What Is a Personal Flotation Device or PFD?
A personal flotation device, also called PFD helps you stay afloat on the surface of the water during a variety of recreational activities and situations. Life jackets and life vests are all commonly known by the name PFDs or personal flotation devices. PFDs are an essential piece of gear for every serious canoer, kayaker, and stand-up paddleboarder.
As their name implies, their job is to keep the wearer safe and alive during some recreational watersports activities such as skiing or wake surfing. However, they are not meant to be used for high-impact activities such as tubing, operating a PWC, or white water paddling.
With so many different options to choose from, it can be hard to pick the right buoyancy aid. Selecting the right life jacket is an important decision as there are several different factors to be considered.
Before we jump to the factors upon which you need to make your decision let’s first consider the different types of life jackets and vests available on the market.
Types of Life Jackets and Vests
There are several different types of approved PFDs that have a variety of uses. Depending on your preferences you can select the type that best suits your needs.
Foam
There is a wide selection of foam life jackets designs available for children, adults, and even dogs. These type of life jackets and vests features multi-layered foam with three adjustable belts available in a wide range of colours. Foam jackets have 50 or 100N buoyancy and they are not intended to keep people afloat for a longer period of time.
Nevertheless, they give the wearer plenty of freedom to move and they are all suitable for different types of watersports including waterskiing, canoeing, kayaking, and jetskiing. Foam life jackets are less expensive than automatic life jackets and they require less effort.
Semi-Automatic or Manual Life Jacket – The Hybrid Jacket
Automatic self-inflating life jackets and vests are must-haves as they provide far more benefits than a traditional foam life jacket. They feature durable construction and provide improved stability.
What’s more, they feature membrane inflatable technology inflation cell which kicks in within seconds of getting into the water. Some designs include a safety whistle, reflective tape, a webbing belt, and a snap-lock buckle. These types of vests are very comfortable, lightweight, and flexible and are all CoastGuard approved, which suggests they are of premium quality.
Automatic Life Jackets
This boating life vest works on the principle that an element in the inflation mechanism, usually a water-soluble tablet, when it comes in contact with water automatically triggers the gas cartridge to release CO2, which in turn inflates the air chambers of the life jacket. Automatic life jackets provide the most buoyancy ( they range from 100N to 300), are excellent for flotation, and will turn most unconscious persons face up in the water.
They feature a lightweight, comfortable and slender design made from durable fabric that resists tears and punctures. Most types feature a whistle on the life jacket for attracting attention and an option for a SOLAS light which is particularly useful for night sailors and offshore sailing.
How to Choose the Right Life Jacket
Choosing the wrong PFD jacket can leave you frustrated, unable to enjoy fully the activity you are doing. Therefore, being mindful of these factors will help you make a more informed decision.
Check for a Proper Fit
PFD vest jackets should fit slightly loose in order to allow water under the front of the jacket so that the device can function properly. All zippers, fasteners, and straps should be properly fastened to ensure a proper fit.
Besides, you should verify that the jacket is appropriate for a person’s size and weight for ideal support and performance, as one that is too small may lack sufficient buoyancy to keep the wearer afloat. However, when it comes to kid’s sizes, a life jacket should never be a complete substitute for adult supervision.
Ensure the Life Jacket Is in Proper Condition
Once you select the proper type, make sure that the life jacket is in good condition as well. Life jackets should be regularly tested for buoyancy and proper fit at the start of each season. After all, you don’t want to risk your life and wear a jacket that is rigged or damaged. Therefore you need to provide a thorough inspection to ensure that the life jacket you wear isn’t damaged in some way.
Know How to Use It
In case of emergency, you need to know where your life jacket is stored and how to use it properly. Life jackets can be literal lifesavers for fishermen on boats, kayaks, and standup paddleboards. There are two primary methods to put on your life jacket, including a pullover and the zipper buckle option. The first one, as its name suggests, you pull the vest down over your head similar to a t-shirt. The zipper buckle method ensures the life jacket stays snug when worn.
