AThis is determined by the number of people on the boat. You will need to have a life vest available for everyone aboard the vessel, with children under the age of 13 required to have them on at all times. In most states, it is also a requirement that you have a throwable PFD (Personal Floatation Device such as a floating ring) aboard, just in case someone goes overboard while not wearing their life vest.
Q When should a life jacket be discarded and replaced?
ALife vests don’t necessarily have an expiry date, but the length of time they will be useful and reliable will depend on the amount of use they undergo and how you take care of them. It is, however, considered the norm to replace a life jacket after ten years, no matter how often it has been used or its apparent condition. These are somewhat maintenance-free devices, and so an annual inspection of their condition is recommended, especially since adult-sized vests might go for years without being made use of.
Q How should a life jacket fit?
AThe terminology the authorities (Coast Guard) used for this question is ‘comfortably snug.’ This means two things: First, you should be able to fasten it in such a way that it fits snugly across your torso, and if you can’t, then it’s too big for you. Second, you should feel comfortable moving freely after fastening it, and if you can’t, then it’s too small for you. A loose life vest might be pulled up and over your head by water should you happen to fall over, while an exceedingly tight life vest might restrict your ability to maneuver yourself out of the situation.
Q Do you need a life jacket on a kayak?
AThe short answer here is YES. In most states, the law requires everyone under the age of 13 to have a life vest when onboard any recreational vessel. In general terms, the laws require any vessels of lengths extending beyond 16 feet to have life vests available for every passenger on board. These vests must be of a type and quality that the Coast Guard approves.
Q How to clean life jackets?
A After being out on the water, follow these steps to properly clean a life vest:
Take clean water and wet its surface to start with. You can apply a specialized marine cleaner or any mild detergent onto the vest’s surface and then use a soft-bristle brush to scrub its surface.
Go on to rinse it with fresh water until all the cleanser is removed, then allow it to dry out before placing it in a cool, dry storage location.
In case of a moldy or smelly life vest, brush away any visible spores, replace the cleaning agent with a mild bleach solution, and repeat the described process.
Q Do life vests keep you afloat?
AThe purpose of a life vest is to keep you afloat, even when you are unconscious or unable to make any motions to help keep you from sinking. The typical life vest is filled with air, which counteracts your weight and keeps you at surface level. Non-inflatable vests operate on the same principle, as foam vests, for example, are made of materials that hold numerous tiny air pockets within them.
Q How to wear a life vest?
AThe specific steps here will vary depending on the type of life vest in question, but the basic procedure is a simple one. The first thing you will do is place the life vest over your head through the neck opening, making sure the front part is at your chest. You will then attach the straps and secure them around your waist to be taught but not too tight. To inflate the vest, you will pull the inflate cord attached to it. Foam life vests will not need any inflation, so it will be enough to put them on correctly and ensure they’re strapped securely.
Q What are the types of life vests?
AThere are five life vest types in current use, and each of them is suited to a particular purpose or condition.
Type 1 – Offshore Life Vests: These are made for use in relatively rough or somewhat remote areas, especially those where any emergency rescue operation might take a long time to come about. Their design emphasizes buoyancy, and they will ensure that not only is the wearer kept afloat, but at the right side up to allow for even unconscious persons to breathe.
Type 2 – Near-Shore Vests: Calmer or more closely supervised waters are suitable for this vest type. They are very buoyant, but not they may not necessarily have a wearer who is unconscious turn to face the open air.
Type 3 – Floatation Aids: These vests are suitably adequate in calm waters where any emergency will be rapidly noticed and attended to. They are not recommendable for rougher conditions, as they will keep the wearer afloat, but the chances of helping them turn the right side up are 50-50. You will most often find these being used by water skiers, wakeboarders, and surfers.
Type 4 – Throwable Floatation Devices: These are not designed to be worn but held on to by a person in distress. Federal law requirements demand all vessels reaching beyond 16 feet to have at least one Coast Guard-approved device of this type on board. The most common device of this type is the floatation ring you see hanging by the side of most small to medium-sized vessels.
Type 5 – Special-Use Floatation Devices: These are specifically designed for different purposes such as windsurfing, kayaking, wakeboarding, and more. They will each have their specific usage instructions and guidelines for users to adhere to according to their design and functionality.
Q How long do life vests last?
ALife vests are designed to be long-lasting pieces of equipment and thus do not have what we may refer to as an expiry date. Even so, any repairs or alterations made to them might harm their lifespan. For the most part, if you keep your life vests clean, store them in cool and dry conditions, and correctly use them, they should last you ten years or more. Children’s life vests will usually be the most frequently made use of, while adult sizes might only be called for in rare or emergency cases. You should make sure that you check on them at least once a year if they have not been used in that duration, and give them extra-careful inspection after every use.
Q How does a life vest work?
AThere have been plenty of floatation devices over the years preceding what we know as the life vest or jacket today. These vests are made of materials or inflatable attachments that float in water. The significant difference is that modern devices are attached to the wearer, allowing their arms to be free to paddle or otherwise help themselves out of their predicament. When a person wearing a life vest falls into the water, its buoyancy will counteract their body’s tendency to sink downwards, thereby keeping them from submerging underwater entirely and, perhaps, drowning.
Q What is a life vest?
AThis personal flotation device comes in the shape of a vest worn around the neck and tied to the body to help a person avoid drowning should they find themselves distressed in a large body of water. Life vests are designed to keep the wearer’s mouth above water level with no effort from the wearer. Even an unconscious person might be kept afloat and able to breathe freely in this way, potentially saving their life.
Q How long do wetsuits last?
AA good wetsuit should last a careful owner anywhere from 4 to 10 years or even more. The main factor influencing its lifespan will be how much use it sees, as long as it is handled and cared for as it should. You should note that quality or price also influences wetsuit lifespans, with cheaper suits often developing tears or zipper problems much sooner than higher-end suits.
Q How to store a wetsuit?
AOnce out of the water, rinse it out with cold water to get rid of any salty water, sand, or pebbles that might be in there. Ideal storage should be over a round, smooth surface like a balcony railing, for example, to ensure no edges stress or damage the sensitive rubber. Be careful NOT to store your wetsuit under direct sunlight, as this will degrade the neoprene and shorten the wetsuit’s lifespan.
Q How to clean & wash a wetsuit?
AFor best results, use a wetsuit cleaner and cool water. Mix the cleaner into the tub of water, then take your wetsuit, turn it inside-out, and submerge it fully into the water. Gently knead the solution into the suit, then leave it to sit in the tub for 10 minutes or so. Pour out the mixture and rinse the wetsuit thoroughly in fresh, cool water. Washing machines are not recommended but set the spin cycle to slow and use cold water if you insist on using one.
Q How to put on a wetsuit?
AYou should first make sure that both you and the wetsuit are dry to make the process easier. Preferably in a cool spot, start by getting your feet through their proper openings. Do this gently, taking care not to pull too hard. You can place a plastic bag over your feet as you do this if you have trouble at this stage. The rest will simply be rolling the suit up past your groin (make sure it fits snug all along the way) and up to your chest. Put your hands through their openings, and all that will remain will be to zip up and hit the water.
Q Do wetsuits help you float?
AThe nitrogen-infused in wetsuits not only provides insulation but helps wearers float easier. It is much easier for a person without a wetsuit to drown than one wearing one, although it does happen sometimes. Thicker wetsuits will provide a higher degree of buoyancy than thinner ones, and divers will sometimes have to wear weight to counteract this buoyancy and allow them to sink deeper with ease.
Q Why do surfers wear wetsuits?
ASurfers wear wetsuits when they go out onto the water for a couple of reasons. Wetsuits provide them with protection from the cold, especially in certain weather conditions. The gas embedded in the neoprene also provides them with a degree of buoyancy, helping them get back to the surface of the water quickly in case they should wipe out (fall off their board). They will also be protected to a large extent against potential scrapes, abrasions, and stinging marine creatures.
Q What thickness wetsuit do I need?
AWetsuits come in various thicknesses, and the best choice for you will depend on what you intend to be doing while wearing them. In general, the thicker the wetsuit, the warmer it will keep you, but the less agility or mobility it will allow. A surfer, for instance, might prefer a 3/2 (3mm in the torso and 2mm in the limbs) wetsuit for greater flexibility, while a diver going into deep, cold waters might be better off with a thicker 5/3 suit.
Q How to buy a wetsuit?
AWetsuits can be ordered online or at any sporting supply outlet. However, you will need to consider a few things before making your purchase, such as what you intend to use it for, what size fits you, the quality you require, and what you’re willing to spend. First-time buyers should go out and try wetsuits on so that they get one that fits them properly.
Q Why are most wetsuits black?
AThe most important reason for most wetsuits being black is that this color is the most efficient at protecting wearers from the harmful effects of Ultra-Violet rays (UV rays). Black is the most effective photon absorber, which makes it an excellent shield against these rays. Black will also absorb and retain heat from the sun, which will go a long way in boosting the wetsuit’s heat-retaining qualities. It is, finally, a neutral color that very few people would mind wearing for whatever reasons.
