2nd trip in our SIB

[HughN]

Originally Posted by A1an

I get the whole kill cord thing but surely if jackets are available and people choose not to wear them then that's their choice?

I'm not sure youngsters are best placed to make that decision and need to rely on the judgement of a 'responsible adult' - there may be a hole in that plan.

[willk]

Originally Posted by A1an

I get the whole kill cord thing but surely if jackets are available and people choose not to wear them then that's their choice?

Children often fail to make good choices unless guided by a parent.

[Wibs]

Originally Posted by A1an

I get the whole kill cord thing but surely if jackets are available and people choose not to wear them then that's their choice?

This presumably falls onto the same bracket as seat belts in cars.

They are there to save your life, if you choose not to wear them, and die....who picks up pieces..?

ww.commonsense.com....but as someone's signature says?.'you can't educate pork'

[57Aircooled]

Originally Posted by Wibs

you can't educate pork'

Thats a bit uncalled for , but hey ho
Each to their own Hey

[Festinghouse]

Originally Posted by A1an

I get the whole kill cord thing but surely if jackets are available and people choose not to wear them then that's their choice?

it is of course their choice, just a really bad one if they choose not to!

[kerny]

I do agree with everyone on here commenting on you and your family not wearing L.J's or PFd's and I'm sure that you will consider wearing them from now on

This is RIBnet and you have been told

But I must say that I admire you for keeping your cool with some of the harsher comments directed at you

[frankc]

Gee, I must have missed something here. 9.9 HP, four people in the boat and easy seas, but folks go crazy because the boaters were not wearing their life jackets.

Now if you get in one of our kayaks, you will wear your PFD with no exceptions. With the power boats, conditions govern whether or not life jackets are worn.

[MustRib]

Gee Frank... from my experience boating in the Pacific North West, I found the USA boaters avoidance of lifejackets staggering. There is nothing like the level of education undertaken by the US Coastguard as to their use and consequences for not wearing them, as there is done here by the RNLI.
I think the most recent stats for the USA speak for themselves.
No doubt all these poor souls that passed away, thought they didn't need lifejackets and didn't think anything would happen to them because they were in "easy seas".
In 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard received reports for 4,604 boating incidents; 3,153 boaters were reported injured, and 672 died. Most (72%) boating deaths that occurred during 2010 were caused by drowning, with 88% of victims not wearing life jackets.
Like I said before - You are free to make your own choices.

[57Aircooled]

Can i just point out that we weren't in the sea but Ipswich marina with a 6 knot speed limit all round
we had life jackets on board in case and yes i was wearing the kill-cord.
If we ever go out to sea (not unless i get a bigger boat) id consider it seriously
well probably would wear one

[MustRib]

ok.. I give up, I tried.
... you know best.

[57Aircooled]

Originally Posted by MustRib

ok.. I give up, I tried.
... you know best.

OINK, OINK

[frankc]

How many who are making discouraging remarks have been present when someone was drowned? I have had that experience several times, and believe me, I do not want to be a victim. I have seen people drown needlessly because of panic, and it is something you do not forget. Two occasions were swimmers which accounted for four victims and one survivor who my Dad saved with artificial respiration. I have a healthier respect for water than most people as a result.

There is the thing of exercising common sense however. A jacket can be the cause of being thrown into the water at times, and a propeller is a bad thing to come in contact with.

I have ordered all on board to don their jackets several times however depending on conditions. You need to use your head to realize when the jackets are necessary.

[miccheck1516]

Originally Posted by 57Aircooled

As it happens we actually do have 2 in the locker, we use them for boarding, but they're there if we needed them in the worst situation.

I count four people in the boat?

Assuming you and your wife are significantly larger than the kids which seems to be the case i can't see how they are 'well fitting' for everyone, without some adjustment, which doesn't really fit in with the idea of needing a LJ at a moments notice....

Maybe it's because I was brought up to allways wear a lifejacket no matter what, that i think having lifejackets sitting in the floor of the boat is stupid, yur assuming you'll have time to put it on, and your taking up floor space....

I suppose you don't bother with the kill cord either in the harbour?

[willk]

Originally Posted by 57Aircooled

we had life jackets on board in case

Yes, two if I read your post correctly. I guess you would put them on the kids, if you had time?

I'm always somewhat bemused by boaters who don't wear an LJ "because they are near the shore". Beach users are near the shore, but they have an alarming tendency to drown. In conversations with members of the Irish Coast Guard, I learned that during Mayday calls, (after the critical info is exchanged) one of the next things they ask boaters is if they have life jackets for all PAX and if they are actually wearing them. Often they aren't, I can only assume that they are still unable to accept the possibility that they will end up in the water.

Don't get me wrong here - I'm not criticising you, I'm just outlining the risks for other readers in the future who might pick you as a role model.

[willk]

Originally Posted by miccheck1516

I suppose you don't bother with the kill cord either in the harbour?

He said twice that he does. Credit where it's due...

[miccheck1516]

Originally Posted by willk

He said twice that he does.

so why one and not the other?? just seems bizarre to me...

[willk]

Originally Posted by miccheck1516

so why one and not the other?? just seems bizarre to me...

A little. I like to outline the risks and let the reader make their own mind up. Comments about Pork and so forth aren't going to help get life jackets on those kids. As the CG knows - it's all about Education.

[willk]

Another thread on the forum at the moment is about the sinking of a London Duck tour "vessel". The photo from a news site fairly sums up my feelings about life jackets.

[paddlers]

When I first clicked on your post & saw the pictures I knew that there would be the non life jacket comments coming thick and fast !! To me part of the reason for being a ribnet supporter is the ability to educate and inform rather than to abuse others.
It is a choice some make not to wear lifejackets, kill cords etc etc but it's not one I follow but I respect your choice not to !
If you'd followed some of the recent debates about the kill cord issues and the sad loss of life that ensued due to the choice of the driver not to wear a kill cord you might understand more the passion some members feel about basic safety. Sadly accidents do happen and a lifejacket is one of the easiest of safety aids going.
On a brighter note, welcome to ribnet !!

[MustRib]

OK..so you more than most should understand that lifejackets save lives.

Unless your lifejacket is badly fitting, has loose straps, I can't think when it would be the cause of you being thrown into the water? Out of interest are your lifejackets those huge bulky foam type ? feel like your wearing a neck brace ? no crotch straps ?

hmmm... and after using your head you still dont think they are necessary when you get on a boat? No one expects things to go wrong, when they do you may well have no time to react, and therefore no time to get a lifejacket on.