To Dangle or Not to Dangle

While idling in the cockpit of Tom Lilienthal’s Beneteau 411 Dreamseeker last fall en route to Cabo San Lucas, we got into a friendly debate about the use of inflatable lifejackets. I’d noticed that both Captain Tom and crewman Grady Meadows liked to let the pull cords of their lifevests dangle freely, while I kept mine folded up within my vest so it couldn’t accidently snag on something.

Shortly afterwards Grady excused himself, muttering something about needing to go "Vote for George Bush." A few minutes later we heard a scream, followed by hilarious laughter. While ‘doing his business’ in the narrow salon head, Grady had inadvertently snagged his lifevest’s ripcord, causing it to instantly inflate. When we rushed below decks to see what all the ruckus was, we found Grady looking much like the Michelin man trying to eject himself from a phone booth.

Cruising is not for sissies — there’s all sorts of unexpected hazards out there.