Boat&Bikes Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 We are wearing them but very few do. Who here does? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 9 minutes ago, ianali said: We are wearing them but very few do. Who here does? Please Sir - Me Sir (and all the crew) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB Lola Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Only on river sections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Mainly in tunnels and on rivers - ie, areas of heightened risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil2 Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Yes I do certainly in tunnels and often around locks, and on rivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacka Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 If the water is deeper than my chest, or the banks are not easy to climb out then I do - eg River Seven, G&S canal - especially when on my own. I would guess over half do on the River Seven, but very few on the G&S canal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteS Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 I wear one on rivers and at locks. I have a thought going through my head, If I was to fall in and be knocked unconscious would I survive without a life jacket? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddyfeet Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 unless your wearing a proper life jacket a P F D wont stop you from drowning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex-Celtic Star Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 We do for tunnels, locks, and if and when we get on to rivers. The logic is that if one of us goes in, the other has enough on their hands to manage the boat for the first few moments, with less worry for the wet one who should at least be floating. Oh yes, and the dog wears one too - ashore around locks and aboard when the boat is moving. We call it her 'boat coat' since 'life jacket' or 'bouyancy aid' seem a concept too far for a dog who hates water, has no intention of falling in, and who would not enjoy being made to practice swimming in it to prove its value to her. On a similar safety note, having stood beside our boat while it was out of the water for surveying, we realised we wouldn't have a hope of climbing back on from anything like deep water, so we're getting a ladder. There was a previous thread on here about this, and the reality really hit us when we realised that with head and shoulders above the water line, we'd just be able to reach the taff rail supports but not pull our wet clothed bodies up and out. We hope a rope-type ladder, fastened on to a taff rail support and quick-releasable, should do the trick. But rather like the dog and the 'boat coat', we're not keen to have a practice to check it works... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-M Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Generally on a river and whenever I'm moving a boat whilst volunteering for CRT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boat&Bikes Posted May 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 We are on the Thames, I meant on rivers. Many here don't wear them and I was kinda surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter-Bullfinch Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Tidal bits of the system are a must for life jackets. We wore ours all day today on the Ribble Link from the Lancaster Canal to the Leeds and Liverpool at Tarleton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebulae Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 Auto inflate on rivers and long tunnels since the loss of life in Harecastle. Did much dinghy sailing in my youth so dont need convincing of the value of a good lifejacket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Lewis Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 (edited) Spent nine hours on the tidal Thames yesterday,life jackets mandatory (our rules) Tim Edited May 14, 2017 by Tim Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.i Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 And for those of you that do wear a life jacket but don't use a crotch strap here is a video just for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 I have at least six up to date self inflating lifejackets onboard. I only wear them on rivers. The logic for this is I and others are bloody numpties. If you are on a boat and fall off and knock yourself unconscious or have a medical problem and fall off etc etc without a lifejacket can you breath underwater? Answer is no you cant, it dont matter wether you can stand up in it, wether its forty fathoms or six inches deep you will likely drown. Wear the bloody things and do as I say not as I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 1 hour ago, Rob-M said: Generally on a river and whenever I'm moving a boat whilst volunteering for CRT. Will cruising in the hours of darkness on the BCN Challenge warrant one? In answer to the question everyone on board will wear them on rivers because I insist and my daughter wears one at all times. My wife often wears one as well as she is a poor swimmer. I wear mine when single handing. JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 5 minutes ago, Captain Pegg said: Will cruising in the hours of darkness on the BCN Challenge warrant one? JP Can you breathe underwater? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 2 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Can you breathe underwater? No less than I can in daylight. You've lost me there. JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FadeToScarlet Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 I tend to assess the risks and the likelihood of going in. On a warm summer's day on the canal I probably won't wear one, but on the same canal in the depths of winter I probably would- increased likelihood and severity of falling in. Similarly, having just come up the Thames, I wore one from Brentford up as far as Reading, but would've worn one all the way had it been raining or slippery. It does need bit of thought, as they can bring hazards of their own, e.g. straps tangling in centre paddle gear when crossing a GU wide lock. But it's just a case of assessing the risks, and if the likelihood or severity of falling in outweighs the smaller risks of wearing a lifejacket, on it goes. 9 minutes ago, Captain Pegg said: Will cruising in the hours of darkness on the BCN Challenge warrant one? In answer to the question everyone on board will wear them on rivers because I insist and my daughter wears one at all times. My wife often wears one as well as she is a poor swimmer. I wear mine when single handing. JP I will probably wear one then, because being tired will mean I'm more likely to make a silly mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 5 hours ago, ianali said: We are wearing them but very few do. Who here does? I usually wear one. I should wear it more often than I do, but in winter on quiet swing bridgey and locky canals I defo do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 7 minutes ago, Captain Pegg said: No less than I can in daylight. You've lost me there. JP I just meant that they are needed all the time daylight or dark if you cannot breathe underwater. I was trained in survival on and around water by the very best training establishment in the World in the early 70s and even back then we wore lifejackets partialy inflated if we were outside of guard rails or any chance of going overboard. Simply put we should all wear them but we rarely do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 1 hour ago, mrsmelly said: If you are on a boat and fall off and knock yourself unconscious or have a medical problem and fall off etc etc without a lifejacket can you breath underwater? Answer is no you cant, I blame Darwin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil2 Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 And do we all use the crotch strap? The only bit of "Narrow Dog to Carcasonne" I actually laughed at was where he's discussing the employment of the crotch strap; "He's going to all right Mrs Darlington, the crotch strap saved his life but he's not the man he was. Oh, you want us to throw him back in?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chertsey Posted May 14, 2017 Report Share Posted May 14, 2017 OK, I'll put my hands up to never. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now