwater maneuvering device is any towed or self-powered device designed for underwater use that a person can pilot through diving, turning and surfacing moves.
mcintoshmarine.com
For a boat less than 16 feet long, or a canoe or a kayak of any length, you are required to:
Everyone on board a personal watercraft (popularly known as “jet skis”) and anyone being towed behind a vessel must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
A Coast Guard-approved life jacket must be carried for each person on board. If stored, these life jackets must be readily available (easy to get to), and you must show passengers the location of life jackets and other safety equipment.
Anyone using an underwater maneuvering device is exempt from wearing a life jacket. An underwater maneuvering device is any towed or self-powered device designed for underwater use that a person can pilot through diving, turning and surfacing moves.
mcintoshmarine.com
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sailorman
Well-Known Member
Who`s & what LAW
petem
Well-Known Member
Bandit
Well-Known Member
As detailed above the other part is what sort of lifejacket :
Manual release when you have to manually have to pull a tag, ie wont work if you bang your head and are unconscious.
Automatic ie an alka seltzer type tablet that when it gets wet in the ogen or a wave splash go off?
Or a hydrostatic which goes off with water pressure only ie you have to be immersed.
I personally wear Hydrostatic and normally without the leg straps ( because I find straps a nuisance).
Then you come in to air capacity expressed in newtons of lift, lights, crutch straps and spray hoods.
Manual release when you have to manually have to pull a tag, ie wont work if you bang your head and are unconscious.
Automatic ie an alka seltzer type tablet that when it gets wet in the ogen or a wave splash go off?
Or a hydrostatic which goes off with water pressure only ie you have to be immersed.
I personally wear Hydrostatic and normally without the leg straps ( because I find straps a nuisance).
Then you come in to air capacity expressed in newtons of lift, lights, crutch straps and spray hoods.
Robin
Well-Known Member
Yep, they like to recover the drunks over here to send 'em home. Our marina even lends them out free if asked.(LJs not drunks)
Our European top of the range autos with harness were not acceptable for our on board required stuff by USCG because they are not stamped USCG approved even though they are CE and Solas. They have only recently allowed auto + harness jackets to be approved, because of the risk of being unable to free the tether in extremis. Nuts or what. I do now have a USCG approved one because I could not buy or import the hydrostatic re-arm kit in the right CO2 cylinder size to re-arm mine which was date expired, now kept for spare. SWMBO's we re-armed with a 'Mustang' Canadian made re-arm kit, identical to the Crewsaver CE ones but only available in the standard CO2 cylinder size not the bigger one I had. Generally over here autos are only considered acceptable in the inventory, 'if worn' being in a locker doesn't count, although now the USCG one I have can be stored and still counted. I smell 'not invented here' or import control.:disgust: But heck when in Rome, wear a toga and indulge in orgies!
We wear oursif in the RIB tender which can do 20kts, but otherwise it will be as before, if we feel the need, at sea proper, at night offshore, in gales, and mostly for the harness feature rather than the 'keep me afloat to die of hypthermia, shark bites or whatever.
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thecommander
Well-Known Member
Always when we're underway, far too risky not to in a 19ft boat.....