Marine life vests

[TX-Dennis]

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?

Yeah. They are still available, but most do not. You want a type I pfd to turn an unconscious person face up. They are bulky, hot, and relatively expensive. Some type IIs will turn an unconscious person face up, but not all of them will. The main ones that will are the old "Mae West" design. The most common are type III - what most people refer to as life vests. They will keep you afloat, but will NOT turn you face up if you're unconscious.

Of course, there are also type IV throwable pfds which most boats are required to have at least one on board, and type V specialty vests many of which will also turn an unconscious person face up.

 

[Telecaster]

Type III is recommended for Scout activities, and there's a Maverick for $60 that looks comfortable. If we go out to sea, we can wear whatever the vessel has on board.

Type I and II will turn an unconscious person right side up so they can breath, but are bulky and uncomfortable. Most of the inflatable ones are automatic and manual.

 

[Telecaster]

One thing I learned, many vests do not actually have a USCG certification. I guess for very casual use, they're better than nothing. That makes shopping tricky and difficult.

 

[soFlaNative]

Don't go without.
Whale surfaces, capsizes fishing boat off New Hampshire coast | AP News
Mini season (lobster) opened today, winds are fresh, 3 ft. with a moderate chop and already news reports of a capsized boat off Virginia Key.

 

[Telecaster]

Don't go without.
Whale surfaces, capsizes fishing boat off New Hampshire coast | AP News
Mini season (lobster) opened today, winds are fresh, 3 ft. with a moderate chop and already news reports of a capsized boat off Virginia Key.

Yup, the teenagers who rescued the boaters said they'd start wearing life vests now.