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Life Jackets


Adam F
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I regularly wear a flotation suit in the winter, and only wear a lifejacket when I feel the situation warrants it. In the summer, I can have as little as a tee shirt and shorts on with deck shoes, but as it would be too hot to wear a flotation suit in the summer I would be more inclined to wear my lifejacket if I felt I needed it.

 

So once again I suppose it boils down to common sense.

 

Eddie

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I always wear a lifejacket - only because if I fell in I am a bad swimmer and convinced my days would be numbered !!

 

However, I have to confess when wearing the flotation suit I have neglected the lifejacket on occasion.

 

The gas inflatable ones are so light you forget the jacket is on.

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Same as Ed really

 

Floatation suit in winter months and life jacket when appropriate but that may change soon as I am considering making it a rule on Maverick to wear life jackets all the time. After all they cost enough so why not wear and get used to the workings of them.

 

Martin

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Hi all

 

I am in the market for a replacement floatation suit

 

Question is do I go for a one piece or 2? unsure.gif

 

I have a two piece which is convienant but with the winter about to start would it be better (safer) with a one piece?

 

I am looking at the Fladen floatation/immersion suits as I think this gives the best of both worlds at a reasonable price.

 

Coddy

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My response to the poll mirrors Ed and Maverick, but when I had a small open boat (17.5ft/90hp) we wore the lifejackets more generally and didn't go out in December!

 

Coddy - I have a 2 piece and find that I use the longlohns with a thick jumper in the sort of conditions we are now seeing (bit chilly) then move to the whole thing as it gets colder/wetter. I regret not spending out on a breathable one. Finally I also think the boat I expected to fiah on would influence me too - on a smaller craft wearing the 1 piece rathert than having a jacket and other clothes lying around with lunch, bait, weights, more lunch and 20 spare rods makes more sense!

Finally I have to say I like the look of the floation Smocks and if I was going out to get gear from scratch would probably get a good breathable one piece and one of the smocks for when I didn't need that. (Still miffed Jimbob grabbed the one on the Specimin prize table earlier in the year! sad.gif )

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Dave, twp piece suits cant have floatation in the legs, in case u go in when not wearing the jacket, one piece gnerally have floatation in teh legs too. if possible try one in your local swimming pool if you can. If you wear added layers under yer trooosers, it matters not about the extra warmth floatation padding gives, and i personnaly find them comfyer to wear. Have you ever tried climbing back into a boat wearing an inflated lifejacket, or a floatation suit?? Its quite hard.

 

 

As far as the poll goes, I have now purchased my own life jacket, and after the escapades of three weeks since, despite being a Bronze medallion lifesaver, I will wear it as from now. You just never know.

 

Rich

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Good points above

 

It seems to be that we are all carrying lifejackets but not many are using them. I include myself in that generalisation.

 

I recently replaced the junior lifejackets that were passed it with two new adult ones for the kids [ Sam at 14 is now 5'11", so a junior one would never fit] but they have only been worn twice even though they go on the boat every trip.

 

I think I will adopt the principal of using them on all but the calmest of days, that way the boys will get used to wearing them.

 

They always wear them on the Dinghy or if they are on the boat on her mooring without me.

 

The worst culprit is me, so I have slapped my own wrist and will take it to heart and wear mine. [Like I do at work]

By the way does anyone have a light fitted [ Pref a salt water light] for night time use? if so where did you get it from?

Charlie

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Lifejackets are mandatory on Lookfar except for visiting skippers, who I reckon to be responsible for their own necks though I do carry an extra jacket for them and make sure they know where it is.

On another forum, I've seen an ex-AirSea rescue operative argue against self-inflaters as they drown folk trapped during a capsize as they are unable to swim down and clear. Not an issue for small boats, something to think about if you have a cabin.

Anyone know what the shelf-life of a self-inflate mechanism is? One of mine self-fired on Monday for no reason while we were still on the slip. If it did that when I was in the front hatch hauling the warp, my poor crew would probably die laughing tongue.gif

 

Steve

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Steve, Interesting point on the self inflators something I have never thought about.

 

The shelflife I am not too sure of. They recommend manually inflating, checking and deflating every year but not too sure on the gas cartridges...I would guestimate maybe 3/4 years?

 

One thing that the RNLI chap mentioned on my SeaCheck is the use of a crotch strap. Apparently the air sea rescue wont lift you even if you have a lifting ring, as the jacket can then slip up and strange the casualty. They are not expensive, but I cant seem to find them for sale seperatly, locally. Imagin what I got when I scanned Ebay for a 'crotch strap!' blink.gifblink.gif

 

As I mentioned it is not optional to board BW now without either a lifejacket or a floatation suit...I think it is just a case of forcing a habit.

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Bob,

 

I have seen it written that chest waders are not a good idea when in the water. However, having hung from the front of the boat wearing them, I was quite impressed with the buoyancy I had smile.gif

However, the water hadn't gone over the top of them and filled them up, so presumably they will be not quite so buoyant in this case and would probably be cumersome to swim in I would imagine.

 

 

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Steve, Interesting point on the self inflators something I have never thought about.

 

The shelflife I am not too sure of. They recommend manually inflating, checking and deflating every year but not too sure on the gas cartridges...I would guestimate maybe 3/4 years?

 

One thing that the RNLI chap mentioned on my SeaCheck is the use of a crotch strap. Apparently the air sea rescue wont lift you even if you have a lifting ring, as the jacket can then slip up and strange the casualty. They are not expensive, but I cant seem to find them for sale seperatly, locally. Imagin what I got when I scanned Ebay for a 'crotch strap!' blink.gifblink.gif

 

As I mentioned it is not optional to board BW now without either a lifejacket or a floatation suit...I think it is just a case of forcing a habit.

Hi

 

I have just checked the instructions on my life jackets, sold with the Compass logo, and they recommend returning to the distributor at least every two (2) years for a service.

 

Coddy

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