Life Vests or Life Jackets

[sbenest]

I have been looking around various websites and articles in the United States and note that most people seem to use life vests which here in England we would call a buoyancy aid. I am thinking of maybe trying to sell inflatable lifejackets into the US as they are much safer in the case of accidents or MOB incidents. How do you think it would be received?

[Solitude]

What do you call an inflatable life jacket? There are many different types and ratings in the US. Look it up.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...on-Devices.htm

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by sbenest

I have been looking around various websites and articles in the United States and note that most people seem to use life vests which here in England we would call a buoyancy aid. I am thinking of maybe trying to sell inflatable lifejackets into the US as they are much safer in the case of accidents or MOB incidents. How do you think it would be received?

There are several companies marketing them now. You will likely need Coast Guard approval for them to be considered "legal."

[td1]

I think the current term is "personal flotation device" (PFD), at least that's what they're called these days in the world of whitewater rivers.

[David M]

Originally Posted by sbenest

I am thinking of maybe trying to sell inflatable lifejackets into the US as they are much safer in the case of accidents or MOB incidents.

I don't think that the inflatable life jackets are safer because there is not a 100% guarantee that they are going to inflate. With closed cell foam jackets, there is no concern about whether or not that are going to float.

The inflatable ones are used because they are more comfortable, not because they are safer. They are only safer in the sense that people are more likely to wear more comfortable lifejacket.

Uncomfortable...


Comfortable....

[cdennyb]

VERY NICE GLASSES. LOL

[sailorboy1]

seems to stick out a long way from the body

[Liam Wald]

If you own a Beneteau, Jeaneau, or Bavaria boat you do not need a life jacket. Nothing will save your life... you will die no matter what.

[Tom Spohn]

Recent "cold water boot camp" tests done both in Canada and the US make mention of the life coats for cold water use. A vest is necessary to keep one from going under in cold water, but provides no insulation.

Mustang Survival Flotation Coats

[cdennyb]

ESPECIALLY IF MY WIFE CATCHES ME WITH THOSE TWO LIFE PRESERVERS ON BOARD!

[sbenest]

Phew! What a life preserver you've got!
You are absolutely right lifejackets are much more comfortable to wear and the Hydro Static inflation systems are superbly reliable. They also normally will have a much higher buoyancy rating. In the UK a buoyancy aid ( uncomfortable) would would be rated 100 newtons compared with a lifejacket (comfortable) at 150 Newtons. Converts 100 newtons = 22.5 Lbs.
If your boating takes any amount of moving around then life jacket makes things so much easier and therefore more likely that people will wear them.
PS I've got some nice pictures on my blog but sadly not up to your standard!
Cheers

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Simon,
I had a discussion with sailing friends and a West Marine sailsperson one time and if I were to buy an inflatable I'd opt for an automatically inflatable PFD because if you were wearing an inflatable that was manually operated and you were tossed or knocked in the water you may not be conscious enough to inflate it. Since I get wet frequently and wearing an automatic inflatable might cause me to keep recharging it at $20 to $40 each time. Too expensive! So, I opt for the old buoyancy aids but more often don't wear one unless I leave the bay. When I leave the bay I wear a tether most the time.
During our training course we require positive buoyancy aids (PFDs). Since we cannot afford to recharge the student's PFDs each time they go out on the water in small dinghies we use a water ski type PFD that is fairly comfortable and lets the user reach without too much hindrance.
regards,
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