Danny - The Govan shipyard worker with the flaming rags was Jimmy Reid, who ended up running the place during the work-in the 70s!!
Re Mae Wests, I remember mny Dad saying how awkward they were and that he didn't bother with them as pax.
The longer trips he did over water (Burma-Ceylon ws one) were in Daks where he said you could just grab one if any trouble occurred or in Catalinas or Sunderlands whcih were quite capable of landing on water should trouble occur!!