Do you skimp on safety gear????

[mik01]

ie - do you buy the cheapest possible gear you can, regardless of safety features or do you buy the best you can get? or inbetween?

and why?

ps - no shout downs at people pls - seeking honest answers and reasons why - no right or wrong answers...

[bluefin59]

I buy the best i can afford as i dont want to risk mine or others life with bodgie equipment...matt

[Reel Nauti]

Like tools, I buy the best I can afford. So long as they're up to the mark ie Australian Saftey Standard approved.

Dave

[Jabba_]

I buy what I can afford.... For example My PFD1's cost $80 each I have 3 adult and 2 children at $40 each.... I could off payed upto $100 for the Adult and $60 for the kids, but I cold not see and extra quality or boyancy with those PFD's....

I also have 5 more El'cheapo PFD1's that I use for the purpose if I have 7 people on board I got them with the boat.... I also have 2 PFD2's that I use for sking or tubing....

Struth thats 12 life jackets....

When I get my 406 Epirb. I will again buy the best I can afford..

[Braddles]

I decided not to select an option, as I think people are very much caught up in the notion that you HAVE to pay a more money for the best equipment.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE.

Jabba hit the nail on the head in his post...

A PFD by law HAS to make the very stringent Australian Standard to be called a PFD (cat 1, 2 or 3). The difference you pay for may be things like bulky for cheap PFD V's slim line and thus perhaps more comfort for mid range, to a brand name with "mildew resistant coating" in high end.

Marketing has us thinking we need to by the best and spend to the limit when it comes to precious things like our kids (eg. a cot) and safety items, anything that tugs at our heart strings, to get an extra dollar out of us.

V - sheets are a real laugh. They have to make the standard. You pay between $10.00 and $90.00. Orange canvas, Black V.... the cheap one in a clear no name packet, the expensive one carrying the slogan "When safety counts"....

[mik01]

I decided not to select an option, as I think people are very much caught up in the notion that you HAVE to pay a more money for the best equipment.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE.

Jabba hit the nail on the head in his post...

A PFD by law HAS to make the very stringent Australian Standard to be called a PFD (cat 1, 2 or 3). The difference you pay for may be things like bulky for cheap PFD V's slim line and thus perhaps more comfort for mid range, to a brand name with "mildew resistant coating" in high end.

Marketing has us thinking we need to by the best and spend to the limit when it comes to precious things like our kids (eg. a cot) and safety items, anything that tugs at our heart strings, to get an extra dollar out of us.

V - sheets are a real laugh. They have to make the standard. You pay between $10.00 and $90.00. Orange canvas, Black V.... the cheap one in a clear no name packet, the expensive one carrying the slogan "When safety counts"....

maybe, but spending more money CAN equal more benefits.

for example, a pfd that only just meets standards won't have reflective taping, a whistle or a light, or even automatic inflation etc etc. could these added 'benefits' save your life potentially?

there can be a huge difference, then again as you state for the v sheet - none at all. or is there? does the more expensive v sheet last longer and is made from better material?

i don't know, but I'm not so sure that its only gimmicks between the 'standard' and the 'top of the range' gear.

[maztez]

Im with Matt as the old saying "when only the best will do " applies when your responsible for yours and others safety.
cheers Terry

[bigtez]

Perhaps an option that said you spent a little more for the best value quality product that didn't come with a brand name or unecessary features.

There is no way I am going to pay a fortune to have a Shimano, Hutchwilco, Yamaha or Humminbird logo all over my inflatable life jackets but I did however spend the extra and get auto inflating jackets.

[honda900]

I am not sure were getting the right responses here in the survey, I chose the second option because I buy good gear but not necessarily the most expensive. Seems only 7 people selected this, which is a bit strange.

I bought and fitted life jackets for each of my kids (2 are adult sizes), around the 80 dollar each mark, purchased manual inflatables for the 2 primary adults that will be on board for comfort, around the 100 mark but also purchased 4 pfd bloks @ about 20 bucks each for the punters, all are on the boat at all times.

Instead of buying the minumum requirement offshore flare kit I bought the NSW required one with parachute flares, chucked an epirb straight on, and bought every bit of other gear that I needed, then added 2 first kits and some other stuff on top.

I didnt select the top option cause I could have spent a hell of a lot more on my gear, just chose not to.

Regards
HOnda

[bushbeachboy]

Well I drive a punt, so don't take it outside the river/creek, ever. So I don't need to buy flares, epirb etc. I bought the el cheapo $20 PFD 1's, including whistle and reflective taping, and carry enough on board for every person on a particular trip. I already had a v-sheet, also an el-cheapo plastic one in a clear plastic case, and it seems to be fine. I don't see the point in buying expensive stuff when it is highly unlikely to ever get used.

[onerabbit]

I carry 2 epirbs, in case worst comes to worst, just in case my deckie & I are separated,

I think that says it all, SAFETY FIRST.

Muzz

[ronnien]

yep, buy the best gear u can afford. it"s not as easy as pushing your car to the side of the road & walking home, no it"s much much worse!

ron.

[ifishcq1]

I think price has only a small contact with quality so I agree get the best you can afford and that doesn't mean money it means moneys worth

SL

[Foxy4]

Some might call me a God. But I sure as hell can't walk on water just yet so i buy the best i can get when it comes to safety gear.

Also support your local Volunteer Coast Guard and or VMR as the cost of fuel is really starting to hurt them big time.

[marco]

i went with " i dont buy all the gear " which is best sumed up by a dennis leary song