Which lifejacket has room for a PLB, miniflares, light, knife etc?

[jerrytug]

I'm going to get yet another lifejacket,auto with harness.
I have massive issues with the design of every single one I have seen, because:

When I end up in the water, I want my miniflares, PLB, light and knife and maybe DSC HH VHF to end up clipped to the inflated bladder, above the water, right in front of my chest where I can see and use them.

This would need the lifejacket to have a fair amount of empty space inside the outer cover ( the zipped/velcroed one which rips open on inflation).

It would also require adaptable straps pre fitted to the bladder to attach my stuff.

However, all models have a very tight fitting outer cover, which allows no room for user fitted stuff to be added. They seem to care more about looking 'compact' in the shop, or perhaps not obstructing movement, fair enough but I would like the comforting bulge of my emergency gear a lot more. (thinking offshore singlehanded)

I can't be the first to think along these lines, any suggestions please?

I don't want some massive military or industrial lifejacket either, a 175 is fine.

Thanks Jerry

 

[ziacek]

I think you might be asking too much from the lifejacket. Try to see this one http://www.crewsaver.com/Leisure/p/536/ergofit-190n-cs if it is any good.

 

[prv]

The basic but good-quality Crewsavers I have for guests are a fairly loose fit in their covers. Not sure about a VHF, but flares and a PLB ought to fit ok. The knife I would have thought you want on the belt - you're more likely to need it while still on board than while floating.

Attaching the stuff could be a problem though, as the inflated bladder is relatively featureless. Even Crewsaver's own light is attached by hanging it on a loose loop around the inflation tube. If I was wanting to mount things on it, I think I would sew a wide strap to the edge of the fabric cover at either side, so that it crosses over the bladder when inflated. Length carefully chosen so that it's tight but not restricting the bladder. Then things could be mounted to that.

My own Kru Sport Pro has a couple of such straps; the light is mounted on one of them. There is a certain amount of room in the cover (Kannad will supply them with an AIS SART installed, which is about the size and shape of a PLB) but less than the Crewsavers.

Pete

 

[Salty John]

Something like this maybe?:
http://www.seasafe.co.uk/shop/ct/lifejackets/seasafe-specialist-lifejackets-/pd/pacific-lite-

 

[Bru]

The Ergofit does have a PLB pocket but it's a tight squeeze getting it in there (Fastfind 220). There's supposed to be a harness cutter pocket somewhere (and they offer a matching knife as an extra) but I'm buggered if I can find it!

I'm with the OP on this, I'd like pockets, straps and attachment points galore. In fact, I'd happily turn it into the yachty equivalent of military belt kit if I could!

 

[Buck Turgidson]

look out for a Beaufort MK25 Aircrew Life Preserver. It's got the lot.
Getting it serviced might be a tad tricky these days though unless you can do it yourself.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Sorry cannot recommend anything these days Terry, the old Thames River Police jacket was fitted with a life jacket inside it. The jacket had many pockets fitted to it, so many items could be carried, and you went in, then they all came with you.
Suggest some form of outer sleeveless jacket (waist coat) might just be suitable, angling shops sell durable jackets, and being designed for anglers, they carry a lot of gear, and are waterproof, of sorts.
Anyways best of luck in your searches, let us know your results?

 

[jerrytug]

Thanks for all the suggestions, still looking!

 

[alant]

I'm going to get yet another lifejacket,auto with harness.
I have massive issues with the design of every single one I have seen, because:

When I end up in the water, I want my miniflares, PLB, light and knife and maybe DSC HH VHF to end up clipped to the inflated bladder, above the water, right in front of my chest where I can see and use them.

This would need the lifejacket to have a fair amount of empty space inside the outer cover ( the zipped/velcroed one which rips open on inflation).

It would also require adaptable straps pre fitted to the bladder to attach my stuff.

However, all models have a very tight fitting outer cover, which allows no room for user fitted stuff to be added. They seem to care more about looking 'compact' in the shop, or perhaps not obstructing movement, fair enough but I would like the comforting bulge of my emergency gear a lot more. (thinking offshore singlehanded)

I can't be the first to think along these lines, any suggestions please?

I don't want some massive military or industrial lifejacket either, a 175 is fine.

Thanks Jerry

Don't forget your vizor!

 

[TeamSpirit]

Ergo fit does the job comes with hood, straps light and has pocket for PLB which is a tight fit but works. Can fit a small safety knife in, but I prefer belt tool which is multi purpose.

 

[RUSSH]

Here's another one by sea safe http://www.seasafe.co.uk/shop/ct/specialist_maritime_products/pd/tactical-life-jacket

Or this one which can come with a 275n PFD attachment http://www.ispl.co.uk/military-emergency-services/tactical-waistcoats/mkll-tactical-waistcoat/

All a bit pricey mind.

 

[GrahamM376]

Maybe you're best looking around dive shops. Lots of storage pouches designed for fitting to harness of wing or BCD.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I'm going to get yet another lifejacket,auto with harness.
I have massive issues with the design of every single one I have seen, because:

When I end up in the water, I want my miniflares, PLB, light and knife and maybe DSC HH VHF to end up clipped to the inflated bladder, above the water, right in front of my chest where I can see and use them.

This would need the lifejacket to have a fair amount of empty space inside the outer cover ( the zipped/velcroed one which rips open on inflation).

It would also require adaptable straps pre fitted to the bladder to attach my stuff.

However, all models have a very tight fitting outer cover, which allows no room for user fitted stuff to be added. They seem to care more about looking 'compact' in the shop, or perhaps not obstructing movement, fair enough but I would like the comforting bulge of my emergency gear a lot more. (thinking offshore singlehanded)

I can't be the first to think along these lines, any suggestions please?

I don't want some massive military or industrial lifejacket either, a 175 is fine.

Thanks Jerry

I've been looking for one like this ages too. Not because of being in the water so much but because, during the course of the day I can go from at least 3 layers including offshore jacket and trousers to shorts and t-short and back to 3 layers plus. The one thing that I'm wearing all the time and that has to stay on top is my life-jacket so that's where I want my kit.

 

[prv]

Here's another one by sea safe http://www.seasafe.co.uk/shop/ct/specialist_maritime_products/pd/tactical-life-jacket

Wow, you can tell that one's intended to be bought with taxpayers' money

The actual core of it doesn't look dissimilar to my Kru Sport Pro. You could probably sew pouches to the waistcoat mesh on one of those in a similar way to the jacket linked above.

Pete

 

[nigelmercier]

I wear a bum-bag (US: fanny-pack) with all my bits in.

 

[Daydream believer]

My Spinlock has a pouch that I bought as an accessory. It can just about hold a PLB & a set of 10 miniflares
I have just tried it & it is quite comfortable
i would expect it could be fitted to any lifejacket belt
Cost just under £ 15-00 in February. The chandlers did not know about it as Spinlock had only just introduced at the LIBS

 

[Daydream believer]

I wear a bum-bag (US: fanny-pack) with all my bits in.

Do you think anyone will come to your aid if you started waving your "bits" about
Apart from a couple of well known celebs that is

 

[Jamesuk]

Something like this maybe?:
http://www.seasafe.co.uk/shop/ct/lifejackets/seasafe-specialist-lifejackets-/pd/pacific-lite-

That is a cool vest but I dont think it will work well with my drysuit.

 

[PaulMcC]

I wear a bum-bag (US: fanny-pack) with all my bits in.

I expect this is the right way to go. Create your own pocket attached to the webbing harness of the lifejacket (or attached to a seperate webbing harness you put on under the lifejacket). Technical scuba divers tend to do this with pockets made from neoprene and heavy duty velco to close the pocket lid and you can buy these thread on pockets fairly easily from tech diving shops. Of course the pockets aren't waterproof. Better I would say to have a not waterproof pocket and anything that needs to be waterproof goes in a seperate bag and then into the pocket. Also make sure you attached everything to a ring inside the pocket with a foot or two of line, then when you pull one thing out, and everything else comes out with it, you won't lose anything.
The challenge will be making sure you can reach everything when you're in your full ofshore gear in the water and the lifejacket inflates. Worth a test.

 

[Nigel-in-Oxford]

I wear a bum-bag (US: fanny-pack) with all my bits in.

That sounds so wrong on every level
But what a good suggestion.