Phyllis and I have been using Spinlock lifejackets for over 20 years; for buoyancy in case we fall overboard and as harnesses to prevent that.
We originally discovered the Spinlock Deckvest at the London Boat Show in 2002, shortly after it was first introduced.
At the time we were using inflatable lifejackets with harnesses from Crewsaver and Mustang, despite them being supremely uncomfortable because the weight rested on our necks.
This may not sound like much of a problem, but trust me, when you wear a lifejacket pretty much anytime you are sailing for months at a time, it gets horrible, or at least it did for us—there few things that I hate more than a stiff neck.
For us, the original Spinlock Deckvest with its “horse-collar” design and easy adjustment so that the weight rested on our shoulders, not neck, was a breakthrough.
I have already written a ton about the other benefits of our Deckvests and how we use them, so you may want to break here and at least have a scan of the two articles listed below since in this article I will be focusing only on upgrades to the 6D, not its basic features, which are the same as the 5D, which Spinlock released in 2012 and that we upgraded to soon afterward.
Two years ago we replaced our Deckvest 5Ds with 6Ds, so after two seasons of use, here’s what we have found:
Just want to second the use of the Deckvest 6D. It is very comfortable, and I find myself wearing it a lot more than I normally would wear a life jacket. I find the adjustment straps way too long, so I have also cut them to length and sewn them back (waist and crotch). I do believe that for most of my sailing, the life jacket only serves as a body-recovery item (solo sailing in the Arctic winter), but even so, the harness is good, and it matters to the rescuers that have to look for the body, and the family that are left ashore, so I think it should be worn anyway, and being comfortable makes it easy to wear!
I would love to do a practical head-to-head comparison of the Spinlock Deckvest 6D HRS and the Team O Backtow.
I had a very interesting discussion with a Toronto-area distributor of the Team O product earlier this year. He was very convinced that their approach – in which the harness release doesn’t cut the tether entirely, but rather extends it by 2′ while flipping the attachment point around to the back – was superior, and this is why he sought out and obtained the distribution deal for it. https://www.teamomarine.com/collections/all
I don’t have enough data yet to conclusively agree or disagree. But, given the importance of staying with the boat, I suspect that pulling the pin to switch from being dragged on my front right against the hull to being dragged on my back 2 feet from the hull would be a *much* easier call than pulling the pin to separate myself from the boat entirely.
I might add that, while I love our Spinlock Deckvest 5D units and find both them and the 6D to be quite comfortable and well-made, they *DO NOT* count towards your PFD/lifejacket carriage requirement in Canada. (Spinlock didn’t bother to get Transport Canada approval for them.) So we keep some TC-stamped foamies down below in case of inspection, and wear the Spinlocks all the time while underway.
Hi Matt,
I agree that the Team O is interesting, but I don’t think any sort of head-to-head is really that useful. As I said in my original piece on the Team O (Further Reading) it depends on how you are handling COB risk. If, as we did on the M&R 56, you have a system that reduces the risk of being dragged to a very low level, then the team O does not help.
But if you are still using side deck jacklines where dragging is a BIG issue, AND, you have a system that will allow the remaining crew to retrieve the COB being dragged, VERY quickly, then the team O is a no brainer.
Personally I prefer the former approach to this risk, but I get that it’s not an option on some boats.
Also, as far as the 6D not being a PFD in Canada, in my view that’s Canada’s failing, not Spinlock not bothering. We should just get with the ISO program, just like we should be getting with the standard for AIS.
The big problem with having our own standards is that our market is not big enough to justify a manufacture paying the considerable costs to get Canadian approval. This is why you can’t buy ePaint in Canada even though it’s greener than the stuff we sell. Alex, boss at ePaint told be 10 years go that he was quoted $50,000 from a Canadian compliance company to manage the approval process. Just a smart business decision, not, not bothering. And our loss, not theirs.
I like your review. I have the Vito and find it very comfortable. Just recently I saw an article about Team O” new Offshore Hi-Lift 150N which won the DAME overall winner and Category Winner for 20024. It shape when inflated is different than most and holds your head up higher. I would be interested in how it works.
Hi Edward,
I have some thoughts on the Team O, see Further Reading, also my answer to Matt, further up the thread.
And good to hear that the Vito is comfortable.
Except I wasn’t commenting on the backtow. Rather that their new jacket has the flotation lower in some way so it holds a person higher out of the water. That is why they got the award.
Hi Edward,
Yes, I saw that, and all other things being equal that sounds great since freeboard is very important in lifejackets. The only way to check that out would be to try one and see what the tradeoffs were, if any. I wouldn’t put too much store in the award. Boating industry awards have a very bad track record in my view: https://www.morganscloud.com/2019/03/08/beware-marine-equipment-awards/
I’ve hesitated writing this because of my embarasment, but hope it might enlighten others. AND this is more than a 6D real world review.
I wear a 6D vest. Tethered to the boat always. I find it much lighter, more comfortable and easier to put on than any inflatable pfd I have worn in the past.
I recently wore it nearly 24-7 for almost 2 months straight.
I REALLY LIKE THIS VEST.
During that time I had occasion to test it, unfortunately, in an actual life threatening situation. I was thrown overboard while on deck when the boat lunched suddenly in a heavy seaway.
I was literally thrown backwards over the lifelines. I was drug but not face down. More sideways. I manage to grab the bulwark as I slid against the moving boat.
What really opened my eyes was with the inflated bladders, how far away from the boat my body was held. This made it impossible to self rescue. Crew members also couldn’t get me onto the boat by trying to lift straight up. My fast acting crew got me back aboard by leveraging me with my legs. Once a leg was over the bulwark, I could assist them in rolling me up onto the deck.
If I’d been singlehandedly I wouldn’t be writing this! I’M VERY LUCKY.
Lessons learned; 30 knot winds probably 10ft.+ seas, and some inexperienced crew, should have brought the boat to near stop but didn’t.
I’ve adopted your jackline system John. But on my boat, can not run purely centered jacklines. My aft lines run from the cockpit coaming in a “V” to the Mast. Then one center forward. This leaves a danger zone aft. And as I went over, also the tether slid back to the aft termination point. Convenient for the crew in the cockpit to retrieve me I guess. I also had a 6′ tether on at the time to help facilitate the repair I was attempting. I knew better. The boats beam is 12′, duh, 6′ tethers don’t work.
Most of my tethers are custom, short enough to keep one out of the water. The long ones are about to go away.
Anyway, all this after preaching to my crew about staying on the boat! I was lucky. I’ve read USCG Data, only a 49% survival rate in COB incidents.
I’m overall happy with my 6D, I’m sure it could be improved upon though.
The other thing is in the USA, USCG only count inflatable PFD as being onboard WHILE THEY ARE BEING WORN.
Thank you too for all your experience and wisdom here. You and other contributors here kept me alive as much as my crew and my 6D.
Mitchell
Wow glad you’re okay!
Hi Mitchell,
Wow, your comment made my blood run cold. Thank you so much for sharing it. A huge service to your fellow members. Particularly your point that once the PFD inflates everything gets way more difficult. I have even considered removing the activator and relying on manual, particularly when single handed. for just this reason. You have inspired me to think on that some more.
I totally agree with all your points and have been wrestling with the same jackline difficulties on our J/109. I think I have at least partial solution, which I will share in an article which your comment has inspired me to get on with!
You mention possible improvements to the 6D. Anything particular?
Thank you Trevor and John,
This was a humbling and frightening experience. Perhaps more frightening for the crew at the time. I was just busy trying to get back aboard. Fortunately and surprisingly, the water was not cold, I never felt chilled even. This was at Pt. Conception, along the California Coast.
The 6D is REALLY GOOD. That said, anything can probably be improved upon.
1. I’ve struggled with the repacking, primarily the zipper re-engaging properly on mine.
This time, when I re-armed and when new, when familiarizing myself, trying to figure the vest out.
I carry extra re-arm kits aboard for nearly all our pfd. Several different vests. Mine is the only 6D.
2. My hope is Spinlock might figure out how to make the bladders flatter, less bulky without losing buoyancy. May not be feasible, or cost effective.
3. The breakaway system should not be an option but standard fare. I keep a Gill emergency knife on the vest. And an ACR PLB.
4. After this incident, I’ve not been able to find replacement re-arming kit easily for my 6D.
More on this experience. I hope I’m not over doing it here, or to long winded on your site.
I was launched over the lifelines backwards. I caught them at the back of my right knee. That hurt a lot for a week or more.
But what really sunk in, (not much pun intended) was when I hit the water, I hit on the back of my head. Damn I hit hard.
I remember thinking, wow that hurt like hell! Almost like concrete.
Then going under water the cylinder activated, but I was seeing massive bubbles, air leaks all around me thinking the bladders had burst. I believe what I experienced was simply excess pressure escaping. The bladders were full and brought me to the surface quickly. Although, after banging around while looking at bottom paint.
And that again, due to a 2 meter tether. Never again. I knew better.
John, your thought on going manual is something I’ve not considered. I may think about that.
Of course, the only worry there would be becoming unconscious. But that’s probably a minimal risk. And there’s always risks in what we do.
The primary safety system must be the jacklines and the proper tethers tethers! Our rule is to be tethered, and normally even in milder weather. Although we were not always when all crew are on deck in daylight.
But ALWAYS when alone on watch.
I look forward to your thoughts on jackline “danger zones”. And some risk mitigation.
Our aft terminations are only about a foot from the gunwale.
Finally,
A lot of people find tethers a hindrance, I have not. Use them!
If I’d gone in the water without being fastened to my boat in this situation, I’d be dead. Lost at sea. I can’t see the crew being able to recover anyone in those conditions.
Simple as that.
In my 60 years of sailing, I’ve never come close to an experience like this, and I don’t want to again. I thank my crew and You and the systems we’ve proven that save lives.
Respectfully,
Mitchell
Hi Mitchell,
Thanks for the added thoughts, all very useful, particularly since you are one of the few people who has actually experienced a dragging, survived it, and shared the experience clearly—solid gold.
One thing I can confirm: the CO2 cylinders contain way more gas than required to fill the jacket so the bubbles you observed where just the excess venting off, just as you surmised.
Recent loss overboard on the ARC suggests that the AIS on the LJ may not have been detected. Citizen testing, commented on YBW forum, suggests that AIS on LJs may not be detected in any seaway by the vessel. None of these points are substantiated. However, it means staying attached and recovery onboard becomes more important, and hence comfort as an incentive to wear a LJ with harness, is very important.
I use an older Plastimo ocean style life jacket and the neck collar of my waterproofs pops the weak link zip from time to time, a total faff to repack and also tiring on the neck. I also have very basic Ocean Safety XF lifejackets for crew. They are wide on the stole, loose packed and incredibly light and comfortable to wear, sitting on the shoulder. So there are choices out there that are not expensive and comfortable to wear. The XF is suitable for coastal sailing, not ocean sailing.
I am in the market to replace the Plastimo LJs, so this article is a very welcome read, as are the comments.
Hi Alastair,
Interesting and worrying about the AIS beacon in use in the COB tragedy in the ARC. I hope we will learn more over time. And I agree, nothing changes that the primary goal is staying on the boat.
A tip to prevent the “tablet-type” actuation from triggering lifevest inflation when not desired.
We had a DeckVest 5D inflate spontaneously on two separate occasions without being in the water. Granted, they were very wet, having endured the fringes of medicane Zorba for one, and a day and a half of continuous heavy rain, including bow work in waves, for the other. But that is not when they inflated: in both cases, they performed very well in such wet conditions. They self-inflated after arrival, when we were no longer wearing the vests.
Spinlock, were surprised that this would happen, as they felt they had taken considerable care in the design to prevent such occurrences. But they rapidly homed in on the issue: we had left the dripping vests horizontal for a while (less than an hour both cases). The vests were designed to prevent actuation in very wet conditions (obviously not submerged), as long as the vests stay vertical. It is possible for a wet vest left horizontal to see water reaching the triggering device.
I don’t know about the 6D design, but even with further improvements there are always compromises to strike, to prevent unwanted inflation and to ensure rapid inflation when needed.
It makes sense to always keep a wet “tablet-type” vest vertical. Something to keep in mind when catching a quick nap with a wet vest on.
Sleep tight!
The Zorba I intended to refer to was the September 2018 medicane. There wasn’t much Medicare involved in that, even though the spell-checker insists!
Hi JL,
I edited it for you.
Hi Jean-Louis,
There’s a great tip I had not thought of. While I have not had a 5 or 6D auto inflate on me I have had earlier jackets do that when left to dry horizontally.
To all VITO Owners (Part 1/2),
We have been using Spinlock DeckVest VITOs on KaliX for the last three years (275 N and 170 N) and are very pleased with them – even though John’s article convinced me to try the 6D when we retire our last 5D.
Earlier this year, I wrote a review of the VITO intended as feedback to Spinlock. John suggested I posted the key learning as comments, so here is the first of two comments.
This one is about the folding of the extra waist belt using the Velcro Loop. We found it to be suboptimal and on a winter evening following the annual inspection of our lifevests, we came up with an alternate threading which we found more convenient. You will find the explanations with pictures in the attached document.
Obviously, you should stick to what the manufacturer does and recommends, especially because safety is involved. I am only sharing this because we have found it to be a welcome change for us. If you have any concern with this way of threading the waist belt, please point it out.
Hope this helps.
JL
VITO Review Part 2/2
As promised in the comment on the VITO’s Waist Belt, this second part highlights a few features of the VITO, some of which are common to the 6D. Comparisons are against the 5D.
The summary? The VITO is an excellent lifejacket, and the 170 N model in particular is very comfortable, just like the way John describes the 6D. Packed with all its offshore features, including a MOB1, you can wear it without feeling it.
Better than the 5D (and it makes a difference)
The 5D was better (would be nice to have)
One conclusion to me from John’s reviews and these notes is that Spinlock have perfected their lifejacket design and manufacturing. More importantly, given the exchanges I have had with them, I trust them.
Hi Jean-Louis,
Thanks for the excellent comparison, a very useful addition to my review.
Based on your previous recommendations, I bought a 6D recently and have used it for 60 days on the water. The one fault I fund, and it is a bothersome one is the functioning of the plastic zippers. Mine keep opening as I wear the vest. And the teeth will nor line up to easily and permanently close them. I have sailed to Mexico and keep the things closed as best I can, but when I get homenext summer, I will get in touch with Spinlock to find a remedy or a new vest. Otherwise, your analysis is accurate. I like the unit if it will stay closed.
Hi Terence,
There is definitely something wrong with that jacket or the way it’s packed, given we have never had that problem with any of our DeckVests. Are the ends of the zippers fully buried at the lower ends each side, in the little pockets provided? Or is the zipper opening at the intended inflation opening area covered by the flap further up? Also, it might be worth repacking it using the Spinlock instructional video.
Well, among other things, the flap covering the yellow part of the zipper keeps opening. Since I put a locator beacon on the thing, I will check my repacking.
Oh, and since I single hand a lot, your comment in response to skipper overboard has me thinking about the auto inflation. Not sure how to disable it. If I do, can I restore it when crew is aboard?
Hi Terence,
Hum, the locater beacon should be on the other side from the zipper. I think that’t probably your issue. See the Spinlock Video on packing with an MOB 1.