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shueman

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,6:34 am

Post # 1

Ninety percent of deaths in boating are from drowning.

Eighty percent of the victims were not wearing a personal floatation device.

The Coast Guard doesn't say so, but probably close to 100 percent of the boating public doesn't wear PFDs or life jackets because they are big and bulky - and who wants to wear one when the weather is so nice?

So what is the solution?

The Boat Owners Association of The United States has come up with an idea that might provide one: A contest to design a better life jacket.

BoatU.S. is calling for "out-of-the-box entries" for a life jacket that is comfortable. The winner gets $5,000.

Ruth Wood, president of BoatU.S., said boaters aren't wearing life jackets as they should, and the inflatable variety, which are a more comfortable fit, are too expensive.

Wood hopes someone will design a life jacket that retails for less than $30.

"I'm hoping what will come of this will be ideas for the next generation of personal floatation devices and life jackets that are inexpensive, and when you wear one you don't know you have it on," Wood said.

"That's where we need to get, so more people will put them on."

The contest, also designed to bring awareness of the importance of wearing a life jacket, aims to draw armchair inventors, high school science clubs, collegiate design programs and anyone else who has a creative idea.

The deadline is Dec. 15. Visit www.BoatUS.com for details.

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shueman

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,6:39 am

Post # 2

I will have to admit that we don't wear a jacket 100% of the time, but it is within easy reach.

1. Rough water, crowded conditions, yes.
2. Wide open spaces, smooth water, a lot of times no.
3. Floating no; swimming by the boat, yes.
4. Kids ALWAYS have them on when in the boat or in the water.
5. No one gets on board without one.

I'm up for something thinner & lighter.

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tunamaster Male

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,6:55 am

Post # 3

The only time I wear a life jacket is when I'm on my waverunner or jumping off of some rocks.

Every man bleeds, just like me.

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mrs flyin vee Female

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,8:07 am

Post # 4

depends on the condition of the water and the speed we are going. the kids have theirs on at all times even just playing in the water. I have a fear of them floating away.

Become a Havasu Doug Bikini Team Member today. p.m Silver or myself for details.

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HAKUNA MA"TATA" Male

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,9:18 am

Post # 5

The kids 100% of the time. I wear one when swimming with the kids cause they climb on you. I will only wear them in the boat if we test new set ups or conditions and or speed warrent.

DON'T POKE THE BEAR!

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Duke

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,10:45 am

Post # 6

Whats a life vest? :stupid

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GlassMan

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,11:08 am

Post # 7

I guess its time to put my money where my mouth is ...so to speak. I'm adamant about seat belts in the car, we don't move an inch without them. Yet I'm lax about the vests. Of course the little ones wear them absolutely all the time.

But that won't help them if I get knocked overboard will it? Even my "Outlaw" ski vest is a bit bulky to wear all the time.

I've looked at the self inflating models...but they are pricey and you look a little like Engineer Bob wearing them. (Hmm, might be an improvement?)

Guess I'll have to invent something huh? :stupid

It's a fact of Life:

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Kim Hanson Male

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,11:21 am

Post # 8

Never even at 100+mph.Its raw baby, but all the kids wear them................( . )( . )............

Forgot the picture :stupid

Edited by Kim Hanson on Mar. 31 2005,11:25 am

Attached Image

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,11:43 am

Post # 9

Kids, 100% of the time. They are not allowed to take them off until we are beached or at our destination and leaving the boat. We have tried to be good examples for them and wear ours about 50% (we could stand to try harder). Of course we always wear them in rough water and at extreme speeds on open water because you never know......

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procraftkev Male

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,12:16 pm

Post # 10

Im not a very good example, I dont were one unless skiing or wake boarding. Ill be the first to say i should. I grew up around boating when I was a kid my mom allways made us were them till about sixteen and then just kinda stoped. My kids are over eighteen so its not a big issue with them. But if they could come up with one that was not bulky maybe there would be a better chance I and others would wear them. :cool

Kickn it @ Havasu!

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RexRathburn Male

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,1:05 pm

Post # 11

I guess the only time I wear one is if I'm being pulled behind the boat on something...or wearing one like a diaper in a cove. :good

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Sleek-Jet

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Posted: Mar. 31 2005,1:07 pm

Post # 12

Kachina Ken posted a link to some jackets that inflate when they come in contact with the water. Â They are billed as off shore perfomance boat life perservers and are coast guard rated as type III when worn, or Type V when not. Â Kinda spendy at 200.00 a piece, but they basically look like a slim vest with a strap around the back. Â Poker Run Life Line vests start at 230.00 and I'm sure end up costing double that before you're done ordering. Â

There was discussion on them not providing much protection in case of you exiting the boat at high rates of speed. Â I look at it like this; if I hit the water at about 60 mph or so, a regular ski vest is going to come off, or come apart. Â I think they only thing that would provide protection in that senerio would be a full on Life Line jacket, but there is no way I'm goin to wear one of those at the lake.

Here's the link to the inflatable vests:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp....=221657

Edited by Sleek-Jet on Mar. 31 2005,1:20 pm

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Posted: April 01 2005,5:14 am

Post # 13

I won't go in the boat without my Lifeline and kill switch hooked up!.. I use the "poker run" jacket, it's light weight and it has restraint straps so it won't come off!.. :good

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Posted: April 01 2005,8:30 pm

Post # 14

The yellow on her vests shoulders doesn't look like much now,, but in the water it's a HUGE difference.
You can really see her when she falls wakeboarding and is in the water.

My first reaction is 100% throttle, 180 degree turn - and get between her and on coming river traffic,,, often jerk PWC's or drunk boaters - so the yellow is a BFD,, in all sincerity,, you really can spot her better.

Hard to find Vests with color in the shoulders any more. Should be a standard requirement when you buy a vest.

Edited by Trailer Park Casanova on April 01 2005,8:38 pm

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Posted: April 01 2005,8:45 pm

Post # 15

Quote (GoFastRacer @ April 01 2005,6:14 am)

I won't go in the boat without my Lifeline and kill switch hooked up!.. I use the "poker run" jacket, it's light weight and it has restraint straps so it won't come off!.. :good

Well I guess you were the other person who voted always as I was the other.I can't believe some of the responses like they are within reach,or not if we are going slow,etc. A life vest is like a seatbelt in a car for boaters.They don't do much good after you have been thrown from the boat and knocked out.and the "It's within reach one" is like trying to buckle your seatbelt in the middle of an accident.I won't let anyone ride in my boat without their vest on.

Fords All The Way

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teachercop Male

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Posted: April 01 2005,8:48 pm

Post # 16

Â Are breast implants a suitable substitute?? :good

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GoFastRacer Male

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Posted: April 01 2005,8:51 pm

Post # 17

Nice jacket for skiing but anything over 70mph and it's history if your arms happen to be extended!..

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JetBoatRich Male

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Posted: April 03 2005,7:45 pm

Post # 18

If an emergency happened, how quick could you get to your vest :confused

a lot of the smaller boats keep them up under the bow.

A couple years ago, I was having lunch with someone and they said his brother had his boat out on Lake Mojave. Pulling the kids around on a tube, boat died and took on some water in the rear(low profile boat) ended up going down quick, the only one's who got the vest were the two kids, who had them on. Boat went down with no time to get a vests for mom and dad, took the tube down with it. Until a couple minutes later the tube came up. Probably save their lives, something to hold on to. After 20 minutes they were spotted by another boat and saved.

Rethink where you keep your vest

JetBoatRich

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STV_Keith

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Posted: April 03 2005,8:02 pm

Post # 19

Always. Specifically bought a jacket that would be comfortable so I didn't have an excuse not to wear it. Lifeline Poker Run in yellow.

Keith-

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Posted: April 04 2005,2:42 pm

Post # 20

I have to admit I don't wear it often enough. Usually in rough conditions or if I'm out goofing off a little. Rarely do I do much of anything crazy with the wife/children in the boat.
Kids ALWAYS have them on.......no exceptions.

Ain't life Grand? Treat it that way.
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Mirvin

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Posted: April 04 2005,2:58 pm

Post # 21

I wore one this weekend....but only cuz the driver of the twin turbo Hallet V-drive told me too :good

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BigBoyToys Male

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Posted: April 04 2005,9:47 pm

Post # 22

I ALWAYS wear a jacket and everyone in my boat does too, or else they ain't in my boat. Over the past 25 years or so, I have seen many accidents on the water and some that resulted in fatalities. I even saw a boat sink once, where the boat was stopped, sitting still, and the driver drowned when he got pulled under by the river current added to the boat sucking him down.
It only takes a few seconds to strap one on, but takes alot more time to care for someone in a hospital, or worse, make funeral arrangements!
I say, drop the manly man attitudes (Nobody gives a $hit about your pecs anyways), and strap on a good jacket and live to play another day.

Just my .02 :eek

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GoFastRacer Male

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Posted: April 05 2005,6:02 am

Post # 23

Quote (BigBoyToys @ April 04 2005,10:47 pm)

I ALWAYS wear a jacket and everyone in my boat does too, or else they ain't in my boat. Â Over the past 25 years or so, I have seen many accidents on the water and some that resulted in fatalities. Â I even saw a boat sink once, where the boat was stopped, sitting still, and the driver drowned when he got pulled under by the river current added to the boat sucking him down.
It only takes a few seconds to strap one on, but takes alot more time to care for someone in a hospital, or worse, make funeral arrangements!
I say, drop the manly man attitudes (Nobody gives a $hit about your pecs anyways), and strap on a good jacket and live to play another day.

Just my .02 :eek

Amen my brotha!.. :good

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Sleek-Jet

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Posted: April 05 2005,6:54 am

Post # 24

OK, so how do you Lifeline guys get around the CG requiremant for approved jackets on the boat??? Do you have a couple of the old Type II vests up under the bow to keep "the man" happy????

I've been looking at lifeline's for myself and probably my brother (since he'll be with me at the lake/river most of the time), but they are not CG approved as far as I can tell.

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GlassMan

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Posted: April 05 2005,9:21 am

Post # 25

I don't know why, but you guys have heeped some heavy guilt on me with this...Thanks alot Shueman!

I think I can get a deal on the auto inflate type from Stearns (they acquired SOSpenders). I used to have a connection for the Mustang, but I can't get ahold of him. :rolleyes

It's a fact of Life:

After Monday and Tuesday, even the Calendar says : WTF .......

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54 replies since Mar. 31 2005,6:34 am

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