Looking for Survival Suits

[yellow2]

Anyone have some they want to sell?

[KAISER]

Hamelton Marine brand new $230.

Kinda seems silly to buy a used one that might have drywrot when they are that price.

[AT Grimaldi]

I have four (4) Revere Immersion Suits on board. I am good, right? Wrong.

I took the commercial fishing safety class out of UMD in New Bedford, MA given by the USCG. They had a station where everyone had to bring their own suit. Then we all had to get in them, in under a minute - I think, jump in a saltwater pool, swim 30' and self-propel into a floating life raft. what an eye opening experience.

I was amazed at how some of the guys, donned these things like a pair of boxers, zipped up and away they went. Mostly, guys were falling over, trying to get one of their feet in the leg, then the other, zip up, catch their shirts, etc. all this was done in a VERY controlled environment on solid concrete and steel platform.

Basically, the two things I learned was keep six (6) or so of those plastic shopping bags stuffed in the hood. when you roll it out, take them out. Four (4) will blow away in the wind. Two (2) will be left. Put them on your feet, over your shoes. Get on your back, get in that suit as fast as possible. Zip it up and try to remain calm. Most have a whistle attached, but a nice add on was either a strobe or a strobe/personal EPIRB combo. When you get yours, be sure to lube up all the zippers and buttons with zipper lube. Doing it ahead of time, prevents things from freezing or jamming at the worst moment.

I have actually practiced this in my living room, but will try it again on the boat with my common friends whom I fish offshore with frequently.

If they balk at the idea, no worries, the dock is a nice place for them. I require and supply high end Revere inflatable life jackets with water-activated strobes. Everyone wears one - period, no discussion. If you are me, a friend or a rescue swimmer, you wear one. Every once in a while someone moans, but when they see how I take personal safety seriously, it sets the tone for a more professional fishing trip and of course a safer one.

Just my two cents.

- ATG