I am interested in replacing my standard PFDs with the new inflatable life jacket safety harness combination. They come in a manual type where you pull a "rip cord" to inflate it and they also have an automatic type which inflates 5 seconds after hitting the water. The automatic type can also be inflated using a manual ripcord. The "selling point" for the automatic type is that if you go overboard "unconscious" like from an accidental jibe and the boom goes "boom" on your head, the vest will inflate, while with the manual type, you may be visiting Davy Jones. The negatives that I read about involving the automatic inflation is that in heavy spray or if the vest gets wet, even in the cockpit, the CO2 inflator can deploy and it blows up "unnecessarily". Then you have to go through a recharging procedure. Now I'm not a "blue water sailor but I do go out in 20 knots alot and when I'm beating to windward against the tide very often I get pretty wet, even with the spray dodger up. My question to those of you who have these inflatable jackets/harnesses are: Do you like them overall? Would you buy the manual or the automatic? Has the automatic deployed in wet sailing conditions when it shouldn't have? If you had it to do over would you buy something different. You have time to think about your answers. Doesn't look like I'll be sailing again until April. Ugh!
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Brian King
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
Warren,
The only experience I've had with our manually inflated life jackets were when my wife inflated hers just before she jumped onto the coast guard boat as our Aloha 34 was sinking ( I now have a Caped Dory 28) in the Hudson River last year during hurricane Floyd.
She missed the jump and fell into the water,hanging onto the side of the coast guard boat with one hand and the towing rope with the other.
The remaining coast guard crew and I ( the other crew was still on my sinking boat) had an awful time getting Marie back on board with the inflated life jacket. Because it didn't have a crotch strap ( available now) the jacket rode up around her face and almost pushed her glasses off. She couldn't see anything. The coast guard boat had NO ladder and the capt. left the wheel house and the 3 of us finally got Marie aboard.
I think the jacket did provide bouyancy for her in the situation, but made it difficult for retreival from the water.
I've had a little hassle in obtaining replacement CO2 cartridges as well. Apparently no other manufacturer will give you the all clear to use theirs on another brand of life jacket. You MUST get replacement C02 cartridges from the original manufacturer.
When I head south next year I will keep my manually inflated jacket (with integrated life harness) and obtain the crotch straps available now, as well as a couple of spare cartridges.
The inflatable life jackets with integrated harness are comfortable to wear and provide security to stay aboard. I like them.
Brian
bf.king@home.com
The only experience I've had with our manually inflated life jackets were when my wife inflated hers just before she jumped onto the coast guard boat as our Aloha 34 was sinking ( I now have a Caped Dory 28) in the Hudson River last year during hurricane Floyd.
She missed the jump and fell into the water,hanging onto the side of the coast guard boat with one hand and the towing rope with the other.
The remaining coast guard crew and I ( the other crew was still on my sinking boat) had an awful time getting Marie back on board with the inflated life jacket. Because it didn't have a crotch strap ( available now) the jacket rode up around her face and almost pushed her glasses off. She couldn't see anything. The coast guard boat had NO ladder and the capt. left the wheel house and the 3 of us finally got Marie aboard.
I think the jacket did provide bouyancy for her in the situation, but made it difficult for retreival from the water.
I've had a little hassle in obtaining replacement CO2 cartridges as well. Apparently no other manufacturer will give you the all clear to use theirs on another brand of life jacket. You MUST get replacement C02 cartridges from the original manufacturer.
When I head south next year I will keep my manually inflated jacket (with integrated life harness) and obtain the crotch straps available now, as well as a couple of spare cartridges.
The inflatable life jackets with integrated harness are comfortable to wear and provide security to stay aboard. I like them.
Brian
bf.king@home.com
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Jon
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
Warren,
Be careful - many of the automatics are not coast guard approved. Also, I don't like the idea of the jacket inflating itself in soaking rain or if hit by frequent large waves/spray. I do like my manual inflating PFDs though. They take up much less storage space than traditionals. They also get worn more often, as they really are more comfortable and allow a much better range of motion when you most need it (before you actually land in the h2o). Get lots of opinions on this before you make a decision.
Jon
s/v Sovereign
Be careful - many of the automatics are not coast guard approved. Also, I don't like the idea of the jacket inflating itself in soaking rain or if hit by frequent large waves/spray. I do like my manual inflating PFDs though. They take up much less storage space than traditionals. They also get worn more often, as they really are more comfortable and allow a much better range of motion when you most need it (before you actually land in the h2o). Get lots of opinions on this before you make a decision.
Jon
s/v Sovereign
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Bill Bloxham
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
I've got a West Marine by Sospenders auto-inflate with harness. I have not had an in-water event, but neither have I had an accidental inflation. I wear the PFD under a cheap rainsuit in wet conditions, (I sail protected Barnegat Bay) and have not have had an unintentional inflation in the several years I've had it. The Sospenders unit (38AH) has the dissolving unit almost 3" inside the fold of the front cover. It's well protected for what I do. Looking at it now, I see that if Sospenders were to add some additional Velcro at the bottom where the manual inflation lanyard exits, the possibility of accidental inflation could be greatly minimized.
They are comfortable in most any condition, do not interfere with my mobility and are cool on the warm days. I love my Sospenders.
As far as the crotch strap goes, I had not given it any thought till I read Brians reply, but my 2 first reactions are that it's 1. a good idea, and 2. really uncomfortable to wear, and worse yet to experience Unanticipated Vertical Acceleration in. Any gender specific experiences out there? Airborne experience welcomed.
By the way, the color selection is limited. I’m no fashonista, but there’s more to life then bottom paint colors.
Bill
mmmmmmbill@aol.com
They are comfortable in most any condition, do not interfere with my mobility and are cool on the warm days. I love my Sospenders.
As far as the crotch strap goes, I had not given it any thought till I read Brians reply, but my 2 first reactions are that it's 1. a good idea, and 2. really uncomfortable to wear, and worse yet to experience Unanticipated Vertical Acceleration in. Any gender specific experiences out there? Airborne experience welcomed.
By the way, the color selection is limited. I’m no fashonista, but there’s more to life then bottom paint colors.
Bill
mmmmmmbill@aol.com
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David B
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
I have the manual style with the integrated harness and I agree that it is comfortable and provides a good range of motion. I have used it on both my Typhoon Weekender and now on my 28. Since I sail solo 90% of the time I wouldn't go out with out it.
David
dbcfc@aol.com
David
dbcfc@aol.com
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Jerry Axler
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
I've been wearing my autoinflatable for nightwatch off shore for the last couple of years and have had no problem in all kinds of conditions. They are comfortable and I wear them religiously at night which is more than I can say for my safety habits, when using the old type I's. Practical Sailor did a review recently and accidental inflation was not considered a major problem compared especially to not wearing a PFD. Someone mentioned wearing a PFD under rain gear and I believe that is specifically mentioned as a no- no by the manafacturer for what I thought were obvious reasons.Warren Kaplan wrote: I am interested in replacing my standard PFDs with the new inflatable life jacket safety harness combination. They come in a manual type where you pull a "rip cord" to inflate it and they also have an automatic type which inflates 5 seconds after hitting the water. The automatic type can also be inflated using a manual ripcord. The "selling point" for the automatic type is that if you go overboard "unconscious" like from an accidental jibe and the boom goes "boom" on your head, the vest will inflate, while with the manual type, you may be visiting Davy Jones. The negatives that I read about involving the automatic inflation is that in heavy spray or if the vest gets wet, even in the cockpit, the CO2 inflator can deploy and it blows up "unnecessarily". Then you have to go through a recharging procedure. Now I'm not a "blue water sailor but I do go out in 20 knots alot and when I'm beating to windward against the tide very often I get pretty wet, even with the spray dodger up. My question to those of you who have these inflatable jackets/harnesses are: Do you like them overall? Would you buy the manual or the automatic? Has the automatic deployed in wet sailing conditions when it shouldn't have? If you had it to do over would you buy something different. You have time to think about your answers. Doesn't look like I'll be sailing again until April. Ugh!
Warren
cutter36@erols.com
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sloopjohnl
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
glad you asked this warren,
i've got money in the winter budget to buy one myself. recently read an article in "bluewater sailing" about their tests of mustang, sospenders and stearns. they picked the mustang with 2" straps rather than 1"; longer length so it tended not to ride up when wearing especially OVER foul weather gear; and harness rings separate from vest clasp. they also mentioned that not all vests from a manufacturer are coast guard approved just because one model is.
since my survival might depend on this thing, i think i will test and repack before each sailing season no matter how inconvenient!!
they did say that in general the automatics took 10-15 seconds of total immersion for the special paper pellet (which holds the activating puncturing trigger back from punturing the co2 cyclinder) to dissolve and activate the puncture. that's alot of spray.
let us know what you buy.
i've got money in the winter budget to buy one myself. recently read an article in "bluewater sailing" about their tests of mustang, sospenders and stearns. they picked the mustang with 2" straps rather than 1"; longer length so it tended not to ride up when wearing especially OVER foul weather gear; and harness rings separate from vest clasp. they also mentioned that not all vests from a manufacturer are coast guard approved just because one model is.
since my survival might depend on this thing, i think i will test and repack before each sailing season no matter how inconvenient!!
they did say that in general the automatics took 10-15 seconds of total immersion for the special paper pellet (which holds the activating puncturing trigger back from punturing the co2 cyclinder) to dissolve and activate the puncture. that's alot of spray.
let us know what you buy.
Warren Kaplan wrote: I am interested in replacing my standard PFDs with the new inflatable life jacket safety harness combination. They come in a manual type where you pull a "rip cord" to inflate it and they also have an automatic type which inflates 5 seconds after hitting the water. The automatic type can also be inflated using a manual ripcord. The "selling point" for the automatic type is that if you go overboard "unconscious" like from an accidental jibe and the boom goes "boom" on your head, the vest will inflate, while with the manual type, you may be visiting Davy Jones. The negatives that I read about involving the automatic inflation is that in heavy spray or if the vest gets wet, even in the cockpit, the CO2 inflator can deploy and it blows up "unnecessarily". Then you have to go through a recharging procedure. Now I'm not a "blue water sailor but I do go out in 20 knots alot and when I'm beating to windward against the tide very often I get pretty wet, even with the spray dodger up. My question to those of you who have these inflatable jackets/harnesses are: Do you like them overall? Would you buy the manual or the automatic? Has the automatic deployed in wet sailing conditions when it shouldn't have? If you had it to do over would you buy something different. You have time to think about your answers. Doesn't look like I'll be sailing again until April. Ugh!
Warren
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David Timmins
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
I've had a Mustang Auto Inflatable for the last 4 years and I like it alot.
Although I have yet to have any unnecessary inflations while sailing, this summer
I left the PFD in the sun, on the deck and in the early evening the the thing
blew! My guess was condensation did it in, as I had been out in a big
wind with lots of spray, in the morning.
Now I keep an extra CO2 and trigger unit, blister wrapped, below.
My Mustang is USCG approved but for some reason the Canadian CG
have yet to approve the auto inflate PFD's. I don't understand why. If
I'm going to get "Boom Bonked", alone, at night, I'll take my take my
Mustang, thank you.
I fell out of my cedar strip runabout 2 years ago, the PFD inflated and my
head was up, out of the water before I knew what had happend.
I also find that because my Mustang is so unobtrusive, sometimes I forget
to take it off (sometimes to the amusement of the family, at home at the supper table).
David
I am interested in replacing my standard PFDs with the new inflatable life jacket safety harness combination. They come in a manual type where you pull a "rip cord" to inflate it and they also have an automatic type which inflates 5 seconds after hitting the water. The automatic type can also be inflated using a manual ripcord. The "selling point" for the automatic type is that if you go overboard "unconscious" like from an accidental jibe and the boom goes "boom" on your head, the vest will inflate, while with the manual type, you may be visiting Davy Jones. The negatives that I read about involving the automatic inflation is that in heavy spray or if the vest gets wet, even in the cockpit, the CO2 inflator can deploy and it blows up "unnecessarily". Then you have to go through a recharging procedure. Now I'm not a "blue water sailor but I do go out in 20 knots alot and when I'm beating to windward against the tide very often I get pretty wet, even with the spray dodger up. My question to those of you who have these inflatable jackets/harnesses are: Do you like them overall? Would you buy the manual or the automatic? Has the automatic deployed in wet sailing conditions when it shouldn't have? If you had it to do over would you buy something different. You have time to think about your answers. Doesn't look like I'll be sailing again until April. Ugh!
dtimmins@setworks.com
Although I have yet to have any unnecessary inflations while sailing, this summer
I left the PFD in the sun, on the deck and in the early evening the the thing
blew! My guess was condensation did it in, as I had been out in a big
wind with lots of spray, in the morning.
Now I keep an extra CO2 and trigger unit, blister wrapped, below.
My Mustang is USCG approved but for some reason the Canadian CG
have yet to approve the auto inflate PFD's. I don't understand why. If
I'm going to get "Boom Bonked", alone, at night, I'll take my take my
Mustang, thank you.
I fell out of my cedar strip runabout 2 years ago, the PFD inflated and my
head was up, out of the water before I knew what had happend.
I also find that because my Mustang is so unobtrusive, sometimes I forget
to take it off (sometimes to the amusement of the family, at home at the supper table).
David
I am interested in replacing my standard PFDs with the new inflatable life jacket safety harness combination. They come in a manual type where you pull a "rip cord" to inflate it and they also have an automatic type which inflates 5 seconds after hitting the water. The automatic type can also be inflated using a manual ripcord. The "selling point" for the automatic type is that if you go overboard "unconscious" like from an accidental jibe and the boom goes "boom" on your head, the vest will inflate, while with the manual type, you may be visiting Davy Jones. The negatives that I read about involving the automatic inflation is that in heavy spray or if the vest gets wet, even in the cockpit, the CO2 inflator can deploy and it blows up "unnecessarily". Then you have to go through a recharging procedure. Now I'm not a "blue water sailor but I do go out in 20 knots alot and when I'm beating to windward against the tide very often I get pretty wet, even with the spray dodger up. My question to those of you who have these inflatable jackets/harnesses are: Do you like them overall? Would you buy the manual or the automatic? Has the automatic deployed in wet sailing conditions when it shouldn't have? If you had it to do over would you buy something different. You have time to think about your answers. Doesn't look like I'll be sailing again until April. Ugh!
Warren Kaplan wrote: Warren
dtimmins@setworks.com
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Frank Vernet
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
Warren: My family and I sail Puerto Rican waters in our CD33. We all wear West Marine Sospenders and love them. They are very comfortable and hence worn without complaints. We have 2 auto inflates and 2 manual inflate PFDs. We have not had any accidental inflations except for once when my 15 year old was pulling himself back aboard the dinghy and pulled the manual ripcord on his PFD (he was quite surprised by the event). I highly recommend them for the above reasons.
Having said that...if I was in severe weather, I'd pull out my USCG approved heavy duty PFD guaranteed to keep me afloat in Cat 5 Hurricane conditions. The Sospender type PFDs, while comfortable, are probably adequate in calm and moderate conditions only. I do not think that I would trust my life to one in a serious storm.
Frank
vernetf@afwtf.navy.mil
Having said that...if I was in severe weather, I'd pull out my USCG approved heavy duty PFD guaranteed to keep me afloat in Cat 5 Hurricane conditions. The Sospender type PFDs, while comfortable, are probably adequate in calm and moderate conditions only. I do not think that I would trust my life to one in a serious storm.
Frank
vernetf@afwtf.navy.mil
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Lyn Heiges
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
Warren,
I have one of the West Marine auto-inflatable USCG approved life vests (SOSpenders) which I wear on GUILLEMOT, a CD27, for safety during racing in Tampa Bay with the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. I spend a bit of time on the foredeck and with the main boom, jib/genoa, spinnaker, lines, etc. out there to "get me" and I feel very comfortable in it. I have never had an inflation although there is a lot of spray out there.
I teach the BoatSmart and Boating Courses, as well as others, with the Boca Ciega Sail and Power Squadron and West Marine and BOAT/US come out to give away door prizes on "Final" night. They usually demonstrate the inflatable life vests and if you ever see one inflate you would NEVER wear one under anything restrictive!
By the way, Santa Claus wore the inflatable over his suit in the St. Pete Beach Lighted Boat Parade on CD27 GUILLEMOT and we won First Place for under 30-foot sailboats.
Highly recommend these units and purchase a reload kit, just in case!
Lyn Heiges
CD28 Moon Child
St. Pete Beach, Florida
LynHeiges@cs.com
I have one of the West Marine auto-inflatable USCG approved life vests (SOSpenders) which I wear on GUILLEMOT, a CD27, for safety during racing in Tampa Bay with the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. I spend a bit of time on the foredeck and with the main boom, jib/genoa, spinnaker, lines, etc. out there to "get me" and I feel very comfortable in it. I have never had an inflation although there is a lot of spray out there.
I teach the BoatSmart and Boating Courses, as well as others, with the Boca Ciega Sail and Power Squadron and West Marine and BOAT/US come out to give away door prizes on "Final" night. They usually demonstrate the inflatable life vests and if you ever see one inflate you would NEVER wear one under anything restrictive!
By the way, Santa Claus wore the inflatable over his suit in the St. Pete Beach Lighted Boat Parade on CD27 GUILLEMOT and we won First Place for under 30-foot sailboats.
Highly recommend these units and purchase a reload kit, just in case!
Lyn Heiges
CD28 Moon Child
St. Pete Beach, Florida
Warren Kaplan wrote: I am interested in replacing my standard PFDs with the new inflatable life jacket safety harness combination. They come in a manual type where you pull a "rip cord" to inflate it and they also have an automatic type which inflates 5 seconds after hitting the water. The automatic type can also be inflated using a manual ripcord. The "selling point" for the automatic type is that if you go overboard "unconscious" like from an accidental jibe and the boom goes "boom" on your head, the vest will inflate, while with the manual type, you may be visiting Davy Jones. The negatives that I read about involving the automatic inflation is that in heavy spray or if the vest gets wet, even in the cockpit, the CO2 inflator can deploy and it blows up "unnecessarily". Then you have to go through a recharging procedure. Now I'm not a "blue water sailor but I do go out in 20 knots alot and when I'm beating to windward against the tide very often I get pretty wet, even with the spray dodger up. My question to those of you who have these inflatable jackets/harnesses are: Do you like them overall? Would you buy the manual or the automatic? Has the automatic deployed in wet sailing conditions when it shouldn't have? If you had it to do over would you buy something different. You have time to think about your answers. Doesn't look like I'll be sailing again until April. Ugh!
Warren
LynHeiges@cs.com
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Warren Kaplan
Re: Inflatable Life Jacket/Harness
Lyn,
I've pretty much decided to get the inflatable vest/harness combo. That at least I'll wear regularly.
I'm more interested in something else you said in your post. Your CD27 came in first in a race! I'm impressed. First in the under 30 ft class. Wow! Uh.....you weren't by chance the only boat in the race were you! Just kidding. I'm not a racer but I've inadvertantly gotten "mixed in" amongst a fleet of racers on Great South Bay and I was surprised at the turn of speed my 1980 CD27 put in. I did pretty well.
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
I've pretty much decided to get the inflatable vest/harness combo. That at least I'll wear regularly.
I'm more interested in something else you said in your post. Your CD27 came in first in a race! I'm impressed. First in the under 30 ft class. Wow! Uh.....you weren't by chance the only boat in the race were you! Just kidding. I'm not a racer but I've inadvertantly gotten "mixed in" amongst a fleet of racers on Great South Bay and I was surprised at the turn of speed my 1980 CD27 put in. I did pretty well.
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com