Marine life vests

Telecaster

Telecaster

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Where’s the best place to buy a good life vest for boating? I know about the different types, and I know the big box stores sell some. What I don’t know is are the ones at those stores **** like most of their other products? Or are theirs good enough for years of recreational boating? I mean West Marine, Walmart, Academy, BJs, etc.
 
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I've always bought them at big box stores. They always seem to float with me in them, so I'm pretty sure they're good to go. It has been awhile since I owned a boat, though, so take my opinion for what it's worth.
 
You need to consider what you're doing, as well as when/where, or if you'd wear one all of the time. The full fitting foam one's do a great job of flotation, but they are as hot as all get out, if you're in the sun, or moving about in warmer weather, plus, they can be restrictive to wear.
If you're going to wear it all of the time, I'd go with an auto inflate version, with a pressure switch, rather than the pill style, since the pills go out of date and need to be replaced.
 
While flying around Panama we had all our passengers wear LPU's (Life Preserver Units). CO2 cartridge charged. We would brief if we go down in the water, do not inflate until you are clear of the helicopter. I use the civilian versions on the boat. Light weight and unobtrusive.
 
Mustang makes good ones. My inflatables have the integrated harness to clip on to jacklines when offshore sailing. Mustang also males a very good toddler life vest with a collar and a crotch strap to keep it from riding up. Keep them stored in a shed or house NEVER in a got boat as they will degrade. Follow manufacturers instructions for periodic testing of the inflatables. You don't want an old inflatable that leaks :eek:
Us old people still call them life vests not personal floatation devices.
The orange "toilet seats" are good to cover coast guard regulations for a vest for every person but gawd are they uncomfortable!
 
If by chance you might be water sking at a high speed (over 40mph)
you will need a quality snap system !
On one high speed turn, my ski left the water and I went air born and on impact, the vest was torn off me.
I had one broken ear drum, a cut on the bottom of my left foot, from the ski, but I was able to tread water, for the crew to help me into the boat,
for a trip to the hospital.

Get er done.
 
I’d prefer the inflatables, but they’re generally for age 16 and up. My daughter is 13. Not sure if that’s a big deal or not.
 
The type of activity, we’re on the coast, so anything from kayaking on freshwater creeks to motor vessels on the Atlantic. We’re starting a Sea Scout ship soon, so there’ll be a variety of situations. And it’s HOT in Florida.
 
Telecaster said:
Maybe this one WEST MARINE Coastal Zippered Automatic/Manual 24 Gram Inflatable PFD | West Marine
Click to expand...


Yes, that would be good Main thing is that you wear them all the time, We usually just had the cheaper vest ones stuffed away. which really was not good but we were all good swimmers. If conditions changed we would put them on.





:D:D
iu
 
I have a Stearns brand, nylon-fabric over closed cell foam. Zipper front and laces on the sides for custom fit. I've had it for about 10 years or so and it looks and works as well today as it did brand new. I think I got it at Walmart for around $25 or $30
 
Inflatables are fine, if you are conscious and able to inflate them.
White water rafters and other dangerous water sporters should use a vest that does not require inflation, just in case you are not able to self inflate the vest.
 
Also, make certain that any extension behind the head is not there. Nothing like having your face forced into the water because you liked to sleep in the vest and the extension was a nice pillow!! Dave_n
 
IIRC, some inflatable vests are triggered when a dissolvable pellet, like an aspirin, gets wet and the firing pin hits and opens the compressed air cartridge.
My boy's buddy lost several of our expensive kayak vests, when he sold his boat.
A few years later he gave me a BPV, just like the one he wears at work, with our local PD.
 
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I haven't been out on the water in a number of years, so I don't know if my question is relevant or not. Years ago, when I discovered I was approaching the top of the carrying capacity of the life jacket I had, I started researching for a replacement that would keep me afloat considering the size I was getting to be.

If memory serves me, the life jacket I had was designed so that the wearer's face was kept out of the water. This would be important in the event that the wearer was knocked unconscious. As I was looking through the catalogs (remember them?) my best recollection was I was not finding life jackets designated as being designed to keep the wearer's face out of the water? Is my memory fuzzy or is there a lack of life jackets being sold that specifically declare that they will hold the wearer's face out of the water?
 
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