Would you use a lifeline and harness on a motorboat?

PaulRainbow said:
Perhaps, but there are many reasons for being below and you don't have to be doing 20 kts to hit something and hole the hull.

My point is, insisting that you should wear a life jacket all of the time you are onboard is not exactly a good policy.
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Paul in my day heads mirror , there is sign at the top that reads. THE PERSON YOU ARE LOOKING AT IS REPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY. But then I am a dick.
 
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You could also argue , they had taken jacket off below when strike happened and inrush of water washer lj away , they got out but could not stay afloat . This is my last post on the subject , I will take my chance, I would be rather four times safer wearing one.
 
Seastoke said:
Another question is a mob a mayday situation.
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Yes - and NO
For me it depends on the situation - and I talk only for motoryachts:
If it is good weather - no big wind - daylight ... and you see / have contact with the MOB = you do all to rescue the MOB. We all have learned how to do it and have some expertise / training. (I make training for MOB rescue all year several times with my crew).

It is a MAYDAY situation: with night situation / bad sight / bad weather - storm ... no contact with MOB .... this is pure horror and I would call for help imediatly!
 
Seastoke said:
Yes.
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I was kind of expecting you might show us where they said that, rather than just reiterating your assertion.

They have a policy for photography of crew to make sure they set a good example - it does not require LJs to be worn inside ALBs. I’m sure I’ve seen them on saving lives at sea remove LJs once on board a fishing vessel taking on water before going below deck.

I would be surprised if they expected people to wear lifejackets when working in an engine room with entanglement hazard or if “always” was meant to include whilst asleep at anchor or even for the off watch crew sleeping below deck.

The only docs I can find either say “always” with no caveats or include an explanation of the law in ROI - they don’t say “although that’s the law you should wear one below deck anyway”. I can see why they’ve kept the words simple with “always” but I very much doubt they intend it to be interpreted how you have.
 
PaulRainbow said:
When you are being pinned to the roof, with water gushing in, how fast can you deflate the life jacket ?
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I’d say if the water is coming in fast enough to pin me to the roof whilst I was taking a dump I’m probably not getting out of there without a life jacket on either! That’s not me arguing lifejackets should be compulsory at all times - that is as stupid a policy as insisting they are removed whenever you go below deck, even for 30s to grab a pair of binoculars or respond to a a VHF message.
 
Perhaps there's a parallel with mandatory seat belts in cars. There are situations where wearing them is actually dangerous (e.g., a car in the water). Yet, they save more lives than they cost.
 
ylop said:
I’d say if the water is coming in fast enough to pin me to the roof whilst I was taking a dump I’m probably not getting out of there without a life jacket on either! That’s not me arguing lifejackets should be compulsory at all times - that is as stupid a policy as insisting they are removed whenever you go below deck, even for 30s to grab a pair of binoculars or respond to a a VHF message.
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One thing we don't want it someone saying they must be worn at all times, which is why i brought up wearing them below decks. But, we also don't want someone saying we have to take them off if we go below decks. I like to make my own mind up, at the times.
 
ylop said:
I was kind of expecting you might show us where they said that, rather than just reiterating your assertion.

They have a policy for photography of crew to make sure they set a good example - it does not require LJs to be worn inside ALBs. I’m sure I’ve seen them on saving lives at sea remove LJs once on board a fishing vessel taking on water before going below deck.

I would be surprised if they expected people to wear lifejackets when working in an engine room with entanglement hazard or if “always” was meant to include whilst asleep at anchor or even for the off watch crew sleeping below deck.

The only docs I can find either say “always” with no caveats or include an explanation of the law in ROI - they don’t say “although that’s the law you should wear one below deck anyway”. I can see why they’ve kept the words simple with “always” but I very much doubt they intend it to be interpreted how you have.
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The MAIB report linked to above says;

"In this case, it is possible that the failure of the skipper’s lifejacket saved his life.
When entering spaces below decks, consideration should be given to removing
an auto inflation lifejacket since, in the event of a catastrophic accident, it could
make escape more difficult. However, in the vast majority of situations a functioning
lifejacket is a lifesaver."
 
PaulRainbow said:
The MAIB report linked to above says;

"In this case, it is possible that the failure of the skipper’s lifejacket saved his life.
When entering spaces below decks, consideration should be given to removing
an auto inflation lifejacket since, in the event of a catastrophic accident, it could
make escape more difficult. However, in the vast majority of situations a functioning
lifejacket is a lifesaver."
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I’m not disputing that - there are obscure circumstances where wearing or not wearing will actually prove better. What would actually be a better idea is not going below decks on autopilot with nobody else keeping a lookout, for 5 minutes. Ironically if he were to remove and refit his lifejackets at the companionway steps would actually increase the length of time nobody was looking for collision risks!
 
We run coded boats at work and policy is that lifejackets are to be worn at all times when on deck, pontoons and close to quaysides. Inside a vessel wearing them is not compulsory but they should be close at hand.

On our own boat we operate a similar policy - when underway always worn on deck or on the flybridge and inside optional but close at hand. Perhaps on a calm sunny day when we are pootling the lifejackets might be off but next to us on the flybridge but would put them on if traversing the deck to go below.

It is currently personal choice for leisure boaters and type and size of boat together with sea conditions will be relevant factors to consider and ultimately up to the owner/skipper to decide, which I think is sensible.
.
 
ylop said:
I’m not disputing that - there are obscure circumstances where wearing or not wearing will actually prove better. What would actually be a better idea is not going below decks on autopilot with nobody else keeping a lookout, for 5 minutes. Ironically if he were to remove and refit his lifejackets at the companionway steps would actually increase the length of time nobody was looking for collision risks!
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Who would be stupid enough , to have no lookout that’s crazy .
 
ylop said:
I would be surprised if they expected people to wear lifejackets when working in an engine room with entanglement hazard or if “always” was meant to include whilst asleep at anchor or even for the off watch crew sleeping below deck.
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I think the RNLI keep the messaging deliberately plain and simple, but expect people to apply a little common sense.

Sadly, common sense isn't always as common as we might hope, and some people are only able to blindly follow instructions to the absolute letter... 🙂
 
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