Your first piece of sailing gear
December 18, 2008
I am asked almost daily by new sailors what sort of gear I recommend. The VERY first thing I recommend that every new sailor get is their own personal flotation device a PFD – A LIFE JACKET SILLY!
Given the tossing and turning of the deck of any boat, the flying boom, the regular flow of alcohol why WOULDN’T you wear a PFD? Well, there are hundreds of excuses that I hear – they are hot and they don’t fit are what I hear most often, but with a bit of shopping you’ll find that these excuses are no longer an issue.
PFD manufacturers are going out of their way to make PFD’s specifically for each of us (big guys, little guys, women and children.) We owe it to ourselves to shop a bit and find one that works.
For me, the Astral Buoyancy Aquavest 300 is the ticket. First of all I love the company. They are the word’s only company engaged solely in the development of PFD’s for paddlers and sailors. They KNOW their business. They are concerned with art, science and craft of making great PFD’s.
They use less toxic, easily recyclable foams. They make strong and durable products that are trustworthy and backed by a guarantee – you got a problem and they fix it. They don’t bother to flood the market with sub-par or unnecessary products. If you check out Astral’s mission, you’ll see that I’ve lifted (ok STOLEN) some of their ideas for Gale Force Sailing’s business model. I think they are doing it right.
So why do I use the Aquavest 300 and would I recommend it?
I use it because as a sailing coach I need gear that provides durability and reliability. I love the way the 300 works for me. I would recommend it, although I would first suggest that you try on all the other PFD’s you can.
YOU MUST first and foremost find the PFD that fits you best. A PFD is pretty worthless if you don’t wear it. I wear mine almost all time because the 300 is comfortable enough that I forget it is there – so its always on. It sits low so it doesn’t obstruct my arms. It is padded in the right places so I can lean against lifelines and hike hard.
So why do I like the 300 specifically?
Fit
For sailing it just works. I am about 210 lbs and the 300 works well for me in a t-shirt or in full foul weather gear. Because it is low my arms are unobstructed as I trim sails, turn winches, or steer. Additionally, I sail physical boats where we hike off of small diameter lines, bang into bulkheads and shrouds, and lean against uncomfortable objects for hours. The padding and the protective panels make sure my ribs aren’t sore at the end of the race.
Comfort
I believe strongly in wearing my PFD whenever I sail. Fortunately the 300 is comfortable enough that it never comes off. When I get to the dock, it goes on, and it’s often after the first beer at the bar before it comes off. It isn’t hot in the summer – due to how low it sits. In the winter the hand warmer is nice. It is low profile enough th
at when the rain comes on in a squall I can throw my foul weather gear over the top – I never have to take it off.
Safety
It is hard to separate comfort from safety. It is safe because it is so comfortable – as I said…it never comes off. The padding on the side protects from bumps and bruises. The spectra harness is useful offshore or at night as a clip in point when I leave the cockpit. The pockets and attachment points make it easy to never forget your radio, knife, tape, throw rope, etc. I’ll be adding a the bladder pocket this year. It is useful for me as a coach, I’ll never have the mid-day crash because I can stay hydrated.
Conveniences
POCKETS! I am so happy to free my pants pockets from the weight and sharp objects of the stuff I need to have on the water. It is also nice to know that you won’t forget anything since it’s easy to put what you need on the “rig” and leave it there.
For the same reason I buy Patagonia gear I buy Astral. They make great gear, back it up, and have an ethic I support. I hope you do to.
Comments
Got something to say?
About me
I am the owner of Gale Force Sailing and write about all things related to coaching, instruction and team building. contact me>>
