Use of PFD's, Poll

[Jim Cate]

In our particular climate (Houston-Galveston) cold and chill factors may not be as serious a concern as in other areas. However, all the other issues are the same, what with all the red-neck power boaters out there on weekends.
(I apologize for being politically incorrect or if there are RNs on the Forum.)

Jim

[Lovekamp]

So far, we have always sailed on small inland lakes. My answer on behalf of the family is, therefore, #3. The kids wear them; guests who are not "water people" wear them. My wife occasionally wears one. The only time I have worn one is when sailing alone (I guess that makes my personal philosophy more like #5).

[Divecoz]

3 and 4

[cuisto]

Children always


Adult guests at their discression

My wife likes to wear hers in all conditions but dead calm or at anchor.

Myself...No RULES APPLY...some days its on others off..based on my sense of security..but no real rule

[delevi]

I'm a 4, but after doing some reading on this board, I'm moving up to a 1-2. I'm also planning to invest in a harness & teather.

[Robert]

I always make all the children wear their PFD except in the head. I personally always wear a PFD if on the open ocean, or rough weather, or to stay warm, or if no other adult aboard can be relied upon to stop the boat and come back to get me out of the water. Other adults can make their own choice.
..
I once had my admiral take the helm while I bent way down to adjust the starboard rudder tie down. She made a "small adjustment" in steering, I lost my balance and came up just in time to meet the boom upside my head. I did not have the PFD on, I nearly went overboard, so I put the PFD on. This was on a lake with 10 to 15 mph wind and 1 to 2 foot chop.

[norbert]

I always wear pdf if single handing, even in no wind hot summer conditions. when with crew I am a bit less consistant and use to give the pdf announcement only in bad weather conditions. but i intend to better myself...

[Catigale]

My favourite pitch for PFDs is aimed at the hormonal teenagers who dont want to wear them ..I even had the parents tell me once he swims better than all of us, so why does he need them???

I said "Fine,,,if he can pass my swim test he doesnt have to wear them...stand up there on the gunnel, Ill paste you with the boom in the head, then swim for shore......"

Point made.

The poltically correct term for the guy who wakes you with 10 feet of wake with his 1000 HP Rinker is YAHOO ...that covers both the 'Karl Rove is a namby pamby liberal" and "Why cant we get Gus Hall to run again" poltical parties

(If I havent equally offended both parties here please pm or em me personally with the subject header "PC Whining, autodelete" so that I can address your issue right away.

[Randy Smith]

3-4

On our river, I am usually very much alone and too far to swim , so if I go in, I am a gonner with or without PFD.

When family is with me, kids wear them. I do not take the kids in any weather.....there are other things to do on those days

[Dan B]

#1-me and the mate always wear them.

Others in cabin only wear them when directed to if weather seems to be turning bad.

Anyone spending extended time in cockpit has to put one one.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Here is a slighly less conservative view point:

I guess I am a 4 - Myself and other swim capable adults never wear them unless there is an imminent danger. I make kids wear them whenever they are not in the cabin. It's possible that PFD's are more dangerous in the cabin than not wearing....could pin a kid to the inverted sole if the boat turned turtle. We always do make sure that the PFD's are very accessible and never get pushed into a hole behind a bunch of other junk.

Of course, the definition of "kid" is somewhat debatable. I think the FL law says 6 and under, but I still make my 7 and 8 yr old's wear them although I'm not quite as strict as I am with my 3 and 5 yr olds about it. Of course, it all depends on how strong of a swimmer is involved (kid or adult). My kids typically start learning to swim before they learn to walk and are usually very strong swimmers by the time they are 4 or younger ... and they probably swim every other day for 8 months out of every year.

I'm pretty confident that if someone besides me goes overboard, that I can pluck them out pretty easily. What I need to practice more is what *they* would do if *I* went overboard on a moving boat. I've talked them through drills but need to actually rehearse it. Of course, I try very hard to never go overboard.

[aya16]

We mostly wear them and all guests that we like we tell them where the vests are and let them decide on wearing them. When we take out people we dont like we just tell them we dont have any and tell them how cool it is to stand on the bow and watch for widlife.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Under way, #3 to #4. Kids always wear on deck or in cockpit. They do not wear them below. My wife and I only wear if conditions are really bad, or we are doing something that would make it hard to make a quick recovery. As an example we were once pulling up anchor in a 6 knot current inside of Deception Pass. While the conditions were not threatening, I knew if I went over the side in the process there was no way I would get back to the boat in that current. I strapped on my PFD.

At rest (anchor or dock), kids under 12 wear them when not below, my oldest son and my wife and I almost never wear them.

The two younger kids still use standard foam vest PFD's. The older 3 of us use inflatables with manual deployment. I really like mine, just a simple belt pack. Nothing around the shoulders or neck. Using it takes two steps, inflating, and then putting it over your head, but having such an out of the way pfd means I actually do wear it sometimes.

[Catigale]

We mostly wear them and all guests that we like we tell them where the vests are and let them decide on wearing them. When we take out people we dont like we just tell them we dont have any and tell them how cool it is to stand on the bow and watch for widlife.

aya

...and dont forget to tell them to tie off their harness to that cinder block.....

[Russell]

The wife never leaves the dock without one but will take it off if down below.

I on the other hand have known not to wear it from time to time. Since Carole had me buy the inflatible I wear more now than I ever did. I also wear it if I am out single handing.