LIfe jacket versus wetstuit

I've been sailing recently with my 3mm steamer (long arms/legs) wetsuit only without a life jacket (becuase it blew out of my trailer on my way to go sailing a few months ago).

There's a lot of good advice to always wear a life jacket when on the water which I totally agree with. But I've always considered a wetsuit as being the equivalent of wearing a life jacket (i.e. if I'm wearing a full steamer wetsuit I don't need to wear a life jacket).

My sister in law told me off the other day which caused me to question if my reasoning was sound. I always wear the steamer wetsuit and consider myself being sensible. Or should I wear a steamer wetsuit AND a life jacket? What do others think?

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Anthony
88 H16 "Moonshine"

With the exception of days where there is no wind. I have a life jacket on everytime, all the time. Even when there is no wind I still wear it out, I just end up taking it off to swim or drink.

I don't know what the regulations are in NZ, but here in the US, the Coast Guard requires a USCG certified PFD (personal flotation device) on-board for every person.

Their reference page:
http://www.uscgboating.org/SAFETY/fedreqs/equ_pfd.htm

The most common type of PFD worn by sailors is a Type III:


A wetsuit does not provide adequate flotation, nor is it in the right areas to keep your head out of the water.

If someone was unconscious, a life jacket would hold their head above the water while a wet suit would not.

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Jeff
Hobie 18 "Blue Jeanne"

Life Jackets are designed for more than just flotation.
Not wearing one may be the last decision some one makes.

Test this out in your wet suit.
Jump into the water and float like you would if unconcious.
Is your face far enough out of the water to breath?
If you were in the water and you had a broken arm or a seperated shoulder and it hurt too much to move, would you float high enough to breath easily?
Remember you are hurting and you will be beathing hard. You may be in the water quite a while till some one else can lift you out.

Remember it may not be your fault that you end up in the water.

Life Jackets are designed to keep you afloat and properly oriented.
Life Jackets arre designed for visibility.
And there are many Life Jacket designed to be quite comfortable.

While on the water I want to be having fun and not worrying about any of these issues.

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Mike Hensel
'86 Hobie 18, '93 Hobie 14, '80 Hobie 14(restso in progress)
Wind in your sails, water in your shoes, great day!

I agree with everyone's responses. Life jackets literally save lives. I think it is a really bad desicion to go out without one. Like Mike Hensel said, it may not be your fault that you end up in the drink. And how tired are you going to be after a few hours of sailing? And in cold water how quickly are you going to become fatigued with all of the energy required to either tred water or swim, not to mention if your dealing with ocean swells. And what happens, God forbid I hope it happens to no one, your boat drifts away from you after a dunk in the drink? Most life jackets are either brightly colored or have reflective strips on them for that very reason. The majority of wetsuits I've come across tend to be darkly colored.

I too wear one of the type III (low profile)(lotus sherman) vests and it is extremely comfortable. I'd say invest in a nice jacket that you know you'll be comfy in so your are inclined to always wear it! But I will admit, I have taken mine of on the lake when the wind has died and I was forced to paddle in

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

Don't forget that a life jacket can also keep you from getting hurt if you hit something. (extra padding). Kinda like a bike helmet, a pain to wear but great when you go over the handle bars.

I always wear my lifejacket unless we are playing BOB. (no wind bouncing around in the powerboat waves )

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1989 Hobie 18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker
1987 Hobie Holder 20 #273

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

I wear my vest 95% of the time... 5% is when the wind is dead and it's nice and hot out and I'm basically just working on my tan.

lifejacket vs. wetsuit?
That's easy...lifejacket wins.
I'm glad you didn't use pfd.
Takes the seriousness out of it, it is all about saving a LIFE.

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

Guys:

If you ever get dumped from a broken trap line, YOU WILL always wear a vest.

Doug

I've gotten dumped from perfectly good trap line!

I've also been thrown upside down, and forward 18 feet. I didn't have a clue to which way was up. I just held my breath (the alternative wasn't that great), and waited for my LIFE jacket to pop me up.

Remeber the old adage about motorcycle helmets? "If you've got a $10 head, then buy a $10 dollar helmet."
Well, you get the point...

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2003 Tiger - Don Atchley

Wear a life jacket - it gives the sharks a little more to chew through before they can get to ya bones....

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Hobie 14 Turbo, based in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

I was windsurfing once out in a big lake and after a while I was pretty tired and when I lost it the board dis-masted. First I went for the mast to re-attch it then I looked around to see the board taking off. I tried swimming to catch up with the board but it was blowing away pretty quick without the sea anchor effect of the mast. It was then that I took a deep breath and let the life jacket keep me afloat out in the middle of a big lake. Back then wearing a life jacket was optional for me. That day I chose to wear one. I was so lucky that I did that day.
I never would have made it to shore. It would have curtains for this sailor.
I wear a life jacket every time I'm on a boat now. Every time. You never plan to be in the water, it happens by surprise. Be prepared.

I always ask my students, 'I know we can all swim, but how well do we swim when we are unconcious?' May none of us ever get whacked on the head with the boom, and may we all wear life jackets all the time. Just plain common sense.

Roll on spring, minus 30C last night.

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2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

So if what everone has not sunk in. Get a life jacket with a pocket, put stuff in the pocket and wear the life jacket so you can get to your stuff. Oh, and by the way, if you happen to get knocked off the boat by a boom wack of an unscheduled jibe, when you come to........ well you get the picture. If you go out on the wire consider a shorty vest.