Posted by Katharine Edgar on July 10, 2003 at 08:44:54 from 81.96.140.67 user Katharine.
In Reply to: Re: Technically PFDs are not lifejackets posted by Laurence Monkhouse on July 10, 2003 at 06:17:19:
So when did lifejackets/buoyancy aids/PFDs/PSMAESBLEPFDs come into normal use for people doing the kind of sailing activities that the Swallows and Amazons do? Can we assume that Ransome was being normal for his time, or is he unusually neglectful, in sending non-swimmer four year olds sailing without lifejackets - or indeed the whole bunch of them to sea in PD and ML without safety equipment? Would PFDs have been around if he'd wanted to use them? Or are they not produced until much later, say the 1950s or 60s, when peace and prosperity starts to lead to mass participation in leisure activities?