The Great Life Jacket Debate

Although the Lifeline jackets are the best on the market IMO, they are not U.S. Coast Guard approved (an issue of high cost of certification and relatively low production volume) it can be a problem if stopped for a 'safety' check on-the-water by law enforcement (better have some of those attractive orange horse-collar ones on-board just to be safe). Also, don't assume that your 'race' jacket or your 'high-performance sport' jacket will automatically turn and float you face-up in case of a bad accident -- it may not. Although they are designed for that purpose, body type, height, weight, clothing, driving suit, etc. may prevent that from happening. The only way to know for sure is to head to the nearest swimming pool, buckle-up and take a full speed running leap (try it several times with several different entry positions). Once you hit the water, go limp (no cheating). If you're not floating on your back, face-up in thirty seconds, that jacket needs to go back to the manufacturer and have them modify the flotation material (if you take pictures or a short video of your swimming pool trials, it will help get the problem solved). Remember, if the jacket has leg straps, those should be very loose so the jacket can ride-up around your neck and under your chin for more support where you need it.

I posted this on your FB as well. I'm willing to bet it gets deleted.

Vic (HotBoat), I know you heard about the accident at Folsom Lake that claimed the lives of our friends two weeks ago. Your thread and comments about life vests is not only poor timing but shows that you and your website have no class and will do anything to get views.

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Originally Posted by boat411

I posted this on your FB as well. I'm willing to bet it gets deleted.

Vic (HotBoat), I know you heard about the accident at Folsom Lake that claimed the lives of our friends two weeks ago. Your thread and comments about life vests is not only poor timing but shows that you and your website have no class and will do anything to get views.

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Life jackets have been a debated topic forever. This thread and the topic has absolutely nothing to do with that accident or your friends. If you think it does I apologize.

I did not delete the FB thread. I'm not sure who did. But I will find out.

No class? It that's what you think I won't even attempt to change your mind. You said your friends. So I'm am sorry for your loss. But this topic and thread has absolutely nothing to do with that accident.

HB


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I just checked with the only other person who has access to the hotboat FB account. He did not delete anything. So that means the OP had to delete it.


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Originally Posted by Hotboat

There have been a few recent boat incidents involving boaters operating their boats without life jackets. Both recreational boaters and racers have lost their lives in boating accidents over the past several months to a year.

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Originally Posted by Hotboat

This thread and the topic has absolutely nothing to do with that accident or your friends. If you think it does I apologize.

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Really? Name one other recreational accident in the last year. I lost a lot of respect for you.

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Originally Posted by boat411

Really? Name one other recreational accident in the last year. I lost a lot of respect for you.

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There have been a few Grads. Have a good night.


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Originally Posted by Hotboat

There have been a few Grads. Have a good night.


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More than a few. Coast Guard stats show 2013 as safer than 2012.

The fatality rate for 2013 of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reflected a 13 percent decrease from the previous year's rate of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Property damage totaled approximately $39 million.
"We are pleased that there have been fewer accidents on waterways in recent years and thank our partners for their work," said Capt. Jon Burton, director of inspections and compliance at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. "Together we will continue to stress the importance of life jacket use, boating education courses and sober boating."
The report states alcohol use was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 16 percent of deaths. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed and machinery failure ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.
Where the cause of death was known, 77 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned; of those drowning victims, 84 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Where boating instruction was known, 20 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received boating safety instruction. The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats.

The full article can be read here: http://lakeexpo.com/news/lake_news/a...a4bcf887a.html
Or go to the USCG document here: http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/...atingStats.pdf

77% is a big number in my book and it is easy to bring that number down.

Deleting, hiding and banning. Nothing new to see here

I went out on the Delta yesterday and all 4 of us wore jackets all day.

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Originally Posted by gn7

Deleting, hiding and banning. Nothing new to see here

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What was deleted??


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Originally Posted by Hotboat

I did not delete the FB thread. I'm not sure who did. But I will find out.


HB

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Originally Posted by Hotboat

What was deleted??

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Nothing. There never is.

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Originally Posted by Hotboat

I just checked with the only other person who has access to the hotboat FB account. He did not delete anything. So that means the OP had to delete it.


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Originally Posted by gn7

Nothing. There never is.

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You missed a quote. Nothing was.

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Originally Posted by SnoC653

You missed a quote. Nothing was.

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There never is.
I've been known to delete/hide a few posts of my own. So I've been told.

I say......wear a good life jacket or vest, the newer ones are pretty comfortable too. Hopefully, you'll not need the protection, but that precludes the idea that the person operating the watercraft is using common sense, I.E. not going above cruising speeds with passengers, not overloaded, not intoxicated, crossing waves properly, etc,etc. LSD wasn't illegal to use until people started abusing the drug, fender laws for hot rods, exhaust decibel limits, all at one time were unrestricted until PEOPLE kept abusing things. Lawmakers love to use idiots as their example of everyday America to pass laws, and lawsuits keep Lawyers in a new BMW every year. So...stop feeding the fire....don't operate your boat like an idiot, and wear a good vest!

Welcome Spike.



CH3NO2

Regulating common sense and self preservation by gov. mandate is never a good idea. There is little doubt that, eventually, there will be required boat operators permit that will be obtained by paying for a Gov. approved or taught "safety course".
Like most things the gov requires in the name of safety, it will be a revenue generator, and branch into regs that resemble 49 CFR.

While it may seem like a good thing to "require" this or that, you just can't regulate stupid, and you can not mandate common sense.
Case in point, Drunk driving.
Every single person not in a coma knows it is illegal to drink and drive.
Who here is 100% not guilty? (I know there are a few)


I had a DUI. From arrest to end 3 years later it cost me about 20k. NOT ONCE in the process was safety or dangers with drunk driving mentioned.
Not from the LEO with his boot on my neck, the loser dyke intake officer, the judge who was running about 30 DUI cases through before noon, the court monkey who I gave $150.00 to so I could be analyzed for level of corrective counciling required to correct me, the MADD mother seminar I had to pay to attend, the 3 days of incarceration, the 3 years of SR22, etc.
The ONLY topic ever discussed or decided during this process was how much I would pay.

Having ranted on with that, I will say that my love of fast, loud, insane looking boats is in part a conscious decision to remove myself from doing that on the street.
Having a division 7 points earning super street Nova tended to cost me a lot in violations, so I trailered it and just raced.
Fun for 10 seconds at a time, at about 50 bucks a second minimum.
So I took a ride in a 5 rib Sanger one day and the light bulb came on!!!


Now we are discussing bringing the rules of commuting to the last vestige of affordable recreation and enjoyment?
I don't think so.

"Let's make a life vest law"? Seriously?
"Let's make a license law" Are you kidding me?

We wear our high dollar vests while under way 100% now.
Have I pegged it without the vest? Yes I have, and I always think how foolish it was later on.
NO ONE rides without a vest I approve of or supply.

A person that can afford a half million dollar, 150 MPH boat can do as they wish. Personally, I would have a few HP boat classes under my belt before I turned the key on such a machine. We are way past bobbers at that point.

So yeah, wear the vest or be an idiot.
But at least own a fucking boat before trying to dictate law and regs on me and my hobby.

God I love drunk posting!!!!

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Originally Posted by spike morelli

I say......wear a good life jacket or vest, the newer ones are pretty comfortable too. Hopefully, you'll not need the protection, but that precludes the idea that the person operating the watercraft is using common sense, I.E. not going above cruising speeds with passengers, not overloaded, not intoxicated, crossing waves properly, etc,etc. LSD wasn't illegal to use until people started abusing the drug, fender laws for hot rods, exhaust decibel limits, all at one time were unrestricted until PEOPLE kept abusing things. Lawmakers love to use idiots as their example of everyday America to pass laws, and lawsuits keep Lawyers in a new BMW every year. So...stop feeding the fire....don't operate your boat like an idiot, and wear a good vest!

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WOT or stay on the bank.

My 9yo grandson is doing 70 MPH in my sig pic.

Note vest...happy?
Yeah I got a hand on the wheel, don't freak out on me.

He knows how to hit recall on the auto meter gps and he seen that Grandma Deb did 80mph.
He's pissed.
Told me this summer he is going 80 or pretty much he's done visiting.

Are the auto inflate jackets any good??


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Originally Posted by Hotboat

Are the auto inflate jackets any good??


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It depends on the speed you are going. The only auto inflate jackets I have worn are the lifeline ones. They are probably the best auto inflate jackets you can buy, but I don't know if they would stay on at high speed since they don't have crotch straps. I have been 115 wearing one of the auto inflates in a larger boat. I wouldn't be comfortable wearing one at that speed in a flat or hydro.

I have a lifeline race jacket, but when I go fast in a flat or hydro I usually wear a chute jacket with thigh straps. My race jacket would be OK, but not as good as a chute jacket. Just like a ski vest could work at 90 mph, but a lifeline would be much better.

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