After some of the mishaps in the news, there has been some discussion of lifejackets. I taught this for the auxiliary for a long time, and there is a big difference in function, and comfort.
They go by 5 types.
Lets start with the basic, the type IV throwable. Be it a cushion, rings, horseshore or anyother flotation device, their function is to be thrown to someone in the water, whether or not they have a wareable on. 50' of floating line? Well, not in practible use. Law (in the US) does not require one. In many practice sessions for the auxiliary, I have found, most of the time the PIW (person in the water) is far enough behind the boat that the retreival line wont reach. And throwing it with the line in the water does usually winds up in the prop (literally) of the boat rescuing him. I, personally, do not have lines on my type IVs and have 2 cushions and a ring aboard. Technical: 15+ # of flotation
Type III. The vest. Made for swimmers, or someone training in staying in a vertical position, to keep the head above the water. Has a benefit of providing a measure of insulation for the chest area, where 50% of the heat loss from the body occurs. I have 5 aboard. Note: the sterns is more confortable than the Mustang. The sterns has a mesh inside and lets some air breathe thru. The mustang is soliid inside and hotter. Take this from someone who had to wear one 8 hrs a day while on patrol in the Florida sun. The official design is called "in-shore". However, this is what the CG personnel wore on deck. Technical 15+# of flotation
Type II. The horse collar. The least expensive. Designed to turn some of the people face up. They work well, but are uncomfortable to wear. Technical: 15# of flotation
The type I. This had the most flotation, designed to turn mostly all face up, and required for commercial vessels. Comes in large size horse collar, and jacket style. The jackets style is better for hypothermia protection. They ain't cheap either, because a good one has the commercial certification from the CG. That takes a lot of te$ting...... I hav e 2 aboard although most of our cruising is inland or ICW. The official name for the typeI is "offshore" Technical 21+# of flotation
Now, I have saved the inflatables for last. I have mixed feelings about them. Let me explain.
Being in the auxiliary and seeing things go wrong with boaters, and we got called, maintenance of the boat/engines and stuff made uop the vast majority of called for us. Famous last words " Tune up? I had one last year..." The inflatables are great in comfort and performance and WILL save lives, however, provided the owners maintain them. I have seen them inflated in the boat because some kid was screwing with them and owners saying it happened last year. Being a bladder, a punchure renderes it useless, and you will not know it untill you are in the water with it on, and NEED it...
Like a lot of oither things they are not fool-proof, and there are more powerful fools born every day.
The foam filled wearables and thowables are more fool-proof.
Now, lets address a MOB situation. First person seeing it, yells man overboard, XXX side of boat (either starboard or right will work), and points to the MOB. A throwable or which floats (ice chest, fender, etc) is thrown best as you can. The person pointing continues to do so until the MOB is alongside. The skipper turns the boats, sounds 5 or more horn blasts (danger signal warns others) , and proceeds to a spot just upwind of the MOB so the wind wil bring the boat to the MPOB, while the skipper and everone else gets him in. Engine is off and in gear to not have a spinning prop. ALWAYS with the MOB facing the boat as not to break his back. Better if he can climb the ladder.
If offshore, add: "mayday" on the radio. That was additional help is on te way incase you have a problem.
Be sure to cancel the mayday after recovering the MOB
One time, while 5 miles offshore we came across a very obese guy in the water who had falled off a large sport fish boat, and they did not know he was MOB. No PFD, but he had built-in flotation, if you get my drift. I called it in, but getting this 325# guy into the boat when both of us did not weigh that together, was quite a chore. He was exausted and could not climb the ladder. We tied a line around him, and with we pulling, he made it in. The CG go-fast on patrol arrived, and they took him away. I imagine the capt of the sport fish got in trouble. We went on fishing.
They go by 5 types.
Lets start with the basic, the type IV throwable. Be it a cushion, rings, horseshore or anyother flotation device, their function is to be thrown to someone in the water, whether or not they have a wareable on. 50' of floating line? Well, not in practible use. Law (in the US) does not require one. In many practice sessions for the auxiliary, I have found, most of the time the PIW (person in the water) is far enough behind the boat that the retreival line wont reach. And throwing it with the line in the water does usually winds up in the prop (literally) of the boat rescuing him. I, personally, do not have lines on my type IVs and have 2 cushions and a ring aboard. Technical: 15+ # of flotation
Type III. The vest. Made for swimmers, or someone training in staying in a vertical position, to keep the head above the water. Has a benefit of providing a measure of insulation for the chest area, where 50% of the heat loss from the body occurs. I have 5 aboard. Note: the sterns is more confortable than the Mustang. The sterns has a mesh inside and lets some air breathe thru. The mustang is soliid inside and hotter. Take this from someone who had to wear one 8 hrs a day while on patrol in the Florida sun. The official design is called "in-shore". However, this is what the CG personnel wore on deck. Technical 15+# of flotation
Type II. The horse collar. The least expensive. Designed to turn some of the people face up. They work well, but are uncomfortable to wear. Technical: 15# of flotation
The type I. This had the most flotation, designed to turn mostly all face up, and required for commercial vessels. Comes in large size horse collar, and jacket style. The jackets style is better for hypothermia protection. They ain't cheap either, because a good one has the commercial certification from the CG. That takes a lot of te$ting...... I hav e 2 aboard although most of our cruising is inland or ICW. The official name for the typeI is "offshore" Technical 21+# of flotation
Now, I have saved the inflatables for last. I have mixed feelings about them. Let me explain.
Being in the auxiliary and seeing things go wrong with boaters, and we got called, maintenance of the boat/engines and stuff made uop the vast majority of called for us. Famous last words " Tune up? I had one last year..." The inflatables are great in comfort and performance and WILL save lives, however, provided the owners maintain them. I have seen them inflated in the boat because some kid was screwing with them and owners saying it happened last year. Being a bladder, a punchure renderes it useless, and you will not know it untill you are in the water with it on, and NEED it...
Like a lot of oither things they are not fool-proof, and there are more powerful fools born every day.
The foam filled wearables and thowables are more fool-proof.
Now, lets address a MOB situation. First person seeing it, yells man overboard, XXX side of boat (either starboard or right will work), and points to the MOB. A throwable or which floats (ice chest, fender, etc) is thrown best as you can. The person pointing continues to do so until the MOB is alongside. The skipper turns the boats, sounds 5 or more horn blasts (danger signal warns others) , and proceeds to a spot just upwind of the MOB so the wind wil bring the boat to the MPOB, while the skipper and everone else gets him in. Engine is off and in gear to not have a spinning prop. ALWAYS with the MOB facing the boat as not to break his back. Better if he can climb the ladder.
If offshore, add: "mayday" on the radio. That was additional help is on te way incase you have a problem.
Be sure to cancel the mayday after recovering the MOB
One time, while 5 miles offshore we came across a very obese guy in the water who had falled off a large sport fish boat, and they did not know he was MOB. No PFD, but he had built-in flotation, if you get my drift. I called it in, but getting this 325# guy into the boat when both of us did not weigh that together, was quite a chore. He was exausted and could not climb the ladder. We tied a line around him, and with we pulling, he made it in. The CG go-fast on patrol arrived, and they took him away. I imagine the capt of the sport fish got in trouble. We went on fishing.
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