Hi Dave, I've got a Spinlock Deckvest as well - good lifejackets. I'd recommend that you get and carry a recharge kit as well. If the thing inflates for any reason, apart from an emergency, you'll want to deflate it, re-set and keep on sailing, be it for an hour or two or a few days. Why would it go off in a non-emergency? Accidental swim, heavy spray/solid water aboard or just torrential rain (that's what set mine off!) are a few reasons that come to mind. Enjoy watching you movies!
CHeers Steve. Good advice, I will make sure to do that. I've only ever owned a PFD so this is all new to me!! One issue wioth this life jacket is that there is no loop or attachment for a radio or PLB, but i'm sure i'll work something out.
@@SailingWithDave I found that as well. I've a pal who is a kayaker and his bouyancy aid is great with pockets for just about everything! I don't think life jackets are designed for small open boats where folk want to keep their VHF, PLB etc. handy.
Sorry Dave, I think you are making a mistake with the life jacket. For small boats you are better off with a bouyancy aid. Particularly if solo. A life jacket pretty well turns you into a passive victim waiting for rescue when in the water. Try swimming with it to see what I mean. A lot of folks seem to choose kayaking bouyancy aid to which have loads of pockets on the front which make re-entering a boat even more difficult. My tuppence ha'penny, but there you go. Best wishes Al
Hi Knucker. I understand your point. In fact I have been in a heated debate over this in the past on the DCA forums. I agree that a life jacket is probably better where you're on a big boat and you just need to be sat waiting for them to rescue you. I think if on a smaller dinghy where capsize was part of the fun, I would definitely wear a PFD, however the Lugger does split the decision a bit as you don't want her to capsize. I'm also slightly concerened about being alone and knocking myself out. In that case the life jacket has a better chance of saving me in the water. Either way it's a heated debate!!! I think if I take the life jacket, I will definitely take the PFD with me too and maybe even wear them in different scenarios.
@@SailingWithDave I certainly don't want to have a heated debate with you Dave. I definitely don't fall into the 'not having fun unless I'm capsizing' group. I will do it as part of a learning experience to reduce the chances of it happening for real, so to speak, and to practice recovering from a capsize. Which despite all practice and care is always possible. Years ago now I took part in the Offshore Survival course for the gas industry and spent a lot of time in the water with a life jacket and was shocked at how limiting they were for a swimmer. Don't get me wrong. I have worn them on a couple of occasions I've sailed on yachts as the most suitable safety device. I think you are correct to say the Lugger is at a transition size which complicates matters. Your last comment about having both is probably my ideal. Wear a bouyancy aid by default, but put on the life jacket when you start to think you are not having fun out there. Best wishes Al
@@knucker4931 I totally agree with you Knucker. I'm also not decided what i'll wear on the sea just yet, but I got this anyway as I do intend on going on some larger boats too!
Good choice of life jacket. Perfect for salt water sailing.
Many thanks. I had some advice form Steve above and i'm happy with i, seems very good quality.
Hi Dave, I've got a Spinlock Deckvest as well - good lifejackets. I'd recommend that you get and carry a recharge kit as well. If the thing inflates for any reason, apart from an emergency, you'll want to deflate it, re-set and keep on sailing, be it for an hour or two or a few days. Why would it go off in a non-emergency? Accidental swim, heavy spray/solid water aboard or just torrential rain (that's what set mine off!) are a few reasons that come to mind. Enjoy watching you movies!
CHeers Steve. Good advice, I will make sure to do that. I've only ever owned a PFD so this is all new to me!! One issue wioth this life jacket is that there is no loop or attachment for a radio or PLB, but i'm sure i'll work something out.
@@SailingWithDave I found that as well. I've a pal who is a kayaker and his bouyancy aid is great with pockets for just about everything! I don't think life jackets are designed for small open boats where folk want to keep their VHF, PLB etc. handy.
Quality gear! So, this season you are going to conquer the seas then?🏴☠️
Haha! Well conquer might be a strong word but yes, definitely "Spreading our wings" from the lake for sure.
Sorry Dave, I think you are making a mistake with the life jacket. For small boats you are better off with a bouyancy aid. Particularly if solo. A life jacket pretty well turns you into a passive victim waiting for rescue when in the water. Try swimming with it to see what I mean. A lot of folks seem to choose kayaking bouyancy aid to which have loads of pockets on the front which make re-entering a boat even more difficult.
My tuppence ha'penny, but there you go.
Best wishes
Al
Hi Knucker. I understand your point. In fact I have been in a heated debate over this in the past on the DCA forums. I agree that a life jacket is probably better where you're on a big boat and you just need to be sat waiting for them to rescue you. I think if on a smaller dinghy where capsize was part of the fun, I would definitely wear a PFD, however the Lugger does split the decision a bit as you don't want her to capsize. I'm also slightly concerened about being alone and knocking myself out. In that case the life jacket has a better chance of saving me in the water. Either way it's a heated debate!!!
I think if I take the life jacket, I will definitely take the PFD with me too and maybe even wear them in different scenarios.
@@SailingWithDave I certainly don't want to have a heated debate with you Dave.
I definitely don't fall into the 'not having fun unless I'm capsizing' group. I will do it as part of a learning experience to reduce the chances of it happening for real, so to speak, and to practice recovering from a capsize. Which despite all practice and care is always possible.
Years ago now I took part in the Offshore Survival course for the gas industry and spent a lot of time in the water with a life jacket and was shocked at how limiting they were for a swimmer. Don't get me wrong. I have worn them on a couple of occasions I've sailed on yachts as the most suitable safety device.
I think you are correct to say the Lugger is at a transition size which complicates matters. Your last comment about having both is probably my ideal. Wear a bouyancy aid by default, but put on the life jacket when you start to think you are not having fun out there.
Best wishes
Al
@@knucker4931 I totally agree with you Knucker. I'm also not decided what i'll wear on the sea just yet, but I got this anyway as I do intend on going on some larger boats too!
Oooh, it's like Christmas 😂
Haha Yes a bit. Hoping I will use the life jacket. A lot of people have said to stick to the PFD.