Roger,
Well - you know th line about old-bold pilots Same - Same

About auto-inflate harnes lifejackets.

Get them for the family. Go someplace that has a real good collection
of a least Sospenders and Mustang. You may have to go to more than one
place. Try one everything you can find - have the family do the same -
DO NOT look at price tags. When you find what you like buy it. If it
is not comforatable, you may not want to wear it at some time. Also get
the re-arm kit to keep in something really watertight.

Get the cartridges weighed anually and before fit-out blow them up with
the little tube and let them sit for a day. I have had two cartridges
lose weight with no sign of distress.

My first one is now 17 seasons old but has recently been reassigned to
light duty because of visible "seabag" wear. Both my wife and I have
used ours (as distinct from wearing). OK - the first thought when you
hear it go off is "damn - there goes 20~30$"

We currently keep a full complement on board. They are always on over
foulweather gear and any time we are short handed or things are less
than wonderful (yes - most of the time.)

Wear them in health.

Matt Colie A.Sloop "Bonne Ide'e"
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Congenital Sailor





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'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.