290 N Lifejacket

[mick]

I enquired about getting a 290 N LJ at a decent chandlers and they didn't really recommend it
Said borderline even with a dry suit on as they are mainly for offshore workers as the bladder is very restricting

[markmullen]

And yet drysuit manufacturers recommend them to counter any chance of air in the feet of the drysuit causing you to invert.

[mick]

Originally Posted by markmullen

And yet drysuit manufacturers recommend them to counter any chance of air in the feet of the drysuit causing you to invert.

That's what I told him

[markmullen]

I wear a spinlock 275 with my drysuits, whilst they won't be as easy to swim in I take the view that if I'm close enough to shore that I could consider swimming in then I'd be able to slip or cut my way out if necessary. I'd rather that than be floating feet up.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by markmullen

I wear a spinlock 275 with my drysuits, whilst they won't be as easy to swim in I take the view that if I'm close enough to shore that I could consider swimming in then I'd be able to slip or cut my way out if necessary. I'd rather that than be floating feet up.

I'd suggest that is probably a bad idea. IF you really want to reduce bouyancy let air out the valve. That way you are still wearing the jacket, still have some air left in it, and can try to reinflate by mouth when you realise that its much further to swim than it looks!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by mick

I enquired about getting a 290 N LJ at a decent chandlers and they didn't really recommend it
Said borderline even with a dry suit on as they are mainly for offshore workers as the bladder is very restricting

Does that actually translate to - too expensive for most of my customers but I've got a 150N here you can buy now?

Because it strikes me that depending on how you use your boat you might be just as far from help as an offshore worker!

[mick]

Maybe so with the cost they do mainly 190 N but he would do me a 290 N at a good price

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Poly

I'd suggest that is probably a bad idea. IF you really want to reduce bouyancy let air out the valve. That way you are still wearing the jacket, still have some air left in it, and can try to reinflate by mouth when you realise that its much further to swim than it looks!

I don't know how many Newtons my RIB is....but pretty sure there ain't a Life Jacket out there that comes close!...
Swimming very far from an unsinkable Island? that's easy to spot from air land and Sea????Nah...that's why we wear our K.C's!
I've been dumped in the drink twice whilst sitting on the tubes of heavily loaded Dive Rib...when stuffed...believe me swimming any real distance even with a Dry suit(especially without Fins!) let alone + a big Life Jacket is a Pipe Dream!
Kill Cords / LJ's and Stay with the Boat!!

[John Kennett]

If there's any decent amount of wind blowing, and if it's choppy enough for you to get chucked out of the boat there probably will be, I'd hazard a guess that the boat will drift faster than you can swim.

A kill cord will stop you getting run over by your boat, but if you are solo then it's no guarantee that you'll be able to get back to the boat.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

If there's any decent amount of wind blowing, and if it's choppy enough for you to get chucked out of the boat there probably will be, I'd hazard a guess that the boat will drift faster than you can swim.

A kill cord will stop you getting run over by your boat, but if you are solo then it's no guarantee that you'll be able to get back to the boat.

Overboard Solo and without any other RIB/cover is a serious Shit Storm for sure....can't remember the last time I was both....oh yeah last October when we sepparated 10 miles off Landsend in Fog on the way to the Scillies.
In that situation I'd be glad to be wearing a Dry suit and have my EPRIB handy...like I was/did in fact!

[Chunk]

A 290N is pretty heavy on the neck for all day use on an open rib (tried it and suffered) When inflated its restrictive for swimming and sight. Commercially the 275N gives more buoyancy if you're wearing a tool belt but my gut feel is that's overkill for leisure. difficult to cover all eventualities but a 195N seems to me to be the best compromise when out playing.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Overboard Solo and without any other RIB/cover is a serious Shit Storm for sure....can't remember the last time I was both....oh yeah last October when we sepparated 10 miles off Landsend in Fog on the way to the Scillies.
In that situation I'd be glad to be wearing a Dry suit and have my EPRIB handy...like I was/did in fact!

Have we missed a little story for the 'confessions' thread?

[markmullen]

Originally Posted by Chunk

A 290N is pretty heavy on the neck for all day use on an open rib (tried it and suffered) .

I've done many full days in a Spinlock Deckvest 275 and I find it just as comfy as the Crewsaver Ergofit 190 OS I had before it. I did have to take the time to fit it properly.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Poly

Have we missed a little story for the 'confessions' thread?

Maybe if I was Helming!!..after over 300+ dives in the 80s and 90s in all conditions things happen
Although I would add the Cox on both occasions was a Certain Nick Chipchase...also the Guy who dumped himself and two others in the drink for nearly two days!...before they were picked up by a local Skipper,who was searching in a totally different location then the "Pro's"!
They were in sight of land all the time by the way....in full Diveing dry suits thankfully...and if there was ANY WAY of swimming in they would certainly have done so

[mick]

After swimming out to the mooring at Oban a couple of times in a drysuit its dam near impossible without fins
Or a paddle

[Chunk]

Haven't tried the Spinlock Deckvest, it must be better designed than one I tried It was pants, the over inflation exhaust valve vented into the well where your mouth sits - breathing in CO2 makes your head spin😝

[Dan Gurney]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

A kill cord will stop you getting run over by your boat, but if you are solo then it's no guarantee that you'll be able to get back to the boat.

Always wondered why not use a long safety line in this situation? As long as it's longer than the kill cord then the boat will stop and you'll still be attached to it.

[Pikey Dave]

We have the Crewsaver Ergofit 290 oc's & wore them for around 400 nm last year at Oban & then throughout the summer. Very comfy, tbh you don't know you you're wearing them. We wear drysuits pretty much all the time when we're out, unless it's exceptionally warm & sunny. We've not had cause to try & swim in the lifejackets yet, but I suspect that's a moot point. I carry PLB/rescue laser/knife/Handheld about my person when underway. We got the lifejackets at the 2013 London Boat show direct from the Crewsaver Rep on the Andark stand, we were playing him off against the Spinlock guys on their stand, we tried both jackets on & there wasn't much between them, when it came to the "deal" the Crewsaver guy won hands down, a big chunk off the RRP, & he chucked in:- re-arming kits, line cutters, twin elasticated lanyards, storage bag... it was getting embarrassing even for a Yorkshireman

Spend time setting them up & adjusting them & they should be comfortable.