Lifejacket or Buoyancy aid in a SIB?

[fred bolton]

OK guys what would you wear? in fact what is "our leaders" life saving device of choice?

[Poly]

I think your question may be too vague. It must depend on the size of SIB, location and weather conditions.

I don't have a SIB - but do have a small 3.9m boat. Depending on the conditions, who else is on the boat, and how exposed the water I am operating in I wear a floatation suit, buoyacy aid, auto-gas lifejacket or combination of float suit and l/jacket.

[fred bolton]

well it's a 3.4 quicksilver and being a wuss won't be going out in rough stuff but I do get the feeling I could bounce out quite easily especially being a slight fellow

[Richard B]

Personally I'd go for an air lifejacket, but a manual one in a SIB.

[John Kennett]

I normally use an auto gas life jacket, although in sheltered waters I might wear a bouyancy aid instead. I don't plan on going out in the SIB if it's cold enough to wear my flotation suit!

John

[Channel Ribs]

I tend to wear a good buoyancy aid over a wetsuit when the weather is nice as I know I will be in and out of the water all the time, one of the Baltic Waterskis is good because it has lots of straps for attaching radios, gps and other essential gadgets to.

In less clement weather I go for a jacket with built in floatation plus a manual LJ, that way I have the best of both worlds without the worry of having anything unexpected go off on me.

For really harsh weather, if you must go out in it, then a dry suit and LJ is the only way forward; but then you may as well wear a white Gecko and paint your boat orange.

Baltic Waterski: http://shop.malthouse-marine.com/ind...=102&parent=31