How often do you wear your life vest?

[rbryant1492_mfb]

I have really noticed that a lot of people rarely wear their life vest. I was wondering why? I seems to me that a good comfortable vest can be a goood thing to have on.

 

[Boatist]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

We always wear our in the ocean or bad weather and sea condition but when it 108 and not sign of wind or ripple on the water, I will take my chances of drowing to prevent heat stroke.

 

[tlynch99]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

Don't usually wear mine, but then again I haven't been out on the ocean, and seeing as how I have a 16ft boat, I think it would be a good idea.

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

I do 99% of my boating on rivers. The only time I wear my vest is when boarding or when I'm in the water. That's the one rule I'm a stickler about when people go with me - if you are in the water you must wear your vest. I don't care how good of a swimmer they are - even if they're just getting in to cool off - vest must be worn in the water.

I can't imagine wearing it while sitting in the boat. Those things are miserably hot, or the neoprene ones are that we use.

 

[tommays]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

On the sailboat 100% of the time

On the powerboat if alone 100% and the rest depends on weather

 

[arboldt]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

All our boating is on small inland lakes -- the lake our cottage is on is only about 1.25 miles diameter -- and I don't go out in bad weather or if waves are over a foot or so.

Sometimes we anchor in the middle of the lake and swim from the boat. Since it's anchored and can't get away from us, we never wear our life jackets.

Now if I went out in big water (e.g. Lake Michigan), and the water was not glasss-calm, then I probably would. But I don't go out then.

 

[QC]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

I do not wear mine unless I am boating alone and the weather is really nasty. Life jackets underway are VERY rare where we boat. Of course underage kids wear theirs, but oppostite to some others comments here, I allow them to take them off for a swim. If I required life jackets for swims I would be a lonely boater, maybe even diovorced . . .

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

Do not. Im sure some could come up with a thousand reasons why I should (just like the seat belt in my car) but I just hate the things. I have a 23' boat, on inland lakes and am an excellent swimmer (without a life vest on). I do have them on board just in case: wakeboarding or for proof during that unexpected inspection.

 

[DRIFTER_016]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

I wear them only when rafting rivers or running around on the SeaDoo's.

 

[MikDee]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

Sorry, but I don't, it's too bulky, & uncomfortable, especially on the boat, I'm a big guy, (around) with a long torso, it looks, & feels like my young brothers jacket! I think a lot of people drown because of this,,, I probably would wear one if it was inflatable, but they're expensive!
But, Otherwise Yes, Always on the jet ski!

 

[Fu-Inator]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

I voted "don't" but that isn't entirely true. The little kids of course yes, anyone in the water tubing or swimming off the boat yes. If I'm switching out tube riding with my son (while wife drives), I will just leave my vest on.

Like others, I'm on inland lakes close to shore. Although I will admit, I was just recently caught in a rain shower (non-thunderstorm) with pretty big waves for my boat, I didn't even think to have everyone put vests on.... doh!:redface:

 

[12vMan]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

Only if we run into nasty weather. Otherwise only underage or anyone doing water sports wear them.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

I share the river with some really big ships, some over 300ft, wakeboarders, off shore cruisers, and everything else under the sun. My freeboard measures between 6 and 0inches at times, and the boat is about 9+ft.

If it (my PFD) is not on, it is real, real close by. Passengers wear one, or they have to get off. It is just to dangerous not to wear one in my boat on this river.

It is a pain in the *** sometimes, this river takes at least three a month, most listed as good, to excellent swimmers, within a mile radius from our apartment. If anyone on the river needs one it is me, I am just to good looking to die yet.

 

[lrice01]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

I wear mine because my wife and daughters expect me to come home from each one of my fishing trips. That's enough motivation for me to wear mine!

Lee

 

[bhammer]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

It all depends. The kids always wear theirs though. On a busy lake weekend with lots of stupid traffic, I will generally wear mine or when I want to get to one end of the lake or the other at max speed with other traffic. Always when tubing or skiing. On slow days it's generally out and available. My wife plays DD and when we go to the lake and I chose to drink, I will generally put one on after I've had a few. Keeps me from sinking and drowning my beer.

A vest is too darn hot and messes with the tan line. Not that I go around anywhere outside the lake without my shirt on. Just can't scare people that bad.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

Before last season I would have said that jackets were available but not always worn. That changed after I was a part of some accident investigations where life jackets were found near the bodies of the victims. Available but not worn.

It can be inconvenient sometimes but I just remind myself that if I end up in the water while underway, it would be the result of significant and probably violent emotional event. The time that I would most want to be jacketed.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

Checked no because I usually don't. I do wear it sometimes, the kids always, as well as anybody boarding/skiing/tubing. We do most of our boating on small inland lakes and am never more than a few hundreds yards from shore, and have never had the bad luck not be able to get in before the weather turns nasty.

If I ever encountered more than 1.5' chop I would change my mind quickly.

 

[642mx]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

I only wear mine for watersports. When I get out of the boat to cool off I normally just grab a noodle to hang on to.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

Rarely will I wear a vest. Mostly because it's uncomfortable and too hot. I would always have the younger kids wear them, however.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: How often do you wear your life vest?

I did today...

while I was skiing...

usually do not unless we're going fast, etc... or out in big water, etc...

probably not best practice...