Life Jackets, Life Preservers,
PFD's for personal watercraft,
boating, sailing, and canoeing.

Life Jackets, or life preservers, are also referred to as PFD's, which is short for "Personal Flotation Device". Lifejackets are rated and approved by the US Coast Guard, and they need to be fitted properly in order to function correctly. While the Coast Guard ratings provide you with information about the safety performance of PFD's, you will also want to consider the "comfort factor" as well as the design and the actual materials that go into the construction of your life jacket.

PFD's are rated Type I, II, III, or V. These ratings are done by the Coast Guard, which rates each PFD based on the amount of flotation provided, and the ability to turn an unconscious wearer upright, or support a wearer in an upright position. Type I is rated highest on this scale, with the type III lifejacket being the most common type in use today for water skiing and other water sports activities.

All recreational boats must carry one PFD for each person aboard. Any boat 16ft and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry one throwable PFD (Type IV PFD). Many states also require children to wear a life vest at all times when onboard any boat. Personal watercraft operators and passengers also need to wear lifejackets at all times, as do water skiers and water sports participants.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with your state's boating safety regulations before you head for the water, then follow our links to marine suppliers who provide a broad selection of life preservers and other water sports equipment to keep you safe on the water.

When purchasing life jackets, consider the amount and type of usage that each life jacket will see. You can get by with in-expensive style type II PFD's just to have the required number of PFD's on board (one for each occupant). These rarely see in water use, but are somewhat safer than a type III. They are not very comfortable to wear, but they do satisfy the Coast Guard requirements.

If you are looking for a flotation device to wear while you are in your boat, but not necessarily planning to be in the water, you will want to consider the many styles of type III vests available. Many of these life jackets are designed for fisherman with pockets, lure holders, etc... Comfort is the biggest consideration in this situation so be sure to look for a vest that is properly sized and fits your body shape. There are also "flotation coats" available that fall in this category if you are boating in cold weather. This is a lot more convenient than wearing a coat and a seperate life jacket, and much safer than not wearing a PFD at all!

For water sports activities, skiing, wakeboarding, etc., consider a type III vest that has heavy duty webbing and fasteners. The higher quality vests will also feature thicker flotation that provides more impact protection. Many of the PFD's in this category feature 4 and 5 straps as opposed to a lighter weight 3 strap vest. You will also want to consider the type of flotation foam used in your life jacket. The better foams are much softer and allow for a better fit and more comfort, while in-expensive foams are stiffer and may compress over time, reducing the amount of flotation provided. Neoprene life vests (wet suit type material) are typically the most comfortable vests as well as the most expensive life jackets in this category.

The Internet is a great place to find all types of flotation equipment for water skiing, general purpose boating, sailing, canoeing, and fishing in sizes ranging from infant up to adult 5XL! Check out our links to water sports equipment suppliers that can provide you with life vests as well as all your boating safety needs.

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