grtlandini
New Member
has anyone found a comfortable life vest while sailing the sunfish?
life vests
- Thread starter grtlandini
- Start date
Alcort59224
Member
The comfortable life vest is not wearing one at all.---------NOT RECOMENDED
Why don't they make life vests in White so they would not be as hot?
If you can swim and can afford it an inflatable (CO2) would be nice. Down side is you have to be in a state of Consciouness/non-panic to pull the cord. Maybe not so good if you are sailing by yourself. It also excludes young children who should have a Type 1 vest. Still got my Type 1 from when I was a kid.
If you can swim and can afford it an inflatable (CO2) would be nice. Down side is you have to be in a state of Consciouness/non-panic to pull the cord. Maybe not so good if you are sailing by yourself. It also excludes young children who should have a Type 1 vest. Still got my Type 1 from when I was a kid.
I won't recommend one because it's really a personal choice, depending on your body type. But I will say that there are comfortable ones. Just visit a marine or paddle/kayak type store and try them on.
I can't recommend the ones that you self-inflate by pulling on a cord because the chance that you get knocked out by the boom, and fall overboard, is real.
There is also the issue of PFDs that are Coast Guard approved and those that are not ('buoyancy aids'), but I won't go there for now.
The Gear forum of Sailing Anarchy has many discussions of PFDs; for instance,
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=92412
You can get auto inflating vests that inflate via a CO2 cartridge, they are the most comfortable vest you can find, mainly because there light, they don't promote overheating in warm weather because they have very little surface area when deflated, and they don't hinder physical motion. The down sides are they are expensive, if they inflate you need to replace the re-arming mechanism and that too is expensive, once inflated you would probably find it very difficult to reboard your boat as the vest is quite ballooney when inflated, lastly, can you be 100% certain that it will inflate when it needs to? No you can't. I would recommend a vest style PFD that is not too thick, and is not going to impede your efforts at trying to get back onboard. I think some vests used in waterskiing might be good. The CO2 style were very popular among inshore and offshore keel boat racers for many years, infact they still are, however there is a growing movement towards vest style PFD's, particularly among those who are participating in night racing. The reason being, there guaranteed to work.
Wayne
Member Emeritus
Memnar
Member
I use a Body Glove M4TR life jacket. I like it as it has a velcro wrap that hugs under my belly before I zip it up and snap it. The velcro wrap keeps the jacket from riding up and coming off the shoulders.
I would recommend you try them on, as many life jackets look the same but fit very different, and the sizes are not regular; a Xl may be a XXXL in another brand.
-Erik
I would recommend you try them on, as many life jackets look the same but fit very different, and the sizes are not regular; a Xl may be a XXXL in another brand.
-Erik
grtlandini
New Member
Thanks for the info, we are using some walmart specials that are a little unwieldy on the fish. i was looking at the inflatables, but they seem a little pricy and unless you go with the auto inflate, you have no protection if you go over unconcious.
What are you currently using?
Wayne
Member Emeritus
They do... light gray at least.
http://www.wateroutfitters.com/adult-life-vests/c1000002376/
Won't be long now before PRADA offers hiking pants.
In a navigation class awhile back the USCG instructor mentioned it was difficult for SAR to distinguish a 30' white boat hull among the whitecaps from a distance.