A good reason NOT to wear a life jacket in a C Dory

[thataway]

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http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/in...izing-dur.html

Is a link to the capsizing of a Defiant 29 off La Jolla CA. Basically they had picked up some Spectra line in the port prop, and as they came in after aborting a fishing tournament, the boat was broached, because they didn't have the power to keep the boat straight and out run a breaking sea. The skipper had on a self inflating life jacket--and the other 5 had the life jackets in their hands. They made it out of the enclosed cabin, without too much difficulty. The skipper's self inflating jacket pinned him against the cabin and he could not swim down against the floatation to exit the boat. Fortunately he had a good knife in his pocket and punctured the life jacket bladders and and was then able to exit.

It seem paradoxical to adivse against a life jacket, but in an enclosed cabin boat, it can be very diffult to exit with that floatation on. It is a better plan to have the jacket at hand, and then exit the boat--putting it on as you are clear. This time it turned out OK, and all were saved, but there have been several other instances where people were trapped.

The other comment was boots. If you have ever gone over with boots on, then you realize that you have to get those boots off. Again, a sharp kinfe can cut the boots loose, if they are too tight.

An interesting read, and something to think about, in your survival plans. Of course our C Dories would not have rolled--or would have they?

[Chester]

Definately food for thought. That is a situation I'd never considered.
As far as a C-Dory rolling? Sure, the last time I checked they weren't magic.

[hardee]

http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/washington-state-fishing/169756-team-defiance-capsized-sd-halibut-tourney-2.html

Don't know if this link will make finding it easier or not, but if not, ti is worth the search, (go down the thread to page 2, and look for the long thread.

Good read, and very lucky for all.

Question, Would a turned over 22 Cruiser be that hard to get out of with an inflated vest? Never thought of that, but seems like the floor is flat and the door is only inches from the floor level, either side up? Good idea to always have a knife VERY handy. Also, might be something to say for a manually inflated vest. Just my thoughts.

Harvey
SleepyC

[NORO LIM]

Every choice is a trade-off. What are the chances of getting trapped in the cabin with your PFD on versus hurrying out the door to deal with a problem and not remembering to take the time to don your PFD? I don't know, but I think way more people buy the farm falling out of the boat without a PFD, than die trapped inside because they were wearing one.

Having a knife handy is always an excellent idea, whatever your decision about wearing the PFD.

One additional thing to put in the mix - the convenience, comfort and safety of the inflatables is offset by the fact that they have to be worn to count as an approved PFD on board. So at a minimum, if you have an inflatable, but decide not to wear it in the cabin, make sure you have something else (even an approved cushion will do, I believe) that counts as an approved PFD handy.

[colobear]

Absolutely right about those seat belts. If you are in your car underwater, or a burning car that "lifesaving" seat belt can be your death sentence. Keep a knife handy to cut your way out. But then again, hundreds of lives are saved every year by seatbelts...whats a guy to do??

Sound familiar??

[starcrafttom]

all my life jackets have knives on or in them. all one handed opening knives. I have carried a knife on my person everyday since I turned 9. Can not imagine not having one.

as for the life jacket or even seat belts, damed if you do damed if you dont.

[rjmcnabb]

Hi Brats,
All good thoughts, but it is very difficult to don a PFD while you are in the water, even if the water is calm (but then, why would you be in calm water with a PFD in your hands?) If you are warmly dressed, with signiificant boots on, your troubles just got much worse. Add in loss of breath control during first minutes in cold water -- I put on a manually operated inflatable PFD as soon as I get on the boat. Often, I'm nearly alone in the marina and I've slipped on frosty docks many times (although not yet this year--YEA!)
Rod

[rogerbum]

To me this sounds a lot like the seat belt argument e.g. there are times when wearing a seat belt is worse than not wearing one. However, I would argue that it's not in fact "damned if you do and damned if you don't" but rather better off most of the time if you do, rarely damned if you do, mostly damned if you don't and rarely better if you don't. Statistically, you're better off with the life jackets (and seat belts) on.

[matt_unique]

Interesting point for sure. It crossed my mind when I encountered the rough seas (and had the sharp heel) this past season on Napoleon.

I think we are more likely to trip or slip and fall into cold water or hit our heads on the way in than we are to capsize. For this reason I think we are more likely to be saved by wearing our pfd's.

Maybe there would be a better procedure if we anticipate rough seas...perhaps tie a few life preservers to exterior cleats or something.

Good topic for discussion and brainstorming.

[rjmcnabb]

Hi Matt,
The points you make are not lost on sailors! Many sailors will choose an inflatable PFD that activates immediately upon submersion. That can be a very important feature for someone hit and flipped overboard by the boom during an accidental jibe. Even a small boom can have enough power to break bones, knock a person unconscious, etc. Modern vests are improving in their reliability, and much less likely to inflate from insignificant wetting than previously.
Rod

[matt_unique]

[lloyds]

I made the stupid, but not uncommon, mistake of launching without the drain plug last summer. First time in probably 40 years. My self inflating lifevest was laying on the floor of the boat. It slipped off the bunk while launching. It inflated immediately. I went to a marine store later that day to replace the cartridge and forgot to take the model number of the vest with me so now it is converted to manually inflating using the lanyard to trigger the cartridge. I lose just a little safety that way. But I would prefer to exit a boat without an inflated life vest. I was in a drift boat in my younger days that hit an overhanging fir snag in the river. When the bow of the boat disintegrated on impact and rolled I was trapped under water because the back piece of the pfd was caught on the gunnel of the boat. Being able to put your hand up into the air but not being able to reach it is maddening.

[journey on]

Lloyds, being trapped under that drift boat must have been terrible. Did you ever make it out?

[lloyds]

No!

[ffheap]

Hi Folks,

Just a little food-for-thought.

Answer to one question. If the 22' C-Dory gets sunk, it rides stern down because the flotation is in the bow under the forward berths. In order to get out, you need a long swim down. With an inflatable inflated, it might be impossible.

Was the inflatable an automatic-inflatable? I have one that I have to pull on a lanyard to inflate. The automatic inflatables can go off in the most interesting conditions, like on the forward deck working the anchor i rough conditions.

I will still wear my inflatable with the knife attached and hope that if I get sunk, I remember to get out of the boat before I pull the lanyard.

I have had my inflatable for about five years. Before the next boating season I am going to pull the lanyard to see that it works. Interesting.

Fred