On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 16:16:11 GMT, "Roger Long"
wrote:
Since we're all excited about the new boat right now, I'm thinking of buying
some safety gear for the wife and kids for Christmas. Knowing I'm thinking
about keeping them attached the boat should make her feel warm and fuzzy.
I've been looking at the safety harnesses that have a built in CO2
lifejacket. Pricey, but they look comfortable to wear and you don't have to
worry about digging up a harness if things get hairy. I'd appreciate some
experience / or comments on these.
We have been using those for several years. They are light enough to
wear comfortably on all but the hottest days on the Hudson. On the
Maine coast you could make them mandatory without mutiny I am quite
sure.
You should test them periodically(which costs a new cartridge). We had
one that we hadn't tested for about 6 years that proved to have a leak
at wone of the corners that jut when the bladder is folded. The only
thing I can think of is the tip of the corner chafed against the cover
when the device was worn by an active sailor.
We're in Maine and most of our cruising will probably be to even colder
regions. The Mustang coats look great but are probably too warm for summer.
Growing kids (12 and 14) will go through them fast.
Safety perception is a funny thing. My wife is petrified to have me take the
kids up in my well maintained airplane in clear calm conditions but sees no
danger in boating at all. Now that I'm coming back to sailing after learning
to fly and think very proactively about safety and what can go wrong, I can
see about 100 more ways to hurt or lose a kid on the water than in the air.
When I started to learn how to fly, everyone who had ever sailed with me
said that there was no way in hell that they would ever get in an airplane
with me. I turned out to be a very cautious and conservative pilot; even
became a contributor to "Aviation Safety" magazine. I think I'm going to be
a very different kind of sailor when we get the boat launched.
Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC
Let's Put the XXX back in Xmas
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