29th March 2026 – 12:30
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Nerdiness Quotient: 8/10
I get slightly claustrophobic. Basically I can’t tolerate being trapped. This is one reason why I prefer to wear a manual lifejacket. The concept of a jacket inflating and trapping me inside a sinking yacht has zero appeal. I do realise that if I am knocked unconscious and thrown overboard wearing a manual lifejacket then I would probably die. I’ll happily take that risk.
There are a couple of other reasons that I prefer a manual lifejacket.
It is often my task to change sails lying down on a deck whilst being soaked by waves and spray. A manual lifejacket is unlikely to accidently inflate.
Hauling someone over the gunwales whilst they are wearing a bulky lifejacket is much harder than hauling someone without an inflated lifejacket.
Furthermore, last week my preference for manual was reinforced when I tried out my Fladen Floatation suit in some coldish sea water (6-10 degrees). Fladen recommend you also wear a lifejacket. I donned a Crewfit 180 Pro Auto Lifejacket for the trial. The floatation suit was marvellous. It kept me quite warm and certainly would have prevented any cold water shock. I could easily float in the rescue position and even swim wearing the suit. The only shock came when the lifejacket burst into action. Only half the lifejacket inflated, forcing me onto one side, it felt very unnerving. I decided to move to shallow water and stand up. Swimming was very hard. After I had stood up the other half of the jacket burst into action. It was an awful claustrophobic feeling with this thing tight around my neck. I struggled to tear the thing off.
The thing is when you go to a shop you can only try the lifejackets on uninflated. Of course it is important that it is comfortable as you will be wearing it for long watches. The regular survival courses are normally held in a warm swimming pool while you are wearing swimming gear and a tee shirt. It is quite a different feeling when the lifejacket inflates around a padded floatation hood.
Somehow, I had ended up with two Crewfit 180 Pro Automatic Lifejackets and one Crewfit+ 180 Pro Automatic on board. I needed to convert my one to manual and offer any other crew a choice of auto or manual.
I phoned Crewsaver and they told me that they do not make, or recommend converting auto to manual. This is somewhat strange as they do sell convertors for their hammer operated lifejackets. I still had a feeling that conversion caps existed so I emailed United Moulders who make the mechanism but I never received a reply.
I then contacted “The UK’s largest independent specialist in the sales and service of lifejackets and buoyancy aids”. They assured me, after double checking with their technicians, that such a device didn’t exist. But I know they used to exist, at least for some lifejackets, because I have used them in the past.
The thing is, I really want to be able to offer my crew the choice but I simply don’t have the space to double up and store 6 lifejackets. A manual conversion cap would be the only solution.
I kept searching and eventually I came across RT Supplies Ltd who listed them!
I told them that these parts were a real struggle to find and he said that he had to buy them in bulk and had loads in stock. He supplies them mainly to industrial users who work near water but can’t risk the chance of accidental inflation. I bought three and was as happy as a sandbag.
The reference for the sealing caps for my lifejackets was UMLUMA8080. Three of them cost £26.04 including VAT and shipping. They look very well made and have an “O” ring seal.
Whilst I was experimenting in the sea I also tried out the retro-fitted hood. Again you would need to have been clearly told how these contraptions work as it is not intuitive. Once you have found the elastic straps behind your head and stretched them over the bladders you will find the clear plastic almost instantly mists up and your vision completely disappears just as the feeling of claustrophobia reaches a climax.
My conclusion is wearing a Fladen floatation suit (in cold weather) is a marvellous thing but I would only inflate the lifejacket as a very last resort. I wouldn’t use the lifejacket hood unless sea conditions dictated that I really needed it as I would prefer to be able to see clearly my surroundings.
I am sure others think differently!
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