Really good point in this one - just remarkable how quickly you can loose site of a person in the water.
John Sent from my iPad > On Dec 28, 2013, at 1:39 PM, "Rick Brass" <rickbr...@earthlink.net> wrote: > > The PFDs I have for the Admiral and myself are Sospenders auto inflate > offshore vests with a built in harness. Always worn when single handed at > night or when in heavy weather, sometimes worn when single handing in > daylight depending on the weather. > > For guests I have a couple of coastal auto inflate and a couple of manual > inflate PFDs, none with harness. I figure I'll be on the boat to get back to > them and my main concern is keeping them afloat. > > I'm pretty sure the regular crew (my 50 pound Walker Hound, Chance) would > take a while to get the boat back to me if I fell over (that is, provided > that my head could even be seen from more than 50 yards away). So I usually > have a tether attached when wearing the PFD. The Spinlock tether is the best > I've yet seen - and I have 6 or 8 tethers from 3 or 4 manufacturers on the > boat. > > I guess you need to ask yourself if you ever want to think "Boy the boat > sure looks pretty." As you watch the autopilot sail it towards the horizon > and you tread water. > > As far as maintenance goes, I replace the bobbins in the auto inflation > mechanism every couple of years, though I think annual replacement is > recommended. Last batch I bought cost a buck or two each, and I keep a small > stash double sealed in plastic bags to keep out the humidity. I also have a > rearming kit (with the CO2 cartridge and a bobbin) or an appropriate CO2 > cartridge for each type of PFD on board. Maintenance is no biggy. > > Rick Brass > Washington, NC > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of M Bod > Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2013 12:06 AM > To: C&C list > Subject: Stus-List PFD/life vest > > Apparently I've got a few $ coming for Xmas gift to address (a small bit of) > my new boat needs. > I thought it would be prudent to get a couple of comfortable inflatable life > vests. > Given my sailing over the last 2 yrs has all been in the Halifax harbor and > never in inclement weather, I've never felt a need to wear a vest. > I'm hoping to stretch a little further with the new boat, and therefore the > thinking that a life vest might be useful. > Given I've never worn one I'm a complete newb! > Any suggestions? > Should I bump up to a harness version just to have it if needed? I don't do > a lot of solo sailing - but I do a lot of sailing with 4 kids on the boat > who would be extremely hard pressed to come back for me if I was bobbing in > the water off the stern! > > What about automatic vs manual? > Preferred brand? > > I'm guessing you get what you pay for, and I realize that an uncomfortable > vest is unlikely to get worn, and therefore be worthless, but I'm also not > expecting to head out into heavy conditions. I could just go with my current > PFD if things turn a bit hairy. > But seems my mom likes the idea of keeping my head above water! So what do > you pick? between a $100 Mustang vest, a $130 PLASTIMO inflatable > vest/harness or a $2-400 Mustang/Spinlock vest/harness. > > Not planning to spend $400 - more the $100-150 range. > > Last - are the auto inflators easily maintained? Or am I buying $35-65 kits > every yr to keep vest functional? > > Thanks in advance for the advice. > > Mark > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
