Life jackets

[Notebook]

Hi
I like the look of the self inflating vest jobby.
Are they all certified to a standard?

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Notebook

Hi

I like the look of the self inflating vest jobby.

Are they all certified to a standard?

Yes they should all be certified, 150n is the common size for lifejackets most leisure users pick, up to 275 for offshore stuff.
Below 150n is bouyancy aid or childs lifejacket. Make sure you get automatic as manual inflation is as good as useless imho

Sent from my SM-G950F using RIB Net mobile app

[Notebook]

ok - happened to see some at Decathlon at the weekend - looking at other stuff

[jeffstevens763@g]

https://rnli.org/safety/lifejackets

Before choosing Read this about auto jackets for info

[Notebook]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

https://rnli.org/safety/lifejackets

Before choosing Read this about auto jackets for info

Will do. Just saw them testing hooded ones.
Thanks

[Poly]

Give some thought to what you will be doing. Whilst self-inflating lifejackets do have their benefits - if you are on a 3.5m boat, you may find a buoyancy aid is actually a good alternative (I switch depending what I am doing).

[TmMorris]

It's amazing how there are uses that don't cleanly define what's best.

Most of the time we will use self inflators. They tend to be the nicest to be wearing on a hot day and if either myself or one of my children end up in the drink it wouldn't be by design so having the buoyancy automatically deploy is sensible.

But then, the children often want to go swimming or mucking about by the shore!

For swimming I favour the cheapie, orange jackets. Bulky, intrusive but in the sea they will keep the child right way up and afloat all day so they win out over buoyancy jackets.

For mucking about along the shore, up rivers or on paddle craft the buoyancy jackets make the most sense, less obtrusive and help keep them warm etc.

So, in short, buy at least 3 different types for each person and fit a wardrobe to the foredeck.

I get by with self inflators all round and cheapie, orange foam jobs for everything else.

[Notebook]

Originally Posted by TmMorris

It's amazing how there are uses that don't cleanly define what's best.

Most of the time we will use self inflators. They tend to be the nicest to be wearing on a hot day and if either myself or one of my children end up in the drink it wouldn't be by design so having the buoyancy automatically deploy is sensible.

But then, the children often want to go swimming or mucking about by the shore!

For swimming I favour the cheapie, orange jackets. Bulky, intrusive but in the sea they will keep the child right way up and afloat all day so they win out over buoyancy jackets.

For mucking about along the shore, up rivers or on paddle craft the buoyancy jackets make the most sense, less obtrusive and help keep them warm etc.

So, in short, buy at least 3 different types for each person and fit a wardrobe to the foredeck.

I get by with self inflators all round and cheapie, orange foam jobs for everything else.

Makes absolute sense.
Appreciate that.

[Milgrip]

Choosing a life jacket should be a personal choice based on how and where it is to be used.
Imagine being trapped under a upturned hull and unable to get out because the automatic life jacket had inflated.

[A1an]

Originally Posted by Milgrip

Choosing a life jacket should be a personal choice based on how and where it is to be used.
Imagine being trapped under a upturned hull and unable to get out because the automatic life jacket had inflated.

And imagine being knocked out before being ejected from the boat. Like you say, its a personal choice. As with most things... for every argument against there's and argument for.

[jeffstevens763@g]

I have manual and auto don’t use the auto because it either pi$$es down and it goes off or I jump out the boat forgetting it’s still on. My choice mostly is a whitewater kayak buoyancy aid with loads of pockets for kit PLB etc and has a buoyancy pad high up on the back to keep your head up it works well but I do always wear a dry suit too to avoid cold water shock and added buoyancy.