Our friend Margaret, who is of the petite persuasion, wearing the Spinlock 6D we are testing here at AAC.
One of our concerns with the new model was that with only one size, instead of three as the 5D we have used for years was available in, was that fitting a smaller person might be a problem, particularly since we think that it’s vital that the chest strap be snug.
Turns out we need not have worried. Thanks, Margaret, and Spinlock for providing the jacket free for evaluation.
We will be publishing a full report once we have had more experience with the 6D, but so far we are liking it a lot.
I just inquired about upgrading our 5D Spinlocks, which have water and not hydrostatic activation. If I understand correctly, the 6D are only available in hydrostatic activation.
In water testing., at a Safety-at Sea course, of our 5D hydrostatic Spinlocks, showed we had to submerge several feet with our head under water, to get inflation.
NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!
We traded in our 5D for water activation.
I would be very leary of 6D hydrostatic Spinlocks. We did not get this “upgrade”!
Best wishes,
Charles L Starke MD FACP
s/v Dawnpiper
Hi Charles,
Other way around. The 6D is only available with water activated, not hydrostatic. On the 5D which activator was optional.
https://a.spinlockcdn.com/8gfzwzxs1secptugl2nx8wt3il6b
I would also say that “Not acceptable” is too simplistic. For example, for a bow-person on a race boat water activated makes no sense. Dito a crew on a Volvo 65 who will get hit by green water regularly. That why the Spinlock Vito primarily aimed at pros sailing extreme boats uses hydrostatic: https://www.spinlock.co.uk/en-GB/uk/products/deckvest-vito
I have written about this issue at length here: https://www.morganscloud.com/2018/03/15/which-lifejacket-auto-inflator-should-we-select/
As with most things, it depends.
Hi John
You’re correct. I was offered the Vito as replacement for our 5D and it was unacceptable for our purposes.
Thanks.
Charles
Have you posted the promised full report yet? Or do you need more experience with it? I’m not turning it up.
Hi Dave,
No, it has not got to the top of the list yet. But the short answer is that the 6D is a big improvement on the 5D, which was already our favourite PFD with harness.
Have you looked at the TeamO BackTow vests? I have a 6D and like it. My wife has a 5D. But the logic behind the backtow is strong. First rule: stay on the boat: second rule: stay attached to the boat… then it gets murkey because if you are on the lee side, rule 2 means likely drowning or at least water intake leading to secondary drowning. Our own COB exercises using devices like a LifeSling have shown that tow speeds as low as 1kt can cause water intake unless the COB turns around in the sling and is towed backwards. The spray hood on a Spinlock Deckvest may help but pulling one into place while being towed?
Hi Carl,
Review of the 6D coming this week.
I agree about drag danger, and we have a whole Online Book much of which cover the danger and what to do about it: https://www.morganscloud.com/category/safety/book-crew-overboard/
And yes I have looked at TeamO: https://www.morganscloud.com/2017/07/03/person-overboard-prevention-teamo-backtow-lifejacketharness/