PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

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mm289
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PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

Post by mm289 » 02 Jul 2018, 10:30

Just going to kit out the Frib with some new safety gear and just wondered what peoples preferences were?

I am inclined to go with a Auto Inflate Life Jacket for myself but just wanted to check if anyone had experience of these activating "falsely" when launching. getting in/out etc? Realise that I have the option of a Hydrostatic Trigger (Hammar) type which may be more resistant to accidental trigger than the ULM, but just wondered how real the issue is?

Would prefer them to PFD's for myself just from a ease of use and self righting pov.

Opinions?

cheers,

Paul.

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Paul B Great Britain
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Re: PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

Post by Paul B » 02 Jul 2018, 11:25

I’ve got both manual and Auto jackets, PFD,s are ok if you intend to be using them for wakeboarding etc, but if you plan on staying dry get a auto or hammer life jacket, I’ve never had my auto go off due to splashes etc, but it does happen

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Re: PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

Post by ChrisParish » 02 Jul 2018, 15:24

Definitely life jacket rather than PFD. For a start modern life jackets are smaller and more discreet than a buoyancy aid. Also the life jacket will turn you onto your back and support your head.
I have got a manual jacket but only because I needed to buy two and my budget wouldn’t run to two Hammar trigger jackets at the time and I don’t fancy one of the paper or salt triggered auto jackets. My thought there is that if I fall over while launching I don’t want the jacket inflating - it’s embarrassing enough without that happening!
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Re: PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

Post by mm289 » 02 Jul 2018, 19:25

Interesting and pretty much in line with my thoughts. I am thinking auto for me as "skipper" as I will occasionally be solo and need the maneuverability the most. Then thinking a couple of good quality lightweight PFD's maybe Palm's, for the occasional crew/passengers on the basis they will never be in the boat without me and all they will need is buoyancy not self righting etc.

Are the Hammar triggers significantly more robust(less likely to trigger) than the ULM?

Cheers,

Paul.

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Re: PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

Post by Martin » 02 Jul 2018, 22:44

A uml activated life jacket may well trigger if you get covered by a bloody large wave, where as a hammar should in theory only expel through water pressure. I believe the hammars trigger at 10cm water pressure (submerged)

Just ensure the life jackets are thoroughly dry before storing away as condensation may well fire the device.
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Re: PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

Post by chris moody » 03 Jul 2018, 08:06

Sometimes I use an auto lifejacket, sometimes a buoyancy aid, in a sib. It depends if i'm going to be doing lots of wading ashore, if i'm boating alone or in company, etc.
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Re: PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

Post by chris moody » 03 Jul 2018, 08:12

I have been known to wear a buoyancy aid during launching and recovery, and they swap to a lifejacket once in the boat. But only if others are around when i'm launching. If I'm launching solo I'd want to be wearing the lifejacket in case I slip and hit my head on a rock.
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Re: PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

Post by mm289 » 03 Jul 2018, 13:10

Yep, pretty much my thinking Chris (M)

Have you got a view on ULM vs Hammar? The latter are quite a bit more expensive to replace the mechanisms so wondered if it was worth it?

Cheers,

Paul.

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Re: PFD or Life Jacket - do you have a preference?

Post by chris moody » 03 Jul 2018, 15:46

Standard United Moulders Autos every time for me. Dead easy to service at home and they don’t go off unless you dunk them in / under water. I’ve been out in weather where it was like someone was continually throwing a bucket of water over you every few seconds and I’ve never had one auto inflate. But if you don’t open it up and dry it out at the end of the day it can go off several days later (but it needs drying out anyway so it doesn’t go mouldy)
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