Lifejacket

chrishowden · 01 January 2011, 19:29

Whats the best lifejacket on the market to buy?

tony t · 01 January 2011, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishowden

Whats the best lifejacket on the market to buy?

i have invested in a couple of these

http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/Crewsaver....html?catid=92

willk · 01 January 2011, 20:18

Good Lord, £200!

They do look to be the mutt's.

My New Year's Resolution is to keep the yokes I have at the mo., but to be more vigilant as regards servicing and fitting to individual users.

Erin · 01 January 2011, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony t

i have invested in a couple of these

http://www.crewsaver.co.uk/Crewsaver....html?catid=92

They're on my list for a future purchase. I had a long chat with the Crewsaver guys at the SBS, and I was quite impressed with the product. Whilst all LJ's clearly have to meet the standard, there was a sense of quality and reliability about the design of the Crewsaver models which I liked. Compact and tight fitting. I was also persuaded that it was pretty pointless not wearing the crotch strap.

chewy · 01 January 2011, 20:34

Mines a Crewsaver Crewfit, not sure what Newtons it is, around 150N I think.

BruceB · 01 January 2011, 20:52

We have 275n Crewsavers, tried cheaper ones in the past but they didn't last. We sometimes use flotation suits and it is recommended that you use a larger LJ when you do, plus deflated they really aren't any bigger.
We always use the crotchstraps..........

Siochair · 01 January 2011, 23:34

Whilst I've not had the chance to try these myself I have been told that they are very comfortable to wear, especially over extended periods; http://www.oceansafety.com/kru-sport...inflation.aspx

martini · 02 January 2011, 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siochair

Whilst I've not had the chance to try these myself I have been told that they are very comfortable to wear, especially over extended periods; http://www.oceansafety.com/kru-sport...inflation.aspx

I've got a couple of these. I'm not known as a lifejacket wearing expert and haven't got much to compare then but would still say they are pretty good.

They're designed to fit quite high up, keeping out of the way of your front pockets etc, good idea but it does feel a bit weird and takes getting used to.

Cookee · 02 January 2011, 07:47

Another vote for Kru - We'll probably be using them in the new race boat under the harnesses as well.

biffer · 02 January 2011, 08:30

another one for kru, i've been wearing one for doing the yacht racing events for the RYA i didn't really like wearing one when i'm mostly stationary all day but these are really comfortable

Tony · 02 January 2011, 10:11

Kru for us to...

treerat · 02 January 2011, 10:31

Looked at a Typhoon as a replacement and it seemed really poor compared to the Crew Saver I currently use.

I wrap the cylinder in a condom and tape the bottom before fitting, keeps the cylinders in great condition

martini · 02 January 2011, 11:01

A word of warning about the Kru's: Seems obvious what would happen now that it has to me but just was something I didn't think about.

I had 2 Kru LJ's in my under deck storage which got forgotten about when the boat was laid up. Some water got in there over time and set them off. No big deal, just get new cylinders and repack and rearm them. Trouble is, because the inflatable part is packed inside an outer jacket which is zipped up with those special burst open zips, if theres anything in the way that restricts the jacket opening up as it wants then the zips won't open properly when it goes off. In turn the inflatable part cant unfold and expand etc, net result is the LJ self destructs. 2 almost new, expensive LJs went straight in the bin, I was gutted!

I did go and buy 2 new though it has to be said, I just look after them a lot better now!

Razorbill RIBs · 02 January 2011, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by treerat

I wrap the cylinder in a condom and tape the bottom before fitting, keeps the cylinders in great condition

And you don't have to worry if it was to go off prematurely

piranha580 · 02 January 2011, 16:17

Just before Christmas I picked up 2x 275N Seago auto inflate lifejackets, with crotch straps integral spray hoods and automatic lights here in Dublin for 120euro each.. Damn good I reckon! Marine parts direct in Swords, Co.Dublin ...

Steve_B · 02 January 2011, 16:27

Another vote for the Crewsaver 190N, I bought several for the crew to wear and over the summer. They were very comfortable and gave no trouble at all. I think Pete M will vouch for this too.

Steve

chewy · 02 January 2011, 16:33

We've just had an auction and I didn't realise till after that a local fisherman had donated some brand new 100N jackets, he need larger newtons for coding so the jackets were still in the packet.... went for a tenner each!

martini · 02 January 2011, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

fisherman....still in the packet....

Sounds about right!
And yes I know, rich coming from me!

SPR · 02 January 2011, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishowden

Whats the best lifejacket on the market to buy?

The best Life Jacket is the one you will wear!

I like the baltic range or secumar personally...

A word of advice i was given on a recent training course, don't tamper with the cylinder bottle, since if they fail to go off the manufacturer has a get out of jail card...

If the cylinder is rusting means you are keeping the Lifejacket in the wrong type of environment or not drying it out.....

S.

CJL · 02 January 2011, 23:38

The Crewsaver 150n tends to be regarded as the industry standard jacket and we have 1000's of them under a national contract.

I would always recommend that you check the bottle - as per Crewsaver advice, particularly if stored in a car, or boat to make sure vibrations do not loosen them.

The 190n jackets do seem very gucci but I do have concerns over introducing another bottle size which is subject to confusion. I wonder why these new "comfort" style jackets do not still retain the 150n / 33g bottle???

Just a con?