This bulletin board, hosted by the CDSOA, Inc., is the on-line meeting place for all Cape Dory owners and groups. We welcome everyone's questions, answers and comments about Cape Dory sailboat
Paul D. wrote:I've used regular and inflatable pfd's for years in different applications, mainly canoe trip guiding. When we began some serious sailing, my original West Marine inflatable w/harness was found defective, so they refunded my money. I keep it aboard as a harness only; it is rather comfortable.
One alternative to Type V inflatables are good quality pfd's like those for expedition canoeing or kayaking. This is the type that I regularly use. For those on northern lakes where the temps frequently are less than hot, they are very comfortable, help maintain body temperature on cold days and in the water (In Lake Superior that is a rather big deal) and never need maintenance or worry about whether they will work. They do not turn a person face up however.
Some brands I like are Stohlquist, Kokatat, Astral and NRS. MTI and Extrasport are good brands for cheaper but still comfortable pfd's. Just try a few on to see what fits best.
My spouse has one and she likes it a lot. I only wish we could find one with a built in harness, or may be one exists and we don't know about it.
I took an unplanned swim while wearing an auto inflatable, and found it to be very buoyant, but hard to swim in. So I recommend inflatables in the case where you expect to be rescued. In the case where you need to swim I recommend the vest type. I also recommend whatever type you use, test it to see if it suits your purpose in the water.
I like Paul's comment about the warmth of a vest. I recall the report of some research on this Board some years back about cold shock. And one of the conclusions was to dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature.
I use the West Marine offshore with D rings. I also have the tether with the one and two meter bungy and jacklines. Last summer I also added an ACR PLB and it stays attached to the vest strap at all times. If I go over the side and am still tethered to the boat or floating free I can activate the PLB but I do have to be conscious. It is not automatic. I figured that I will eventually gain consciousness and if not then I'm dead anyway.
I have been sailing since before I could walk (In the womb actually) and never wore a PFD. I was a hold out for many years as well but since I single hand and tend to push the limits when it starts to blow, I bit the bullet three years ago. I do confess that in light winds (less then 15 kts) I don't wear it in the cockpit but do dawn it when going on deck. I had to force myself the first year or two but now it is second nature. For you old timers like me I would use seat belts as the perfect analogy. In the late 60's when I was driving my uncle 59 Ford pickup in the back woods and early 70's when I got my license I never wore them. Pretty much no one did. They were just ornaments the got lost in the seat crack. Then sometime in the mid 70's (I can't remember exactly when) it became the standard and sometime in that period the law. I hated wearing them at first then after a few years I felt naked if I didn't have one on.
Keith
Sorry for bringing up the tether and jacklines but somebody had to do it!!!
When we brought out boat to Maine from Cape Cod, it was night with lots of swell. My son had experience and taught us all to yell "Clip ON!" anytime someone came out of the cabin. It is remarkable, in the excitement and stress, how often you rush up on deck after plotting a fix and forget to clip the tether to the jacklines!
"Clip ON!"
Early on in our sailing, it was difficult to insist the kids wear a jacket if we adults were not. I got a comfy self-inflatable and I just put it on all the time. Surprising how many times some crisis or another has you up on deck, leaning awkwardly off to catch a halyard or something, and, "Hmm, glad I have my jacket on..." (I do relax that rule when anchored...)
This is a recount of a crew member washed off the deck of the tall ship Picton Castle by what appeared to be a rogue wave. Sure, it is not guaranteed that a life jacket would have helped, but it would not have hurt.
