[MedSailor]

I never have but it occurs to me that land people may not know the risks the same wsy I do. The captain of an airplane dictates when you buckle up....

most of the time I'm on a sailboat I am known as a sailor and thus am allowed to choose. Only on one friends boat that I've been on are pfds mandatory at all times in a conditions. She handed nice inflatable ones to everyone as they boarded which was a nice touch I thought.

What do you do? Yes, no, or depends on conditions?

 

[PaulinVictoria]

I give people the option if the weather is pretty good, if there is any chance of snortyness, it is compulsory, and if they leave the cockpit underway, also compulsory. Only exceptions are other sailors that I trust know the risks for themselves and can make a decision accordingly.

 

[nolatom]

Optional unless nonswimmer, or 16 and under (Louisiana law).

Or unless I tell us all to put them on (weather).

 

[newhaul]

Have a simple rule you leave the cockpit you wear a floater period I wear my sosspenders all the time on deck underway and yes that means in the cockpit to ( lead by example)

 

[Minnewaska]

Not on our current boat, unless they are under 13, then it is law. It's all but impossible to trip and fall out of our cockpit. It's rare that we would take guests out in the kind of nasty conditions that my wife and I put them on.

We would put them on, if we needed to leave the cockpit, but that would only be to address a problem. All lines are in the cockpit.

 

[Don L]

If I decide (or the Admiral) that it is time to put on my life vest, everyone puts on one. If I'm not wearing one I don't expect others to wear one (subject to the age requirement).

 

[engineer_sailor]

As long as they are adults, they can choose. I do however highlight that I choose to wear mine *all the time* while under way. Without being doom and gloom, I do try to summarize the risks in the choice so they can make an informed decision. I emphasize that if they decide to leave the confines of the cockpit I highly recommend wearing a PFD. The wife and I have an agreed upon boundary of 15 knots sustained.

By the way an interesting book to read on the topic is "Accidentally Overboard". Pretty clear that many accidents happen when weather is calm and just having a PFD drastically increases the odds of staying alive.

Josh

 

[Minnewaska]

I will take credit for this much. I always tell new guest where the pfds are located in the cockpit and I have a rule that no one goes on deck without letting me know.

 

[Sal Paradise]

Not if they can swim. We always point to the cockpit locker and tell people where the life preservers are before setting out.

If it gets rough we might tell everyone to put on pfd's. Only had to do that once.


If its rough enough that we have to put on pfd's when we set out - we stay at the dock.

 

[rugosa]

We NEVER leave the dock unless all aboard are wearing PFD. All guests get instructions on how to operate PFD. We have pulled crew from other boats during races, wind and water were light but the victims were still in shock.

Seems every year somebody goes out alone on Lake Ontario, the boat arrives but crewless.

 

[eherlihy]

Most people fall overboard when getting on or off a boat.

When I am teaching sailing, everyone must wear a PFD to embark, or disembark. After that, if the weather is agreeable, and if they are over 16, wearing a PFD is their choice. Most people leave them on.

On my boat, the only times that I require the use of a PFD are if the weather is getting snotty (20+Kts or 4+ foot swells), anytime that we reef, or if we are out after dark. I frequently am on deck (raising or lowering the main, setting or retrieving the anchor) without wearing a PFD.

 

[eherlihy]

One more thing - ALWAYS when in the inflatable dink.

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

If I am wearing one then they have to.

But, by jingo, by crikey, if I am wearing one they sure as hell would already been praying to the powers, swabbing out the liferaft and drinking the medicinal rum!

When crossing a river bar in Australia I always wear one, and I think its illegal to cross abar there without a lifejacket on.


As for children I HATE kids!!!

 

[single2coil]

Hello Med,
Just like a car, PFD's on. or we don't leave. There has never been a question about it. Especially with newbies, as they are not sure footed and familiar with the boat, nor have they found really good balance. Of course I have to wear mine.

It gives the Captain one less variable to be concerned about or distracted with.

PS: love Anancortes, went to high school there in the 60"s. Just the best place on the planet.

 

[ccriders]

I have no confidence that my guests would ever be able to expeditiously complete a man over board maneuver, and since there is no guarantee that one will hit the water in a condition to be able to swim, and since I often sail alone with a tiller pilot, I always wear my PFD.
I always instruct my guests with the whole safety brief and tell them to select a PFD and adjust it to their body giving them a choice of an inflatable or standard model. I also tell them they don't have to wear it until I tell them to do so and anytime they leave the cockpit.
I think my wearing one intimidates them into wearing one.
John

 

[Don L]

As for children I HATE kids!!!

so it is no life vest or is it a weighted vest for the kids

 

[alctel]

Yeah, always. The water is cold in the PNW, and there is a good chance that someone would go into shock once they hit the water.

Sadly I have a nice inflatable one and all the other ones are the crappy foam type - I intend to get at least one more nice inflatable.

 

[travlin-easy]

On my boat, which has a large, deep cockpit, it's an option unless you are a non-swimmer or under 16 years of age. It is mandatory if you are going forward to work the sails.

All the best,

Gary

 

[The Smokester]

Here on San Francisco Bay the water is cold, the currents swift and the wind sometimes unpredictable. My rule is everyone wears a lifejacket before we leave the dock. If we go outside the Golden Gate, jacklines are rigged and everyone is tethered when above decks. I supply high-quality inflatable PFD's for everyone and tethers for up to three.

 

[seaner97]

Yes. Nice days when I have passengers (that won't help do any sailing) and they outnumber my inflatables, I'll allow them to just have the Orange ones out but not on, but anyone that is going to do anything but just ride gets a PFD