Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 25 October 2015, 20:43   #1
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Stanley, Falkland Is
Boat name: Seawolf
Make: Osprey Vipermax 5.8
Length: 5m +
Engine: Etec 150
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,726
Lifejackets..... for fat people

First day of the summer today and (ahem) I note that because I prepared well for a hard winter, the lifejacket that has been a tight fit since I bought it is now in danger of restricting oxygen and circulation when I wear it with an (ahem) extremely thickly padded flotation suit

So, can you buy any sort of an extension harness for fat people? Google found some in the States with completely the wrong fitting but that was all. It's a bog standard Hammar jacket from lifejackets.co.uk with a square of stainless steel on each end of the main retaining strap, you swivel one sideways and push it through the other and then it can't pull back through. Not sure if they all use the same concept or not. What would be ideal is the same arrangement on the end of about 3-4 inches of webbing.

Do the 'offshore' 275N jackets that are designed to be worn over foul weather clothing / survival suits generally have bigger straps? I think in the long term that would be a better bet - and it's something I have been thinking about for a while anyway but I need a more immediate solution.
__________________
A Boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by fibreglass, into which you throw money...

Sent from my Computer, using a keyboard and mouse
BogMonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 October 2015, 08:29   #2
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Leicester
Length: 5m +
Engine: 135hp Mercury
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,408
Anywhere on the Islands that sells them?
Speak to other boat users, see what they've got & try theirs on over your clothing?
__________________
paintman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 October 2015, 08:43   #3
Member
 
jambo's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Girvan & Tayvallich
Boat name: Breawatch
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Mercury 150 F/stroke
MMSI: ex directory!!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,203
RIBase
Can you not scarify a webbing on an old jacket to make extension.


Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net
__________________
jambo
'Carpe Diem'
Member of the ebay Blue RIB cover club
Member of SABS ( Scottish West Division)
jambo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 October 2015, 09:21   #4
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Stanley, Falkland Is
Boat name: Seawolf
Make: Osprey Vipermax 5.8
Length: 5m +
Engine: Etec 150
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,726
Most of 'em are thinner than me. I'd thought about chopping up an old LJ - if I could get a pair of buckles I could make one - but I don't have an old LJ to hand.

I may have a solution anyway as I'd emailed the supplier and their reply suggests that they might be able to help...
__________________
A Boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by fibreglass, into which you throw money...

Sent from my Computer, using a keyboard and mouse
BogMonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 October 2015, 11:15   #5
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,758
If not then Stainless Direct on fleabay sell 3 bar stainless buckles that might do what you need...
__________________
ShinyShoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 October 2015, 11:40   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Retford
Boat name: Spy-sea-one
Make: Excel 435
Length: 4m +
Engine: Suzuki Outboard/25/4
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,443
RIBase
old rucksack straps ?
or mountaineers stuff they have webbing with a crab on each end.
also you can buy clip buckles from diving shops and thread webbing through so in effect you have a loop which is adjustable and clips together they use them on buoyancy compensation vests about 50 mm wide or smaller.

cheers

look on lomo watersports
__________________
jeffstevens763@g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 October 2015, 12:21   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 106
In terms of size of new ones, I wear a 46/48 inch suit jacket and wear the middle of the sizes of Spinlock Deckvest and still have plenty of adjustment left, and they do a bigger size than that.
__________________
markmullen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 October 2015, 15:32   #8
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Gloucestershire
Boat name: Osprey
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 5m +
Engine: E-tec 300 G2
MMSI: TBC
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,020
Tractor Inner Tube and some Gaffa Tape ?

(I'm allowed to say this as I am also built for comfort not speed)
__________________
---------------------------------------------------
Chris Stevens

Born fiddler
Chris is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 October 2015, 16:37   #9
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Retford
Boat name: Spy-sea-one
Make: Excel 435
Length: 4m +
Engine: Suzuki Outboard/25/4
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,443
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris View Post
Tractor Inner Tube and some Gaffa Tape ?

(I'm allowed to say this as I am also built for comfort not speed)
Me too I like loads of xxxxxx in front or the L
__________________
jeffstevens763@g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 October 2015, 18:23   #10
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
Quote:
Originally Posted by BogMonster View Post
So, can you buy any sort of an extension harness for fat people?

It's a bog standard Hammar jacket from lifejackets.co.uk with a square of stainless steel on each end of the main retaining strap, you swivel one sideways and push it through the other and then it can't pull back through.
Can't you have a sheet metal guy make up new clasps, and use it as an extension to lengthen the straps that way? Or, with some nylon thread and a heavy duty sewing machine, add to the existing straps? (On that note, a decent sailmaker could do it by hand in an hour. Probably a lot less. It would take me considerably longer, and it would come out looking ugly, but it would work.)

jky
__________________
jyasaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 October 2015, 18:51   #11
RIBnet admin team
 
Poly's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: imposter
Make: FunYak
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 30HP
MMSI: 235089819
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,622
Quote:
Originally Posted by jyasaki View Post
Can't you have a sheet metal guy make up new clasps, and use it as an extension to lengthen the straps that way? Or, with some nylon thread and a heavy duty sewing machine, add to the existing straps? (On that note, a decent sailmaker could do it by hand in an hour. Probably a lot less. It would take me considerably longer, and it would come out looking ugly, but it would work.)

jky
A bit of rope would probably give a bodge, but to my mind there is something intuitively wrong with modifying a lifejacket. Unless the manufacturer supplies an extension strap I'd be concerned that the bladder would no longer be held in the right position to be effective.

Now the oil industry guys in Aberdeen aren't known for their svelt physique, so I'd guess it's the same out your way. Perhaps they could assist with your "procurement"? Or if I recall you did some work on a commercial vessel, who presumably have to accommodate your stature - could that PPE be borrowed whilst weight watchers set up their Falkland branch a delivery arrives?
__________________
Poly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 October 2015, 19:54   #12
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,758
The oil industry guys are to be on a weight / size limit in the future as some of the chubbers larger gentlemen struggle to exit the helicopter if it ditches...
__________________
ShinyShoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 October 2015, 21:56   #13
SPR
Member
 
SPR's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Central Belt of Scotland
Boat name: Puddleduck III
Make: Bombard
Length: 5m +
Engine: 50 HP
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,066
Contact Keith or Wendy @ SeaSafe they will help you out - tell her Scott from SPR recommended. They manufacture Lifejackets in house ...


www.firstaidatsea.co.uk
www.SPRmarine.co.uk
__________________
SPRmarine / SPRtraining
RYA Training Courses & Safety Equipment Sales
SPR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 October 2015, 14:56   #14
Member
 
Country: USA
Town: Oakland CA
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,653
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poly View Post
but to my mind there is something intuitively wrong with modifying a lifejacket. Unless the manufacturer supplies an extension strap I'd be concerned that the bladder would no longer be held in the right position to be effective.
The other way to look at that is that without an extension, the jacket is likely to remain unused. I agree that it's not an ideal method, but it is a solution. And given Bog's remote location (he is still in the Falklands, isn't he?), a turnkey factory solution may be a problem.

jky
__________________
jyasaki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 October 2015, 08:50   #15
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Stanley, Falkland Is
Boat name: Seawolf
Make: Osprey Vipermax 5.8
Length: 5m +
Engine: Etec 150
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,726
Thanks all. I am still waiting for a reply from Marine Warehouse who supplied the original, so I'll see what that turns up first.
__________________
A Boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by fibreglass, into which you throw money...

Sent from my Computer, using a keyboard and mouse
BogMonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 October 2015, 00:24   #16
Member
 
Country: Other
Town: Stanley, Falkland Is
Boat name: Seawolf
Make: Osprey Vipermax 5.8
Length: 5m +
Engine: Etec 150
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,726
Well, pleased to say that Marine Warehouse (Lifejackets by mail order from Marine Warehouse Ltd - Marine Warehouse Ltd) who supplied them in 2010 have been really helpful. They have sourced an appropriate item despite it not being a stock item, and are posting it to me. Top service - quick response to emails and very helpful - I know where I will be buying a 275N from in due course
__________________
A Boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by fibreglass, into which you throw money...

Sent from my Computer, using a keyboard and mouse
BogMonster is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 07:10.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.