Life jackets in cloths washer?

[gm280]

I read all the comments and my $0.01 1/2 cents is, take a few dollars and just buy replacements. I don't know how many life preservers you are talking about, but even if it were 10, a few dollars is a heck of a lot less then any medical intervention that could happen if they were now defective. Even it if were a few hundred dollars to replace. Knowing everybody is protected is way better then a simple "Maybe they are still good"!

Sad that we always want the absolute best for the boat or the engine but will cut corners with the serious items. JMHO!

 

[H20Rat]

I'm all for safety, but lifejackets aren't exactly some mysterious black box that can't be tested! The test is pretty easy... Put on the life jacket, jump in, float around for awhile. Are you still floating at a safe level? (yes/no)

 

[JoLin]

Smoke, 'floating around for awhile' isn't really a good test. No PFD (especially the 'inshore' type most boaters use) will keep you afloat indefinitely. The foam will eventually become waterlogged. If the foam is broken up (possible if it's agitated in a washing machine), the pieces present more surface area and the PFD absorbs water quicker than it would if it was in a solid block. Age also plays a factor in how long the foam will keep you afloat.

My .02

 

[StarTed]

I hear you and agree with all the safety advise. In addition, I'll add that not wearing a PFD can be like not having one. In an emergency there may not be time to even think about putting it on. I'll bet most of the excellent PFDs are stowed away because they are either not convenient to wear or it affects our egos.

I was in a canoe that rolled in the Skagit River and know that there is NO time to even think about putting one on. I also had a son who's boat capsized due to some reckless jet ski operator and again he had his PFD on so he could attend to the situation of the rest of his family who also had on PFDs.

If you're really serious about the quality of your PFD then also wear it. Enough said.

 

[H20Rat]

Smoke, 'floating around for awhile' isn't really a good test. No PFD (especially the 'inshore' type most boaters use) will keep you afloat indefinitely. The foam will eventually become waterlogged. If the foam is broken up (possible if it's agitated in a washing machine), the pieces present more surface area and the PFD absorbs water quicker than it would if it was in a solid block. Age also plays a factor in how long the foam will keep you afloat.

My .02

Not saying that isn't correct, but my life jackets tend to be used as floats for kids (and adults) when we are hanging around on the anchored boats. There have been people wearing or using life jackets for floaties for 6-8 hours in a day, and they all have sufficiently safe flotation levels that are the same as new. They are all fairly decent quality life jackets meant for watersports, no orange horse collars.

In any case, my test is still valid. If it floats you for a certain length of time after washing, it probably is going to behave the same next time you use it. If after floating around, you pull the life jacket out and it weights 40 pounds and drips water for the next 3 hours, it probably isn't good. I'm not saying washing them is a good idea, just that the test post-wash is easy and fairly conclusive.

 

[Stumpalump]

I hear you and agree with all the safety advise. In addition, I'll add that not wearing a PFD can be like not having one. In an emergency there may not be time to even think about putting it on. I'll bet most of the excellent PFDs are stowed away because they are either not convenient to wear or it affects our egos.

I was in a canoe that rolled in the Skagit River and know that there is NO time to even think about putting one on. I also had a son who's boat capsized due to some reckless jet ski operator and again he had his PFD on so he could attend to the situation of the rest of his family who also had on PFDs.

If you're really serious about the quality of your PFD then also wear it. Enough said.

When I ran with the go fast crowd the best driver in our group said "I can't swim worth a dam if I crash and my foot is shoved up my arse so I'm wearing my PFD." A lot of drown bodies are recovered with a bump on the head. They were good swimmers but after a slip caused a cleat to the noggin they drown. 50% of drown recovered male bodies have their fly down. The wiz off the side killed them. The majority of the grime on my jackets came from daily use. It came from constantly moving, storing and using. I don't always have it on but if it's not an absolutely perfect slow cruise on an empty lake conditions that jacket is on. If wearing an improperly clean one has me donning it a little more often, wearing on a crowded dock or eases the pain for non regular user to put on then that washing machine stunt of mine paid off. As you refer I'll say .... Put the dang thing on. I'll never forget the double 2' long snot trails coming out of the nose of the first floater I found.

 

[thumpar]

When I ran with the go fast crowd the best driver in our group said "I can't swim worth a dam if I crash and my foot is shoved up my arse so I'm wearing my PFD." A lot of drown bodies are recovered with a bump on the head. They were good swimmers but after a slip caused a cleat to the noggin they drown. 50% of drown recovered male bodies have their fly down. The wiz off the side killed them. The majority of the grime on my jackets came from daily use. It came from constantly moving, storing and using. I don't always have it on but if it's not an absolutely perfect slow cruise on an empty lake conditions that jacket is on. If wearing an improperly clean one has me donning it a little more often, wearing on a crowded dock or eases the pain for non regular user to put on then that washing machine stunt of mine paid off. As you refer I'll say .... Put the dang thing on. I'll never forget the double 2' long snot trails coming out of the nose of the first floater I found.

But for a few bucks is it worth the risk? It is probably the cheapest thing on a boat. Mine get replaced about every 5 years except for the really fancy $100+ dollar ones that hardly ever see water.

 

[GA_Boater]

Is 45 bucks for 4 Type II's in a carrying bag too much to spend for possibly saving a life?

http://www.iboats.com/TYPEII-ADULT-...895223--session_id.437683000--view_id.1386195

I don't recommend outside of iboats for much, but if cost is an issue and it will save someone's life, Wallyworld is a good place to look.


http://www.walmart.com/ip/Onyx-4-Pack-Type-II-Vests-In-Stowage-Bag-Adult-Universal/35911202

 

[thumpar]

I haven't seen that carry bag before. That is a great idea.

 

[GA_Boater]

I haven't seen that carry bag before. That is a great idea.

Buy the one from iboats, Thump. Please. No, I don't get a commission, in fact I'm still waiting for my Mod first paycheck. LOL

 

[Frank Acampora]

Stump: Understand that on this forum you are dealing with a lot of conservative fellows and that is not necessarily a bad thing. You will also hear from the "Gloom and Doom" Contingent.

If you have washed your vests in the clothes washer and gotten good results -- hey, good for you. HOWEVER: If your vests do state "do not dry clean or machine wash," then if at some future date you have a problem, don't come crying to the forum. Remember: If this problem does cause harm to a person, it will be on your conscience. As captain you have the responsibility to keep your guests safe, not looking good.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Heck as far as gloom and doom one could potentially face charges or at least liability.

Honestly tho we are beating a dead horse....

The overwhelming majority feels that this is a bad idea but the o/p has made his choice to ignore us.... Done deal..... Not much reason for us to keep preaching to him.

 

[Stumpalump]

Is 45 bucks for 4 Type II's in a carrying bag too much to spend for possibly saving a life?

http://www.iboats.com/TYPEII-ADULT-W...iew_id.1386195

I don't recommend outside of iboats for much, but if cost is an issue and it will save someone's life, Wallyworld is a good place to look.


http://www.walmart.com/ip/Onyx-4-Pac...ersal/35911202

Those are great if the boat is sinking or the law stops you to count your jackets. Most adults won't wear them. When the last time you saw a boat load of people all wearing those orange horse collars? Never? One of the ones I washed was a nice neutral tan colored Stearns. Looks great and super simple to get a passenger to put it on. The other one is an expensive looking one like the law men wear. It's got a flotation collar, PLB pocket, flashing led and Solas reflective tape. They thing is probably 60 bucks or more. I use it at night or severe conditions. I'll take those old machine washed jackets that actually get worn over 6 cases of those that are so uncomfortable and un cool that the manufacture even knows that those that those that buy them only plan on satisfying a law. They are so useless as far as the ability to get passengers to ware them that they give you the bag that they know will never be opened. So y'all buy them, keep them tucked away in a bag and out of an evil cloths washer and I'll ware one of my useless ,dangerous, liability of a vest that will sink like a rock. Raise your hand if you and your crew wear orange horse collars?

Mod EDIT: abbreviated, or not, profanity unecessary

Dont comment if you carry them to satisfy the law and have zero intent on asking your crew to ware them.

 

[jbcurt00]

Stump, you did ask a question, then disagreed w the offered opinions.

Why is it a surprise that then your decision to proceed against offered advice, was met w disagreement? Esp given the option to clean them in a way that is counter to manufacturers instructions.

I think GA offered the shown pak w case as a low cost alternative to using unsafe PFDs.

Anybody ever read the label in a hardhat or motorcycle helmet? Many are rendered unsafe by the maker after a fairly short fall, like from anything above the motorcycle's seat height AND after X # of years. How many replace them at either of those occur?

After the fact, I'd bet they all would if it would have kept their melon safe, when the 'damaged' one didnt.

Good that you require PFD usage. Hope yours are still in great shape and are able to do what they need to, if need arises. Even more hope, theres never a need.

 

[NYBo]

PFDs stowed away somewhere in closed packaging does NOT meet legal requirements. They must be immediately accessible.

 

[GA_Boater]

PFDs stowed away somewhere in closed packaging does NOT meet legal requirements. They must be immediately accessible.

Agreed. In my opinion PFD's don't get overly dirty from use. 9 times out of 10 it's stuffing them out of sight into dirty places. I was just offering an alternative for inexpensive replacement PFDs. The stowage bag helps keep them cleaner, organized and protected between uses.

 

[Stumpalump]

Agreed. In my opinion PFD's don't get overly dirty from use. 9 times out of 10 it's stuffing them out of sight into dirty places. I was just offering an alternative for inexpensive replacement PFDs. The stowage bag helps keep them cleaner, organized and protected between uses.

I don't think your intention was anything other than that so excuse my use of your sincere post to elaborate on those goofy, ugly and uncomphortable designs that seldom if ever get worn. The point I should have made is that a decent jacket costs many times as much and is worth buying, taking care of and keeping clean because you have a hundred times better chance of getting your buddy or even yourself to ware it. We all have had that classic style PFD but ya gotta admit nobody likes them unless the ship is sinking. The sad thing is that they actually do a good job floating you heads up if you ever take the time to adjust the straps. Given a choice of not wearing anything or wearing an orange horse collar and we know what the choice is. The washing machine was the debate because I have two vests they people tolerate well but hijacking into a horse collar vs reasonable vest that gets worn is worthy.

 

[smokeonthewater]

If you want comfy and easy to wear nothing even compares to an inflatable.... When they inflate they are just like those "horse collars"

As far as legality on the packs of pfd's... Mine stay in the cabin on the dinette... Takes 5 seconds to say "hey grab that big yellow bag...

Hard for the Leo to claim they aren't accessible if they are at my feet and open by the time he gets close to the boat.

 

[GA_Boater]

Can I throw my life jackets in the cloths washer? Typical Stearns type jackets in the lighter tan or orange color are looking too grubby to ask passengers to put on and I'd like to wash them. Good idea or not?

I don't think your intention was anything other than that so excuse my use of your sincere post to elaborate on those goofy, ugly and uncomphortable designs that seldom if ever get worn. The point I should have made is that a decent jacket costs many times as much and is worth buying, taking care of and keeping clean because you have a hundred times better chance of getting your buddy or even yourself to ware it. We all have had that classic style PFD but ya gotta admit nobody likes them unless the ship is sinking. The sad thing is that they actually do a good job floating you heads up if you ever take the time to adjust the straps. Given a choice of not wearing anything or wearing an orange horse collar and we know what the choice is. The washing machine was the debate because I have two vests they people tolerate well but hijacking into a horse collar vs reasonable vest that gets worn is worthy.

You asked a question about tossing them a washer in your first post and refused to listen anything said by any of the posters. I guess I gave an alternative which offends your and your friends sense of style. Sure, they're not all that good looking, but they do work and that's the point. There are plenty of dead boater's families that wish their loved ones wore the ugly things.

You supply PFDs and tell your buddys to wear them or stay off the boat. You are responsible for your passengers safety whether you have 10, 50,100 or more dollar PFDs. If they don't like what you have, tell them to bring their own or stay home.

If the unfortunate event occurs and you end up in the water for hours, remind them that they didn't want to wear a dirty one and the nice, clean one they will wear is disintegrating around their chest because you gave them a good machine wash. But they look good sinking beneath the waves.

I know I'm exaggerating. Or am I?

When they get dirty again, either replace them or clean what's left of them following the manufacturers instructions. Please don't throw them in the washer.

 

[StarTed]

This is a good reminder for us to check our PFDs. By the way, shake up your fire extinguisher as well and your CO detector battery if used..

I hate to admit it but my PFD is getting kind of dirty around the collar. I wear it. I'll look into replacing it when my boat gets finished.

I'll check out the iboats selection to see if they carry a fisherman type.