adult life vests

[brianis]

ok so there are a wide variety of life vests out there i personally have never wore one i just purchased my first boat last summer but i did get my 4 yr old daughter one actually 2 the nylon one was to bulky uncomfortable while sitting in the boat so i bought her a nice neoprene one. So for me of course i dont need anything crazy i dont wear it while in the boat but to be safe need to have one but i will get on the tube with my daughter and i need one will one of the for example stearns ski vests work its still a nylon material but for under 30 bucks. Just wondering what people think especially when i dont wear it a whole lot

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: adult life vests

I hope you realise that having PFD (Life Vest) is not a "Just to be Safe" article. It's the Law.

http://www.parks.state.co.us/SiteCo.../2012_BoatRegs_11.30.11_FINAL_LOW_SPREADS.pdf

And ... The short answer is that, The best one, is one that you will actually wear.
Try one of these .....

http://www.iboats.com/Onyx-A-M-24-A...7687986--**********.005533429--view_id.696997

Just NOT for tubing. The Ski vest will do.

 

[oops!]

Re: adult life vests

lol.....hi.

the life vest is the most basic equipment on the boat.

and it should be the most often used.

i wear mine every time i am out alone......and i mean really wear it.

and every time anyone is swimming in water that is too deep to touch bottom.....that is my rule.

a good fitting pfd, is like wearing nothing.....so get into the habit of using it.
if you do , you wont know how you got along with out one before

 

[etracer68]

Re: adult life vests

I agree with oops on this, your PDF also shouldnt be packed away under something either. It should be out where you can get to it, in less then 10sec. I do alot of boating on Michigan, and most times Joanne is with me. Most times too, it kicks up a bit by the end of the day on the way back to the harbor(ramp), and we have them on. Purchase a good quality PDF, that fit well, and are easy to put on.

 

[series60]

Re: adult life vests

Beings this is your first boat my I suggest BoatU.S. Foundation Online Learning Center and Boating Safety Course. Tons of good stuff if you bother to read it. May cut down on your insurance rate also.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: adult life vests

skipping for the moment about why you should wear one more often, regardless of air temps, water depth, swimming skills, etc:

Comfortable and convenient. That's what keeps you in them and legal.

in the summer I like the stearns (or similar brand) with the mesh shoulders. they are a lot cooler and give you better motion for casting, paddling, lifting the kids, paddling the kids (jk), and they aren't all up around your neck. They are also good for shooting ducks. However, they aren't certified for water sports, but since they are so cheap, get one that is. It's good to have extras on board for guests, etc. I pick them up at yard sales a lot.

I use a float coat, bomber jacket style, in the winter except when canoeing.

If you have a comfortable one like I describe, you will be more likely to get in the habit of slipping it on while you cruise from place to place, when you are alone, etc. ("Alone" means you are the only person who could drive the boat over to pick you up and hoist you aboard, not that you are literally by yourself).

As for storage, PFDs have to be readily available. Some LEO's will do a drill and if everyone can't have theirs on and buckled in 5 seconds, you get a ticket. Having seen how fast boats sink, and thinking about a fire, 5 seconds is not unreasonable. So even leaving the mesh one hanging on the driver's seat is a move in the right direction; a bulkier one might not work conveniently that way.

For children (and you know they have to wear one) the key is to try them on with the child sitting, to see if they ride up around their neck. Soft and flexible, and not too big, are the solution. And to get more use, avoid the unicorns and pirates, so they will still wear them when they grow into being cool. when you are out with other boaters or at the ramp, look around and ask what they like, even try them on, especially the children.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: adult life vests

If the issue is comfort...
Find one that is comfortable, and wear it.

If the issue is that you think you look like a dork! ...
Get one one the inflatables mentioned above. Very Cool!

Or, you, or the kids, can wear a big T-shirt over the PFD.(Not the Inflatable!)
Wear a big sports Jersey and look like a linebacker.
The kids can look like their favorite Superhero!

 

[ziggy]

Re: adult life vests

i like the type III pfd's. (pfd tpes)
i will say some fit 'me' better than others do. some of them are cut lower under the arms than others. i like the low cut since it doesn't affect my under arms. the higher cut ones feel like they're cutting into my under arms. so try one on to see how they feel when on..

agree w/ others comfort is very desirable.

fwiw.
i don't always wear my pfd. when off it resides right next to me between my seat and my throttle control. it's right there waiting to be put on. that said, i'd guess even resideing there i'd be hard pressed to put it on in 5 sec. maybe i could do it in 10.
in bad weather or night boating, or when i'm by myself. i wear my pfd.
if i had a lot of money, i'd try one of them uscg approved inflateable types for sure. they look to be the most comfy i think...

edit. don't know about your state, but in mine. it's also a law to have one type IV pfd on board. i have 2, one for me and one for my sweety. we sit on them. raises me a little high for viewing + might save my old upulstry some wear and tear?.....

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: adult life vests

oddly, you have to have a "throwable" even when you are by yourself. Also the inflatables don't count (for tickets) unless they are on you; I think the same is true for float coats.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: adult life vests

oddly, you have to have a "throwable" even when you are by yourself...

True! A Throwable is required in most states for boats over 16 ft. Check your State!
And, the throwable is not for you, It is for the victim in the water.
And, It IS the law that you are required to throw it, Not an option!

Rendering Assistance (46USC 2304)
http://www.cgaux.org/rbs/boating-law-info.php

... i'd be hard pressed to put it on in 5 sec. maybe i could do it in 10.
...

5 seconds would be pushing it.
It sounds like an over active L.E.O. trying to make a point.
I would fight that citation for sure.

The Coast Guard requires commercial operators to get into their Survival Suits and be ready to abandon ship in 60 seconds.
Pleasure boaters would not be held to a higher standard.
The law says ...

33 CFR 175"Wearable lifejackets must be readily accessible.
You must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.)."

60 second is more than "Reasonable." 5 Second could be argued as Unreasonable by almost anyone.
Drop your PFD at you feet. (more than readily accessable.)
Now, time how long it takes you to get it on and properly buckled and adjusted.
Longer than you thought?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: adult life vests

Big boats sink slower than small ones. But I'm not agreeing with 5, or even 15 seconds, and it doesn't matter; the officer wins.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: adult life vests

Big boats sink slower than small ones. But I'm not agreeing with 5, or even 15 seconds, and it doesn't matter; the officer wins.

Agree...
But it is the judge that always wins.
I would have my day in court.
The law says "Readily Accessable" and a "Reasonable amount of Time", That opens the "Reasonable Person" legal theory.
I would argue that you should reasonable have it in your hand in 5 seconds.
And completely doned in under 60.

And, if the prosecuter doesn't see it a valid case, or the Officer doesn't show for the trial .... You win by default.
Been there, Done that!

And, boats under 20 feet don't sink at all, They just swamp. (That's the Law!)
But the issue here is not how fast boats sink, or capsize, or how fast you can be thrown overboard.
I totally agree with the good judgement of wearing one.
The legal argument is what would be reasonable.
If there is nothing in the law that states 5 seconds, and no one can do it in 5 seconds ...
That is "Unreasonable!"

------------------

NOTE:
We just held a life jacket drill in the living room.
Type III, Three Buckles, seated, jacket at your feet.
Timed from "Go" to last buckle snapped.
Best time ... 17 seconds. Worst time ... 21.
This was after a trial run, with "Reasonable Adults".
At 5 seconds, nobody even had it over their shoulders.
Add some confusion, panic, and a pitching deck and 40 second looks barely reasonable.

 

[oops!]

Re: adult life vests

NOTE:
We just held a life jacket drill in the living room.
Type III, Three Buckles, seated, jacket at your feet.
Timed from "Go" to last buckle snapped.
Best time ... 17 seconds. Worst time ... 21.
This was after a trial run, with "Reasonable Adults".
At 5 seconds, nobody even had it over their shoulders.
Add some confusion, panic, and a pitching deck and 40 second looks barely reasonable.

wow.

that is something to think about

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: adult life vests

picture a sudden fire in the engine compartment, battery box or under the cowl of the OB.

40-80 gallons of gasoline is 2-4' away.

Captain needs all persons overboard and swimming away NOW.

Yikes.

That's a good idea to do a life preserver drill at home.. I have to admit my ugly orange ones are stashed away too deep.

In cold water you can't fasten buckles, etc. like you think you can.

 

[brianis]

Re: adult life vests

ok so i got a lot of you need to wear your life jackets out of this one of coarse i do have a ugly orange one on board for me because it is the law its my choice to wear it but no matter what my daughter does alwlays have hers on because thats not a life i will take any chance with so i guess i will go to the marina and try some on but odds are im probaly still not gonna wear it when just relaxing in the boat but if swimming or out of boat i for sure will have it on and with all the advice i will keep it next to me.