RIB specific technical Jacket - help please

[cornishchris]

Hi all,
I'm looking into the possibility of developing a technical jacket aimed specifically at RIB users. I'm currently trying to find out how much interest there would be in such a product. Also, what specific features/functions would you like to see on such a garment. Any help,feedback or information that you can provide me with would be much appreciated.
thankyou
chris stephens

[Louise]

Welcome to RIBnet Chris.

Sounds like a great idea. It would need to have loads of pockets (perhaps some like the elasticated netting type ones you get on rucksacks) for holding all the important stuff like h/h VHF, flares, etc and also the absolute essentials such as sandwiches, chocolate and soft drink.

Looking forward to seeing it in the chandler's!!

Louise

[Jon Brooks]

maybe one geared around safety boat work would be handie.
pocket for hand held radio (of course based on an Icom )
place for a crew knife and other handie gadgets.
with built in bouancy and crotch straps.
Built in "D" ring

oh yeah and a big thing.....it needs to be cheep!!

regards

[Simon B]

Got roasted at Plymouth in a divers drysuit so am interested in a better solution myself. Neck seals and wrist seals would be a big plus, I'd make it short so it doesnt get in the way seated.

[Bilge Rat]

No IMHO it has to be a jacket that can be zipped on and off easy.

My requirements would be as follows:

Deep shaped pockets for VHF, hand or mini flares,food etc preferably out of the way on the hip, which also need to be dry, these also need to be zipped up so not to lose keys etc.
Hand warmer pockets.
Internal pocket large enough to hold a chart and small internal pocket for sundry items like keys, mobile phone etc
Good quality hood (not the crappy things that slip over your eyes)
Good wrist and neck sealing (not dry cuffs though)
Jacket has to be breathable and have a fleece inside, prefer it if the fleece zipped out for warmer wearing conditions etc.

At the moment my biggest problem is my handheld VHF, i dont like having it hung around my kneck and i dont trust the clips they supply with them to keep it attached to me, if its clipped to the life jacket strap it gets in the way when i try and move around, yet if i'm thrown out of the boat and alone its going to be the first thing i wished i'd had with me !!

[John Kennett]

You would need to arrange the pockets so that you can still get to them with a lifejacket on over the top.

How about some way of attaching the lifejacket to the coat for ease of use?

John

[Garygee]

Hi folks

Agree with Simon on nexk & wrist seals,but they need to be neoprean and not rubber/latex as they are more comfortable for extend wearing.

Also a few other points,

Dont like built in bouyancy, too warm in summer & bulky, a shell would be better so you can vary what you wear under it depending on conditions.
Drain holes in all pockets.
Pouch type pocket on front.
Maybe use dryzips as I have not found another zip yet that didnt let water in when its gets really bad. Either that for normal zips and baffled, but this would mean a over the head approch.
reflective tape on cuffs & top of jacket, say neck & shoulders, being round the bottom when your in the water us useless.
Neoprean waist seal to limit water ingress if you go in.

The closest I have seen to date are the good dinghy tops but they do lack pockets etc.

Regards Gary

[Bilge Rat]

Garygee.... So what your really after then is either a dry cag or a dry suit with extra pockets, i'm sure there's lots of manufacturers about who would willingly add additional pockets where ever you wanted them.....!!

Dry suits and foul weather wear have there uses and your choice will depend on what sort of boating you do and what size boat your in, and of course time of year etc.

What i could do with right now is a pocket specifically made to take a handheld vhf longways thats niether in the way of my life jacket or anything else on board the boat !!

[sea bass]

i used to wear a jacket with fleece inside ,like a normal jaccket but inside and you had acces to it by the sleeves there was a lifejacket;if you were to fall in the water you would pull the front pocket and it was inflated ;great that idea to wear a normal jacket like any days and being safe
the life jacket could be pull out so you could wash your jacket in the machine
these garment was develloped by a fisherman in alaska who once neazrly died after having falled in the water
to that great idea i would had pocket for vhf and a little flare as well as fluorescin

[Andre]

Good idea to develop such and for sure there can be a large input from the forum. There are however a lot of lifejackets around and this particular one from International Safety Products / Typhoon International has a lot of pockets mind you for uses not necessary by a ribster
The inflatable 275N stole is well positioned and does not get in the way when wanting to grab a Mars bar or a soft drink .

Jon and a pocket for a radio how about that

Andre

[Simon B]

Dry suits are very good for seriously heavy seas and imersion; RNLI men and women leaping off their boats, the limitation is the boil in the bag syndrome if work is carried out if they were great you struggle to get all the Yachties out of theirs and they'd be as cheap as chips.

I prefer neoprene for a seal its more comfy and lasts longer but is more expensive to repair/replace. Has anyone considered EPIRB stowage yet? The paradox is making something waterproof that can be vented (cycling gear has this sort of system under the arms) Dry zips have come down in cost and bulk greatly and are even used in "wet" suits now.

Simon.

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by Andre

Good idea to develop such and for sure there can be a large input from the forum. There are however a lot of lifejackets around and this particular one from International Safety Products / Typhoon International has a lot of pockets mind you for uses not necessary by a ribster
The inflatable 275N stole is well positioned and does not get in the way when wanting to grab a Mars bar or a soft drink .

Jon and a pocket for a radio how about that

Andre

I want one of those!!

Where do i place an order?

Thats Mr Gadget sorted!

Pockets for everything, VHF, PLB, GPS, Leatherman, flares, Mars Bar, small children Diet Coke, a small 3rd wolrd country and it looks like a few 9mm mags for good measure!!!

Regards

[Simon B]

Jon,

Engine spares pockets!

Simon.

[TIM]

I think combine... motorbike jacket i.e pockets everywhere and muilti layerd, for winter/ summer use and good sailing jacket

[Manos]

HAs any one considered the type type of material that this jacket may be made of? Wind proof, water proof, dry suit type?, BC type (but lighter fabric) like diving BCs?
Actually IMHO I think the latter may be more usefull as it may not only sell in the UK but it may become popular also in other warmer places of the World too

[Brambles]

We tend to go out in all weathers so my wish list for a foul weather jacket would include:

Breathable waterproof fabric.
Removabe fleece lining, so you can have one jacket for winter & summer.
Pockets you can get to with life jacket on - including sleeves & perhaps at small of the back like a photographers waiscoat?
Non waterproof EPIRB pocket.
High , fleece lined, collar.
High visability colours, or strips.
Sealed wrist bands.
Able to be folded away into a small bag.
Sturdy D rings.

If you need any inspiration a Musto MPX or HPX Offshore jacket would be a good starting point. All our crew have these jackets and they are superb. The only drawback is they are so expensive - I bought mine second hand on Ebay.

In addition to the jacket you could also consider:

Matching trousers/salopets - & don't forget people need to go to the toilet without taking them off!

Water proof & fleece lined gloves with grippy inserst for hoding on in rough seas.

A fleece lined waterproof cap with fold down ear flaps and chin strap.

A neoprene type balaclava for wearing with goggles. This might look a bit Special Boat Squadron, but cold rain really hurts the face at anything over 30knts! If this is too extreme how about a face mask similar to those used at paint ball events?

Finally how about getting hold of some waterproof boots similar to those sold by Dubarry. These are excellent but at about £160 a pair too expensive for me.

Then all you need to do is sort out the quality control, some snappy marketing to make us all buy into the brand & a low price. Easy really!

Good luck with your venture and if you need any feedback on your prototypes I'm sure you will find plenty of volunteers on this forum who will test them to the limit.

[cornishchris]

hello again and thankyou for my warm welcome!
Thankyou to all of you who have repsonded as thats exactly the sort of information I was hoping for. Please, keep it coming!
have a very good weekend all
chris

[Jono]

Mmm? Properties for a “RIB specific” jacket? Now that’s easy….

1) It must be as macho as possible for all us “rufty-tufty” ribsters, but must be completely reversible for casual wear should we wimp out and go by ferry.
2) The pockets must be HUGE to accommodate all those spares, gizmos and gadgets much loved by ribster types.
3) Must be very streamlined so as not to affect our 90 knot top speed with our 50 horse motor whilst still doing 5 miles to the litre.
4) Should have an inflatable collar around the waist to avoid damaging anything we might bump into.
5) Should be clearly labelled “All Weather” on the outside with letters large enough for the blindest of hard boaters to see.
6) At least one pocket big enough to carry a 10 litre can of spare fuel.
7) Should cause an instant debate on the subject of “whose jacket is best/fastest/toughest
8) Needs to be compatible with all makes of GPS systems.
9) Looking like a “Christmas tree” is a definite bonus……..
10) Above all it has to be cheap……..

[gingercoastie]

But what about the neck, should it be a deep V or a medium v?


Maybe a med style version in blue and white stripes.

[cornishchris]

" It must be as macho as possible for all us “rufty-tufty” ribsters, but must be completely reversible for casual wear should we wimp out and go by ferry "

Funny you should joke about that Jono...one of my questions is whether you folks would rather go for pure functionality for on the water, or would you rather something that can be worn as a semi-casual item as well...not a fashion item to wear to the pub or anything, but more something that you might keep in the car and throw on for general use as well?


Chris