JennyMorgan

Josh, doing it is a doddle! I have watched the Cromer lifeboat reverse across both flowing tide and meaningful wind and up onto their slipway. Not only that but they have picked up the tackle for being hauled out of the water and all without any apparent deviation from their course. Those fellows make it all look just so easy!

Lots of free fuel around at the moment, possibly an excess if I'm honest!

http://www.rya.org.uk/newsevents/enewsletters/Sportsboatsandribs/june2009/Pages/whenshouldiwearalifejacket.aspx http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais1.pdf

Westerly gale on Oulton Broad today but nothing exceptional.

Clive, you are wholly right in the context of inexperienced hirers but I have a good friend who was involved with a fatality when an auto-inflated lifejacket prevented a casualty from being retrieved from under a capsized sailing boat. The MCA report picked up on a number of factors regarding the capsize but the fact was that in this one instance the auto-inflation was a negative factor. Thankfully we are all still able to decide for ourselves.

My wife nags me too! Not only that but I am nowhere near as agile as I was. Not only Graham Cook but also Alec Hampton, famous for Hampton Boats.

Alan, you must do what you feel is right and proper for you. In defence of my advice and opinion I will point out that the RNLI, for whom I have a huge regard, is a 'sea' orientated institution.

Alan, for Broads use there is a lot to be said for manual inflation, namely that you only inflate it if you need it, my choice. Different at sea when you fall in and the bank is several miles away.

The children in the cellar idea has one drawback, or advantage depending on outlook, that of high tides & rising damp.

I wonder if hinged transoms might be an answer. Bathing platforms do have their limitations on the Broads, not least stern-on moorings. However if a boat had what is effectively a double transom, one that is hinged and capable of being lowered when needed, then, although probably expensive to install, could be an ideal compromise. Probably quite easy to retro fit too.

This publication, and their TV advert, are both of great credit to Richardsons. I note that old habits die hard, River Inspectors rather that Navigation Rangers!

Nice one, Strow. In your posting No 15 you highlighted, in a couple of words, a very relevant point, self rescue. If my wife and I were out sailing and I fell in then I would need to be able to help myself. Lyn, my wife, has had major back surgery and would be unable to offer me much help. A very important consideration and begs the question of how any casualty would or could reboard their boat. Maybe bathing platforms have their uses!

I hope that there is interest but just hope that whatever develops isn't just an overpriced 'boutique' style outlet. I'm not advocating a 'spit and sawdust', although I would prefer it, but something on the lines of Oulton Broad's Commodore would be good, smart, modern, slightly up-market and inviting.

Some time ago I was browsing my telephone directory when I noticed 'FLOODS, see 'under water'. Made me chuckle!

Thank you, Strowager, convincing stuff. However the video does highlight a problem that I had overlooked, that of not being able to swim on one's front, perhaps making it harder to swim ashore or back to one's boat. The video is absolutely bang on for sea use, totally convincing, but for inland waters perhaps a buoyancy aid, such as worn by dinghy sailors and kayakers, has a lot to recommend them. This has to be down to experience and personal choice.

Many sailing and kayak/canoeing types have reverted to the closed cell foam type lifejackets. One reason being that there will be occasions when the wearer is dunked but does not need the lifejacket to inflate, I think that there is some wisdom in that. Personally I have and use both types, that is if I choose to wear one.

Tim, you'll have to book a holiday with Richardsons. Expect that they'll soon be on e-bay!

Iain, I was thinking more on the lines of a forty mile an hour hire cruiser whizzing past a thirty mile an hour skier!

Well done! I love the idea that your customers should take care when overtaking water skiers!

I have never used an auto lifejacket in anger but I reckon the lady in Strowager's shot would have been best advised to have tightened her straps before jumping in. I note that when I have been on Broads Authority launches, and supplied with one of theirs, that it has not had a crotch strap. When I have gone through Mutford Lock I noted that the staff wore their jackets but did not use the crotch straps. When I commented on that I was told that after a few hours they became very uncomfortable.

Just toddled down to my mooring, very calm here, slight wind from the SSW. John,MM, just curious, just how many tame chippies does it take to supply your needs?

And everybody behind you smells of a chip shop!

Great Strow, we are now 100% of a like mind, for now, forward & upwards!! It's a great pity that you don't allow p.m.'s, if you did I could send you a copy of a letter by an ex BA employee that I'm sure you would find revealing. Griff, amen to your nomination of Strowager. For a 'foreigner' he's pretty sharp!

Strow, it is the problem, believe me, it really is! Not just my opinion either.

Strowager, can't nor would wish to argue with most that but I will pick up on just one sentence, namely: A partial drawback of democracy is that it enables individuals to vote for what they want individually, not always what is best for everyone overall. I'll shorten that to 'it enables individuals to vote for what they want individually, not always what is best for everyone overall.' I will then change just one word, 'vote', and replace it with 'work'. Please, for example, see the one man campaign to call the Broads a National Park. The best committee is a committee of one, if that committee agrees with me!