Life Jackets???

[beringersd]

Hello

Looking to getting some new life jackets and getting really confused. There is so many different kinds for prices all over the scale. I use my boat for mainly fishing and sometimes pulling a tube with the family.

Thanks for your time.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Life Jackets???

Well you grab a 4 pack of those cheapie orange ones just to be legal, then buy a nice watersports vest for about 50 bucks, I try to buy one a year and now up to 3 nice watersports type of different sizes, Large, Med, Extra large, plus the orange ones, I can have 7 aboard. I also have a couple kid ones that they've outgrown, you'll eventually accumilate a bunch of them, just don't put them away wet and they will last a long time.

 

[reeveshd]

Re: Life Jackets???

Hello:

Me and my family use either stearns or body glove neoprene (sp?) lifejackets with zippers and buckles.

The work well, flip you on your back if you sit still, and they do not rub, and I think very comforable.


They range in the winter time of about 25 bucks to summer about 50 a piece. I found mine and walmart and sams club,

You might not belive this, but I wore one from bocca raton, to key west flying along the shore in a single cessna, it was almost a three hour flight in spring heat, and had not problems with it at all.

I would not use anything else right now.

Reeves

 

[KENCARY]

Re: Life Jackets???

The most important issue is what PFD will YOU wear?

If you don't wear it, it will not help you. For this reason my wife and I wear inflatable belt pfd's. It is worth the extra money if you actually wear the thing.

In a real emergency, you often don't have time to find and don your PFD.

Ken

 

[beringersd]

Re: Life Jackets???

Thanks for all your information.
Is there any difference from Polyester and Neoprene?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Life Jackets???

Big difference, neoprene is soft and cushy polyester is hard and rough, the softie polyester isn't too bad but neoprene is the best of the lot IMO.

 

[riptide09]

Re: Life Jackets???

On my way north Friday night I stopped at Kittery Trading Post in Maine to get a milfoil sticker for my boat and I ended up getting 2 of the O'Neil neoprene vests. They fit great and are very comfortable. We were water skiing off and on all of yesterday and today with no complaints. They were $49.99 each.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Life Jackets???

I find the Sterns nylon ones, with the mesh sides, to be the most comfortable for me when not actively in the water. When in the water ( tubing/skiing), the neoprene ones, zippered and buckled , are really comfortable.
The orange one are also on board as well , redundant I know , but in the fall they are usually on some sort of blowout sale around here, so what the heck- got more for next season!

I guess comfort is the key for me, then they will be worn.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Life Jackets???

My wife and I have inflatables for ourselves, and the rigid orange ones for everyone else.

The important thing to remember about inflatables, is that the Law does not consider an inflatable to be an approved PFD unless it's being worn

If there are 4 people aboard your vessel, and you have 2 inflatables and 2 'other', but all are stored, you aren't legal.

We always carry 2 more PFD's than we have passengers, for that reason. Of course, there's no substitute for actually wearing a PFD at all times.

My .02

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Life Jackets???

I like the ones with mesh shoulders; they are cooler in the summer and don't interfere with shooting in the winter. But some mesh vests are not legal for watersports; read the labels.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Life Jackets???

We keep the orange ones in the bow...you know the safety required ones.

But I find I spend more time in the water than in the boat when we go out, and floating beside the boat in one of the zip/buckle sporty models is just the ticket for me.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Life Jackets???

I recommend decent jacket-like Type III PFDs for the kids (under 12 in NJ) who are required to wear them. I like the ones with the sides connected. They are very superior to the ones that are three pieces. Ditto for the adults who will wear them. For the ones in the bilge, any decent jacket-type will suffice. I do not use the Type II Orange Kapok-type, since they are hard to put on, and are uncomfortable, and I am near the shore on in the bay.

Type I PFDs are good for offshore.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Life Jackets???

Big difference, neoprene is soft and cushy polyester is hard and rough, the softie polyester isn't too bad but neoprene is the best of the lot IMO.

That's a little biased. The polyester vests are lighter and usually better if you aren't in the water and are also cheaper, but I wouldn't call them "rough" by any means. The neoprene vests are better for water sports and usually more comfortable in the water because they form-fit better. I keep 4-5 neoprene vests 2-XL, 1-XXL, 2-L and then the (4-5) rest are polyester of varying sizes. For jet skis, I think the neoprene is a must because of the constant rubbing/jarring you get on the water.

 

[KermieB]

Re: Life Jackets???

I see a lot of people with VERY small children on board. Usually it is the mom carrying or holding the child and dad driving. Most infants have no flotation device on, so I make it a habit (because I'm noisy like that) to point out to the mom that she should be WEARING a life jacket regardless. This, for the same reason the airline stewardess tells you that, in case of an emergency, put on your oxygen mask first, and then help your child. This goes against every basic instinct of a parent, but you cant' save your child when you've passed out for lack of oxygen.

The same holds true for water safety. You can't save your child in the water, if you are having to keep yourself afloat with both arms and legs, and you can't put on a flotation device while you are in the water if you are holding a child that is too small to wear one. Be safe mom and dad....!!

Edit: By the way, when I say very small children, I meant toddlers too small for a vest, usually in a carrier of some sort.