Life Jackets, whats the best?

qcamel · 11 April 2006, 11:00

I have collar atyle auto inflating life jackets on my boat but planning an extended offshore cruise, what jackets would you recomend?

Ollie

pmorgan · 11 April 2006, 12:00

Crew Saver 150N Hammar with leg straps. This is what we use and are please with them. Also have the 250N ones but think they are a bit OTT, huge when inflated!

Alex Brown · 11 April 2006, 18:14

I have a 150N crewsaver, and a 275N crewsaver (both Hammar) with Harness, both extremely comfortable to wear for the entire day. I tend to wear the 275N one more than the 150N one, and I think if you are over a certain weight it's recommended that you go to 275N anyway since it helps right you if you go overboard when unconcious.
Also, if you do any night stuff, it's worth getting the crewsaver emergency light for about £12 incase you go in the drink then.

-Alex

Gray · 11 April 2006, 19:53

ok and for those who might be looking for a budget lifejacket for coastal use (with leg straps) what would you recommend and wheres the cheapest place? Any make to avoid?

MikeCC · 11 April 2006, 20:16

Just make sure that any buy are CE marked and made to EN396 (of course anyone can print a sticker to say that, but I don't think reputable suppliers would want to try them out!)

You should be able to get a manual for £31 and an auto (not Hammar) for £37. Thigh straps around £7. Better prices available for multiple purchase.

Gray · 11 April 2006, 20:30

I might be being stupid here but when its says with / without harness..whats the difference?

Edit: Ignore this..I've worked it out for myself!!

Roy Smith · 11 April 2006, 22:09

When you say jackett do you mean the type that i have seen Mike Deacon
wear on Hot Lemon i dont know what make but they look a serious bit of kit
Roy

Alex Brown · 11 April 2006, 23:14

Do you mean something like this?

http://www.seasafe.co.uk/lifejackets.htm

-Alex

karlT · 12 April 2006, 11:12

I use crewsaver myself and for all punters, comfortable, parts are readily available for servicing etc and many options / combinations

Roy Smith · 12 April 2006, 11:53

Diversing slighty
We have crew savers that are 2/3 years old,
Dose any body know where to get them serviced Chichester area.

donutsina911 · 12 April 2006, 12:38

messenger marine in woodmancote

Shaggy · 12 April 2006, 14:48

Hi
After attending a Sea Survival course in Falmouth I got some very good advice from the local RNLI Sea Safety officer.

This was in the form of a 12 page guide from "Sailing today" compiled by the Tim Bartlett.

Considerations such as additional buoyancy when wearing foul weather gear, spray hood, auto inflation, crouch straps etc were taken into account

In the interest of safety I am repeating the conclusion on testing 30 lifejackets.

"We think there is real cause for concern whether a 150N lifejacket are really adequate for use with foul weather clothing. Amid this gloomy picture, though, there are a few bright spots; the Plastimo's Cruiser 150 is one of them, its light weight very comfortable jacket at a sensible price making it a good basic buy, though narrowly beaten to our budget buy award by the Parmaris lite.

For not much more money Aladdin’s Cave Ocean Passage Plus is stunning value, if money is no object Crewsaver Crewfit Plus is a very conventional top of the range jacket, while the SeaSafe Sea Explorer shows what can be achieved if you treat the EN standard as a guideline rather than as gospel. An honourable mention though has to go to Viking, My own personal pick would be the rather industrial looking Viking 1 SOLAS, it’s not hugely expensive but it’s got enough extra buoyancy to make all the difference between floating face down and face up"

I went for the Crewsaver Crewfit Plus buts it’s rather pricy, however I hope that it will last for some time and I don’t think you can put a price on safety.

Out of 25 automatic lifejackets two failed to inflate automaticlly, they did say that given most manufactures buy their trigger mechanisms from the same suppliers, it wouldnt be fair to name names.

Cheers Shaggy

codprawn · 12 April 2006, 15:03

A lot would depend on the foul weather clothing though - things like drysuits and wetsuits etc trap air and are bouyant in their own right. Also the fisherman's type of floation suits but I suppose they could even prevent a lifejacket from turing you the right way up?

I would definitely go for an auto on a RIB but on a cabin boat not so sure. been loads of cases of people being trapped because their lifejackets were inflated.

Saw a prog the other day on an air crash off Somalia - hijackers made the pilots fly around till they ran out of fuel - plane crashed into the sea just off the beach. Captain told people NOT to inflate their lifejackets - some idiot did and loads of other people followed suit. Loads of people drowned because they couldn't get out because of their lifejackets!!!

Cookee · 12 April 2006, 15:14

We have just got a load of Hammar ones - they do not inflate with water alone - they have to be immersed to work. This means that they won't go off in a damp locker or in a lot of spray and saves on gas refills!

George8910 · 12 April 2006, 15:38

I got a couple of manual gas jackets from www.cheaplifejackets.co.uk - decent quality and good price - I preferred to stay with manual as it is not uncommon to have to wade to a beach etc

Simon B · 12 April 2006, 16:10

I pondered the same idea, however in the end I went for a Viking Solas 1, top quality heavy duty jacket with a manual and an auto release. In the event of having to wade ashore I have a dry bag to put it in.

Viking Hunk

Crewsaver were the only other company on the shortlist.

Rogue Wave · 12 April 2006, 18:47

i own about 45 lifejackets some manual some auto, plastimo, crewsavers,ocean safety and pararmis. I service them often and the Paramaris are definitely the ones I like the most.

Have to agree about going on a sea safety course.

Nate · 12 April 2006, 20:05

Got Crewsavers and Viking,all Hammar, and Viking are clearly superior whilst managing to be cheaper to buy...

Thigh straps essential, so are lights and hoods.

275 Newton buoyancy does make for a huge inflated collar which restricts movement pretty well totally - I've always stuck with 150 and found it plenty buoyant enough even with full wet weather gear, flooded boots and 13.5 stone of fat git inside.

Someone mentioned a sea survival course, and I cannot recommend doing one highly enough. It was whilst on one of these I witnessed several individuals wearing inflated 275 jackets wholly unable to lift themselves into a liferaft.

qcamel · 13 April 2006, 15:53

Thanks for all the replies. I have, as already mentioned, a number of uto and manual inflate colar jackets and am happy with these, was looking for something more 'substantial' for my trip. After much though I am going with the same ones as used by Mike Deacon which are called Grabner Jackets. I like the impact protection they offer, the hood to stop spray and I guess they will also add a little heat protection when I am wearing them on the boat...

Many thanks again.

Ollie

PS enjoyed a very nice day on the solent yesterday seas trialing the 'new improved' Tickled Pink. Love it down there although the 750 mile round trip is far from ideal!!