cheap life jackets

[rhino_160]

Hello all,
I am looking for a pack of the cheap, orange/red life jackets for my pontoon to ensure i have enough for all my passengers. I am not needing anything fancy, just to keep me legal on the water if I have 10 people with me. I have a few really nice jackets for tubing and such but need the cheapest i can get so the water Po-Po will not write me a ticket. where do you recommend?

 

[agallant80]

Re: cheap life jackets

Go to eBay and type in "life jacket pack". I saw a bunch that were 4 for $25

 

[NYBo]

Re: cheap life jackets

You can buy multipacks at many stores. But you need to have one in the proper size for each passenger, and they have to be readily accessible- sealed in the original packaging stowed below a bunch of junk in a storage compartment won't cut it.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: cheap life jackets

kmart/walmart has them in 4 packs, take them out and have everyone adjust to fit, don't want them fixing straps while sinking

 

[smclear]

Re: cheap life jackets

Just be sure to remove them from any packaging before placing them on the boat. If you're stopped, and a safety inspection is done, They won't "count" if they're still in their packaging.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: cheap life jackets

This thread, while I understand the real meaning just cracks me up, the words cheap and life jacket just tend to go against each other.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: cheap life jackets

This thread, while I understand the real meaning just cracks me up, the words cheap and life jacket just tend to go against each other.

you get what you pay for in life.........I'd spend a few bucks more and avoid the "arm floaties"

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: cheap life jackets

I was a little appalled by the tone of the OP at first, because it seemed to disregard the safety of his passengers. However, we all need to remember that even the orange "floaties" are USCG-approved Type II PFDs. They have the capability to save a life.

My two cents though is that all passengers' safety and comfort should be equal to or better than the captain's. The tenth passenger on my boat gets the same life-saving equipment that I get.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: cheap life jackets

I was a little appalled by the tone of the OP at first, because it seemed to disregard the safety of his passengers. However, we all need to remember that even the orange "floaties" are USCG-approved Type II PFDs. They have the capability to save a life.

My two cents though is that all passengers' safety and comfort should be equal to or better than the captain's. The tenth passenger on my boat gets the same life-saving equipment that I get.

agreed.. as for me,, if it does not zip up and on,, I'd avoid it

 

[coolbri70]

Re: cheap life jackets

if I have guests aboard, they get the vests, I take the cheapo around the neck for myself. I never wear them after may, before that its required by law to wear at all times on the river where I boat

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: cheap life jackets

The big plus is that while very few people are willing to be seen in the orange Cheapie vests, many more will be inclined to actually wear a nicer looking comfortable vest. Plus, you don't look like a boat full of Orange Smurfs!

I carry blue vests to match the blue Boat. All nicely color coordinated.
2 youth Size, 4 adult, and 4 adult jumbos. 10 total. Placarded for 8, only seating for 7. Don't forget the required throwable Type IV.
If the kids balk at having to wear the vest. Let them wear a sports jersey over the vest.

You may also find that the more expensive vests are less expensive in the long run when you have to keep re-purchasing the cheepies.

 

[rhino_160]

Re: cheap life jackets

Well this post went a little off beat as to the reason I needed cheap jackets wasn't thoroughly explained because I didn't feel
Like typing it all out.... But with that said, the reasoning for the cheap ones is just to stay legal when we are on the water, anchored in a no-wake type area where we grill out on the boat but have jet skis and large floating islands to swim around on. We don't use the pontoon boat for the long lake rides, we use it like a mobile boat dock if you will. We have really nice, expensive jackets for the jet ski riders and such.

 

[thumpar]

Re: cheap life jackets

We have a local sporting goods store them sells the orange ones for $5-6. They stay stored but accessible in the floor. We get them to make use legal. Our placard allows for 12 people. The kids always wear a nice one. We also have a few really nice ones for adults. The stored ones tend to get nasty after a couple seasons and at $5-6 each it is not a big lose to throw them out and get new ones.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: cheap life jackets

We don't use the pontoon boat for the long lake rides, we use it like a mobile boat dock if you will. We have really nice, expensive jackets for the jet ski riders and such.

Understood. You are new to iBoats (welcome by the way!) so it's tough for us to know the intent of your post. You would be surprised at some of the people that post on here in terms of their ignorance
of safe boating, etc.

That said, even in what you are considering a safe environment - a mobile boat dock - just about anything can happen. A severe storm can whip in out of nowhere before you can pull anchor. Always remember that those life jackets are there to save someone's life, not just to avoid having the "Po-Po" write you a ticket. Hopefully they are never needed or used, but one still shouldn't buy safety devices based upon that premise. More so, it should be done presuming the worst and hoping for the best.

About 15 years ago, Mrs. Captain Caveman and I were fishing on a large lake in Minnesota. Out of nowhere, the Water Patrol boat zoomed past and over the loudspeaker was advising all boats to clear the water immediately because a tornado was bearing down. We made it to the boat landing only to find a line of boats and trucks trying to leave. Looking back we saw the remnants of the tornado going across the water in the general vicinity of where we had been fishing. Without that Water Patrol warning, we would have been in trouble. It had been a sunny day in the upper 80s when things changed in the span of a few minutes. A mobile boat dock would have struggled to get all of the swimmers back on board in that time and would have been in some nasty water conditions heading towards shore. A life jacket situation for sure.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: cheap life jackets

What one should do boating is all so circumstantial that no one can judge another--above certain minimums. Here, USCG set the minimum.

Safety is all about assessing risks and using judgment. Is it dangerous to have anything less than full body thermal float suit with built-in EPIRB worn by all passengers at all times, on a Florida lake in the summer? Of course not. But then again only having a BUO* life vest stowed somewhere, while legal, is not safe for wintertime solo night fishing in the Chesapeake Bay.

My equipment ranges from a pack of BUO life vests to a Mustang survival float coat--and lots in between.

But one thing people need to do is practice putting on a BUO. They are complicated. Land lubbers can't put them on, nor can children. A practice drill is a great idea, if even for yourself.

ALso some LEO's will fail you on inspection for "readily available PFD" if everyone can't put theirs on and have them fastened in under a minute. That is actually more reasonable than it seems, since a boat will sink--evenone with floatation--ni less time. So give it a try.

For the sake of the dignity of your passengers, if you have some who are required to wear PFD's--under 14, time of year, non-swimmers, then get them a vest so they won't have to schlepp around in a BUO all day.

*BUO = Big Ugly Orange

 

[dingbat]

Re: cheap life jackets

Well this post went a little off beat as to the reason I needed cheap jackets wasn't thoroughly explained because I didn't feel
Like typing it all out.... But with that said, the reasoning for the cheap ones is just to stay legal when we are on the water, anchored in a no-wake type area where we grill out on the boat but have jet skis and large floating islands to swim around on. We don't use the pontoon boat for the long lake rides, we use it like a mobile boat dock if you will. We have really nice, expensive jackets for the jet ski riders and such.

Gilligan's island started as a "3- hour cruise"......

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: cheap life jackets

Gilligan's island started as a "3- hour tour"......

Fixed.

 

[bigdirty]

Re: cheap life jackets

I can understand the urge to 'be legal for the water police' but safety gear.. eek.. I will buy decent (properly rated) jackets on sale, but I won't go for the cheapest of the cheep.. like has been said, you get what you pay for. fox40 marine rated fire extinguishers are about twice the cost of a generic same size at the local hardware store, but i don't even blink at that... Hope I never need it, but if i do, i feel better to have the best i can have, not what was cheapest. :lol: Buy cheeper beer, engine oil, ANYTHING else but safety gear... I have an assortment of jackets, and the rule is simple on my boat; You find a jacket, put it on and make sure it fits proper, and if you don't want to wear it while running, fine but you keep it within reach or in your grasp while the boat is underway. Under 16 your jacket goes on before the boat leaves the dock, doesn't come off till we're anchored somewhere and motors off, or back at a dock.

 

[thumpar]

Re: cheap life jackets

Growing up all we had were the cheap orange life jackets. They worked fine just, not the best looking though. I use the orange ones as an emergency device. They are there in case. Since they are stored most of the time they get nasty over time. I am not going to spend a ton of money on something that will have to be replaced every few years when the cheap ones do just a good of a job. I am not cheap on most boat items. My Jet Pilot side entry vest was around $100. In total I would guess we have $300+ in life vest minus the orange ones. Like you the kids always have theirs on. They also have nice HO neoprene vests.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: cheap life jackets

We keep a 4 pack of the cheap orange ones around as well. Too hard to have vests that fit right for any random adult who comes on board. We've got plenty of spare kids vests for guest children that our kids have grown out of. Our family all have good tight fitting watersport jackets, the orange stuff is just to be legal when cruising with visitors - nobody ever puts one on.