Ejected From SR4!!!!

[chewy]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Right I am only reiterating what I was taught on my rya sea survival course and for that matter my BOSIET course

Brace, Brace, Brace!

[kitten]

it's OK I understand Mr Kennet is good with fireworks

[gibbo500]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

You are probably aware that the head loses a lot more heat in the waer than the body. So carrying simple things like a woolen hat help the thernal recovery process. a good run with a towel help get the head and other parts warm too.

It's worth sticking a warm change of clothes in your drynag as well. TPA Thermal protective aids are quite cheap and wiill do a job in an emergency.

Yes, i had spare clothing and hats along with some foil emergency blankets on board, but as it wasn't too far back to Plymouth decided not to bother changing on the boat. However if we had of been further out then obviously would have done. I have a camping type towel which i will now take with me.

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

so in conclusion and on the basis I can't interest you in a trawler girl from Peterhead

You might, i will wait and see if this one intends to go out on the water again before i head norf

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I'd fit footstraps to your sea rider. If you've already got em I'd start using them.

I have actually been contemplating fitting these for a while, my decision has now been made. Any suggestions where to get hold of them?


Cheers

[chewy]

DM might shed more light on this but don't the foil blankets also keep the cold in?
Plastic survival bags that are orange might be better.
We have an body bag (sorry Ambulance Pouch) that works well.

[gibbo500]

Originally Posted by Knot Yet

- interesting though that even then you had a pre warning to not go out with a dead battery as a hurdle - is there a Saint of RIB's????

Will be looking at some personal flares - they seems a good idea

Take care Gibbo

Jxx

Jean, i am glad you mentioned that because the last time i had a nightmare trip (lost ignition key etc) the battery was flat. So in future if the engine doesn't start i wont be going anywhere because St RIB is looking after me.....i hope?

I have flares on the boat but will add personal ones to the shopping list. Now who can i ask to buy them for me for Christmas?

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Right I am only reiterating what I was taught on my rya sea survival course and for that matter my BOSIET course

Did they teach you this as well?

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Also don't forget that you and your boat will be drifting in the same tide so it wont ge much further away from you after immersion

Because unless you're in an absolutely dead calm then the RIB will head downwind from a swimmer at a surprising rate.

Can you list all your professional certificates for us again?

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by stafs

Would be interested on peoples view on automatic life jackets though. Can see the benifits if knocked unconcious but other than that not to sure.

Automatic all the way as far as I'm concerned.

With a manual air jacket you need to find a small toggle and pull it before your life jacket starts to save your life. Cold hands, cold water shock and general disorientation will all be working against you even if you are basically conscious and uninjured. Add concussion or a potential injury like a dislocated shoulder and you may as well not be wearing a life jacket at all.

An automatic jacket takes all this out of the equation, and when it has inflated you can always let some air out if you need to.

[chewy]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Automatic all the way as far as I'm concerned.

With a manual air jacket you need to find a small toggle and pull it before your life jacket starts to save your life. Cold hands, cold water shock and general disorientation will all be working against you even if you are basically conscious and uninjured. Add concussion or a potential injury like a dislocated shoulder and you may as well not be wearing a life jacket at all.

An automatic jacket takes all this out of the equation, and when it has inflated you can always let some air out if you need to.

Manual for me I'm afraid, both have pro's and cons but if you intentionally enter the water an auto is no use.

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by chewy

Manual for me I'm afraid, both have pro's and cons but if you intentionally enter the water an auto is no use.

I disagree. For normal leisure use on a powerboat there is no advantage to a manual, and no significant disadvantage to an auto.

You may have special reason for wanting to get into the water, but most don't - and if they did, they'd most likely be wearing a bouyancy aid anyway. I think all your post does is muddy the water and put doubt into people's minds, potentially leading them to making poor decisions and ending up less safe. I'm sure that's not what you intended though!

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by chewy

Brace, Brace, Brace!

EJECT EJECT EJECT ..........

Glad you are OK. Must have been chuffin cold !

I'd go auto Jacket every time ( I hope to not ever go in the water - if I do I have a PFD on)

Unless you have video it scores lowly on the pub story scale . Can we set a record fro RIBnet's chucked out of a boat in 12 month period ?

[Carl]

can i ask fuller to rejoin

[chewy]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

I disagree. For normal leisure use on a powerboat there is no advantage to a manual, and no significant disadvantage to an auto.

You may have special reason for wanting to get into the water, but most don't - and if they did, they'd most likely be wearing a bouyancy aid anyway. I think all your post does is muddy the water and put doubt into people's minds, potentially leading them to making poor decisions and ending up less safe. I'm sure that's not what you intended though!

If your playing that game I disagree with you then. If auto's are the way forward why do people sell manuals?
I swim to my mooring which is why a manual suits me.
I know if autos get really wet then they can self inflate granted newer deigns won't do this.

All I did was express my opinion for what is best for my uses, perhaps you could let us have the option of having polls on this forum and see who uses what if I'm muddying the water?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by chewy

DM might shed more light on this but don't the foil blankets also keep the cold in?

There is some slightly odd physics involved in that suggestion! Assuming you are still metabolising (alive) you are producing heat. Assuming that you are warmer than the air (in the UK most likely) then heat always goes from hot to cold. So you are heating the surroundings. However the foil blankets are generally not great because they only stop you loosing radiated heat, convected and conducted heat (e.g. onto the cold deck) is still lost.

Plastic survival bags that are orange might be better.

The colour is irrelevant!

We have an body bag (sorry Ambulance Pouch) that works well.

won't reassure the casualty that all is well though!
I have a bothy bag (the modern 'generic name' for what used to be known as a KISU - Karimore Instructors Survival Unit). Very compact and light weight. Available in various sizes, shares body heat. Surprisingly effective even in pissing rain/gales when cold and wet. I carry it on the boat in case it gets nasty and the kids are getting too cold and wet while we head for shore - but it would be useful in rewarming a (or multiple) MoBs

[gibbo500]

Originally Posted by Polwart

The colour is irrelevant!won't reassure the casualty that all is well though!
I have a bothy bag (the modern 'generic name' for what used to be known as a KISU - Karimore Instructors Survival Unit). Very compact and light weight. Available in various sizes, shares body heat. Surprisingly effective even in pissing rain/gales when cold and wet. I carry it on the boat in case it gets nasty and the kids are getting too cold and wet while we head for shore - but it would be useful in rewarming a (or multiple) MoBs

I have one of them from my winter hill walking days, i will dig that out as well for the winter RIB survival kit......As Roy Schnieder quoted in JAWS, i think i am "gonna need a bigger boat".

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Polwart

However the foil blankets are generally not great because they only stop you loosing radiated heat, convected and conducted heat (e.g. onto the cold deck) is still lost.

They are also hopeless at keeping the wind out, and need the be held onto tightly to stop them blowing away. Only marginally better than nothing, and certainly not as good as a spare jacket.

I have a bothy bag (the modern 'generic name' for what used to be known as a KISU - Karimore Instructors Survival Unit). Very compact and light weight. Available in various sizes, shares body heat. Surprisingly effective even in pissing rain/gales when cold and wet. I carry it on the boat in case it gets nasty and the kids are getting too cold and wet while we head for shore - but it would be useful in rewarming a (or multiple) MoBs

One of these?
http://www.outdoorstore.co.uk/products/bothy%20bags.asp

Looks like a handy bit of kit, but a £2 orange plastic survival bag would probably be just as good for most people!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by chewy

If auto's are the way forward why do people sell manuals?

Because there are some specialist applications where it may be appropriate. Because people think its worth saving a fiver. Because people spread rumours like "I know if autos get really wet then they can self inflate" but actually its very rare - and avoidable with the more expensive ones. Because on some boats (larger yachts) they are only worn when people are e.g. abandoning ship. If worn below decks an auto jacket may impede escape during a capsize.

I swim to my mooring which is why a manual suits me.

If I swam to my mooring I would use a bouyancy aid and keep a LJ on the boat. Or buy a little tender! Anyone who swims to their mooring would immediately appreciate that an Auto jacket would not suit their needs.

[chewy]

Originally Posted by Polwart

There is some slightly odd physics involved in that suggestion! Assuming you are still metabolising (alive) you are producing heat. Assuming that you are warmer than the air (in the UK most likely) then heat always goes from hot to cold. So you are heating the surroundings. However the foil blankets are generally not great because they only stop you loosing radiated heat, convected and conducted heat (e.g. onto the cold deck) is still lost.
The colour is irrelevant!won't reassure the casualty that all is well though!
I have a bothy bag (the modern 'generic name' for what used to be known as a KISU - Karimore Instructors Survival Unit). Very compact and light weight. Available in various sizes, shares body heat. Surprisingly effective even in pissing rain/gales when cold and wet. I carry it on the boat in case it gets nasty and the kids are getting too cold and wet while we head for shore - but it would be useful in rewarming a (or multiple) MoBs

No the colour isn't relevent but you'll find most survival bags are orange. The last person we had in the bag seemed very grateful that he was kept out of the wind and water. Its orange not black although as you say the colour isn't relevent.

The plastic survial bags work better at speed as you can cut holes in them and and wear them, the foil just blows everywhere.
I have a tender but its easier to carry the fuel down at low water and then swim across later.

Nice to see the mods are all in festive moods this morning.

[neilda]

That post bought back some memories for me - and I'm very glad to read that you were both OK.

I came out of my boat in July and dislocated my shoulder in the process, I am not young and fit and had I not been wearing a life jacket, I wouldn't be here now. And I'm really not exaggerating. I'm still having physio which acts as a regular reminder!

After the accident, I did a couple of things.

1. I replaced all my manual jackets for auto inflates. I managed to inflate my manual jacket in the accident - but figured that auto was going to be safer in the future.

2. I always wear a kill cord (you did too - thank God), but I didn't wear one in my accident. My own stupidity.

3. Always give a safety briefing to anyone who comes aboard.

Really very glad to read you were both OK, your post really made an impact on me having been involved in something similar.

I had always thought that chine walking crept in, I've been on the edge of it and backed off immediately... didn't know it could suddenly appear....

[Hambleite]

Gibbo,

Glad you're ok.

We used to have a SR5.4 with a 90hp 2st which would also chine walk if no positive throttle / trim inputs were made. The boat would start to chine walk at about 39 knots relatively consistantly. I found that throttling back would reduce the walk, as would trimming the the nose down. Which course of action I chose was dependant on the general sea condidtions.

For example, if it was flat calm then trimming in a little would be enough to stop it. However, if I was playing around in the chop and there were likely to be waves / wash that would 'tip' me further into the direction of the walk then the only course of action was to throttle back.

With regards to auto vs manual lifejackets, this for me is a no brainer and I agree with JK.

If you get ejected from your rib you are likely to be traveling relatively fast (20 knots plus). if you get ejected at this speed it is very possible to whack youself on a part of the rib that will be harder than your head. If this doesn't happen then you could easily get winded on impact in the water. In either case, you will probably be shocked and disorientated.

If you are unconcious when you hit the water you will probably die if you're jacket doesn't auto inflate. How are you are going to manually inflate a lifejacket if you are unconcious? Just a thought......

The only very minor down side is that yes, swimming in a fully inflated lifejacket is quite difficult and energy sapping. However, the SOP for this is to simply deflate the lifejacket a little and crack on with the swim....If it's gone really belly up and you're going to be in the water for a while then you can very easily re-inflate the jacket using the oral inflater.

I don't want to get into a debate about hand-held VHFs vs mobiles but I ALWAYS carry my (fully charged) mobile in an Aquapac that is fastended to me by a landyard. That way I should be able to get help from within the water whilst I'm swimming around.

At the of the day I think we're all glad on ribnet that you survived the experience and that we can all learn from shared experiences......

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by chewy

I swim to my mooring which is why a manual suits me.

If you had explained that you had a strange and unusual reason for chosing a manual that would have been fine. I was concerned that it might be interpreted as a suggestion that a manual jacket would be as good as an auto for a "normal" person!

For normal leisure use on a powerboat there is no advantage to a manual, and no significant disadvantage to an auto.