So what do you think would happen

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

So... as a summary, your friend is willing to risk drowning and asphyxiation in order to be able to wear his PFD under his foulies... Really bright...

Unless his jacket was made by OMAR the TENTMAKER, and is exceptionally oversized, wearing a PFD under it is a good recipe for disaster... Have you ever tried to remove a foulweather jacket, while in the water...never mind while it had a fully inflated PFD inside it choking you?? Removing the jacket is very likely not a possibility for him once the PFD inflates.

If the foulies are over sized -which they should be. Having a PFD under when inflated will actually gardner greater success due to buoyancy. You are making a statement that you yourself have never experienced. There is a reason why in the navy - if you fall over - you pull off your dungarees. Its to trap the air to make it a floatation device. The worst that comes from a PFD inflated over a restricted jacket is pro-longed buoyancy.

[jackdale]

Unless you are tethered ... How you you release a tether if you are in a capsized cockpit or a sinking vessel?

Jack

[bubb2]

Originally Posted by artbyjody

If the foulies are over sized -which they should be. Having a PFD under when inflated will actually gardner greater success due to buoyancy. You are making a statement that you yourself have never experienced. There is a reason why in the navy - if you fall over - you pull off your dungarees. Its to trap the air to make it a floatation device. The worst that comes from a PFD inflated over a restricted jacket is pro-longed buoyancy.

Greater buoyancy, Maybe if your foul weather jacket has air tight zippers, Velcro, and a air tight seal around your neck. I never seen foulies like that, Please let me know who makes air tight foulies.

[sailingdog]

You're also making the two basically faulty assumptions:

First, that the PFD will go off at all. If the foulies are well enough sealed to trap air as you suggest, they may keep enough water out to prevent the PFD from triggering. It certainly can't be manually triggered, since that is not an option if the PFD is inside the foul weather gear—the manual release is not reachable.

Second, you're assuming that the PFD isn't going to be asphixiating him by compressing his chest and making breathing difficult. Also, the collar part of the PFD inflating could cause the collar of his PFD to strangle him if the foulies are zipped all the way up.

BTW, IMHO, if the FWG isn't zipped all the way up, then it adds NO BUOYANCY...

Third, in most situations they'd be wearing foul weather gear and a PFD, would they not also be wearing a harness? The harness obviously has to go outside of the foul weather gear so they can clip in... That would be yet another thing constricting their breathing as the PFD inflates.

Taking off your dungarees is one thing... since your pants aren't likely to strangle you... and filling them with are is SOP, even in the water safety lessons I've taken as a Boy Scout...

Originally Posted by artbyjody

If the foulies are over sized -which they should be. Having a PFD under when inflated will actually gardner greater success due to buoyancy. You are making a statement that you yourself have never experienced. There is a reason why in the navy - if you fall over - you pull off your dungarees. Its to trap the air to make it a floatation device. The worst that comes from a PFD inflated over a restricted jacket is pro-longed buoyancy.

BTW, we're talking about a PFD inflated INSIDE a jacket, not over...

[bubb2]

I was being sarcastic in my earlier response about foulies being air tight. I been in the water with foulies on. They do not trap air. They add no buoyancy what so ever! Any air trapped in the foulies will find its way out once you hit the water, as in big bubbles coming up from the top of your bids and from your collar.

This all brings up what to look for in foulies. When I bought the ones I use now, I bought very good offshore foulies. Not what you find at west marine. The have a built in harness and have zip in float vest. Much heaver material than you find in the off the rack foulies. The float vest is much like an insulated jacket liner (think Army field jacket liner) and it adds both warmth and flotation.

[JungleJim]

What is the make of that offshore gear?

[bubb2]

ProRainer, I bought them from Sailnet at the Atlantic City sailboat show a few years ago when Sailnet was still doing boat shows. I like the idea of having additional flotation in my foulies. I do wear a inflatable vest which I believe had 38 pounds of buoyancy. I have always had the feeling that if I go over the side with long underwear, heavy pants and shirt, sea boats and foulies on, the extra flotation is not a bad thing. I am 215 pounds to start with and add the foulies and everything underneath soaked with water, I don't want to rely just on the 38 pounds of buoyancy.

[AdamLein]

Supposing for a moment that one can acquire airtight foulies that will provide extra buoyancy.... you can still wear your PFD on the outside!

[bubb2]

I just came back from my boat. I had my inflatable vest on today as I was out alone. I noticed that, I have rigged my vest with a firefly automatic personal strobe. I thought how that would work at night under foul weather gear?

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by bubb2

I just came back from my boat. I had my inflatable vest on today as I was out alone. I noticed that, I have rigged my vest with a firefly automatic personal strobe. I thought how that would work at night under foul weather gear?

Jack