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Post by dutyfree on Mar 14, 2022 9:23:36 GMT 12
Did the course last weekend in Whangarei, two days.
Well worth it even if you are not planning to leave NZ via boat. Made me think a lot about our safety approach at a general level.
Taught me I never want to be in a liferaft! It was bloody horrible even in a pool.
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Post by GO30 on Mar 14, 2022 11:40:39 GMT 12
It's a good fun course to do just for general experience as well.... assuming the instructors are good ones. Yeah, being dumped face down into 300mm of water under 5 dudes in what feels like space only for 4, and all at 7:30am on a Sunday, was educational as well as a 'been there done that, no need to again' experience. But 3 years later it turned out to be worth it, I jumped first this time  I was a tad surprised that on 2 of the courses a couple of 'names' took no effort at all to show me their rep seemed to be more mythical that factual. |
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Post by ComfortZone on Mar 14, 2022 20:12:17 GMT 12
Did the course last weekend in Whangarei, two days.
Well worth it even if you are not planning to leave NZ via boat. Made me think a lot about our safety approach at a general level.
Taught me I never want to be in a liferaft! It was bloody horrible even in a pool.
The course also highlighted for me the "luxury" of having a face shield on your life jacket when the instructor sprayed the hose straight in your face. Also reflect on the situation the crew of Essence faced when they had to go into the water after the yacht sank under them. Makes you start to think about survival suits |
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Post by GO30 on Mar 23, 2022 17:06:26 GMT 12
The course also highlighted for me the "luxury" of having a face shield on your life jacket when the instructor sprayed the hose straight in your face. Also reflect on the situation the crew of Essence faced when they had to go into the water after the yacht sank under them. Makes you start to think about survival suits Hell yes, 100000% agree with you on the face shield. The other thing that became very apparent and did so within seconds was crutch straps are a 100% MUST HAVE. I didn't have one so bodged a bit of string which worked OK. On Monday morning I brought 6 straps and fitted them to my jackets.
I have a Cat 0 jacket and one day playing I popped one off. The face shield I didn't know it had came over like a mouse trap, it scared the crap out of me. But after using it in waves no way would I not have one today.
2 very key things I learnt both of which will contribute a shed load of extra hours floating around awaiting a big grey bird or a surface vessel. I'd say with a lot of confidence the crutch strap alone would add hours possibly days to how long you'd last. The difference between having one and not is about the same as the speed difference between a MotoGP Ducati and a slightly rotten tomato.
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Post by fish on Mar 23, 2022 17:19:56 GMT 12
On the crotch strap, many don't like them for risk of catching on things or damaging the family jewels. I always ring my LJ's with 2 crotch straps, climbing harness style. From the waist strap they go down the back, either side of the family jewels and back onto the waist strap kind of where the hip bone is, i.e. off to the side. Moving the back attachment point around towards the side of the hip can help as well, but often doesn't work unless you modify the attachment points. Far more comfy for sitting in (both as in sitting down, and in suspended in, as in water), and moving, and if you get it right and it is fully like a climbing harness, you can keep them tight around the upper thigh so they don't move (avoiding risk to the family jewels) don't catch on anything. A single crotch strap can be a nightmare. Especially if it goes directly from the back to the middle of the front. Edit: the link below shows a pic of a climbing harness with full loops around the upper thigh, this is the basic principle of 2 crotch straps, but taken further for ease of movement and ultimate comfort while swinging around in it. One strap is just painful... rope-master.com/en/seat-harnesses/3916-1712-seat-harness-top-various-colors.html?SubmitCurrency=1&id_currency=10&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5-WRBhCKARIsAAId9Flbtv8_QG8k3MV_OeJGfODRHtAqUbCRmaB9wwd1UXcN515EgZzaBqsaArbGEALw_wcB |
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Post by GO30 on Mar 23, 2022 17:24:58 GMT 12
Mine are single but with a little tweaking they haven't proved to be much of a catch hazard. But I have on occasion taken a huge step from the cockpit up onto the cabin top quickly without thinking, it's about then the strap makes it's presence very well known and the voices pitch raise considerably  |
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