I've been thinking about getting one now that I'm at the beach all the time and a couple friends down here have some boats. Was also interested in doing some snorkeling, learning how to surf and windsurfing.

Over the years I've sustained some injuries to my torso/core that didn't heal right and I have never been a strong swimmer (though I want to change that once I figure out what's wrong with me). I can tread water well enough but 1 cramp can really change all that.

Should I be buying one for different types of scenarios or is there a general purpose vest that does all/most of it?

I remember my Uncle used to make everyone on his boat wear one or else they weren't allowed on.

I read up on the different types and I think a Type III fits my usage but I'd like your feedback before I order one.


ETA: Is there a specific brand that stands out from the rest? A flotation material that I should use?

I would buy more a ‘water sports’ type vest, can be used for everything.

The water sports type will fit tighter & more secure. It’s designed to stay on as one falls with skis or off the jet ski. Many can be stylish & relatively thin, comfortable.

Well, I guess if you cruise the North Atlantic in a rowboat, there may be another choice.

When our kids were midlin we at times went North where the relatives had water toys. I preferred to bring my own properly fitting vests, rather than just use what’s available.

USCG is changing PFD rating to be more constant to international measures in relation to floatation ability

try many on, each fit a little different. I have high floatation ski jackets as well as the old school orange collar jackets on my boat

I would go to a boating store, and try several on. If it is comfortable, you will be more apt to wear it.

For snorkeling or surfing, I would use a wetsuit. Either a 3/4 wetsuit, or possibly a full length suit. When you are sitting in the water, the buoyancy around your shoulders does not help much. Buoyance lower helps as it is submerged.

4 mil thick at least.

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
I would buy more a ‘water sports’ type vest, can be used for everything.

The water sports type will fit tighter & more secure. It’s designed to stay on as one falls with skis or off the jet ski. Many can be stylish & relatively thin, comfortable.

Yes, but some (many) of them also rely on your remaining conscious. That's really the big difference in the different types of PFDs: One class, such as sport vests, depend upon the wearer remaining conscious. Others will keep your head above water, conscious or not.

It is true sport vest PFDs are more comfortable.

When my wife and I sailed we always wore one of the better brands of auto-inflatable PFDs without exception. There are just too many things that can go wrong, too quickly, on a sailboat, not to do so.

The problem with auto-inflating vests is they need their inflators replaced regularly. I don't know about today's technology, but the ones we used had little aspirin-sized "pills" which were the immersion "sensors." Those had to be regularly replaced, too. (What a lot of sailors do, when their immersion sensors and inflators reach replacement time, is jump in the water with the vest to test it, then replace them. [They are one-shot consumables.])

When my wife and I joined the St. Clair River/Port Huron Float Down, one year, I bought us a pair of highly-rated sport-type vests. I knew that, during that long float-down, what with drinking beer the whole time I'd need to get out of the vinyl inflatable from time-to-time

They were comfortable and I floated acceptably (tested before we left shore), but I wouldn't have wanted to have to trust in mine keeping my head above water were I unconscious. Conversely: There were no knock-out hazards on that little inflatable, we were surrounded by hundreds-upon-hundreds of other participants, and there was a strong marine cop presence the whole way down.

Bottom line: What PFD you need is determined by how you'll be boating.

If you wear any, you'll be doing more than 99% of boaters.

For Puerto Rico, I would assume you would need an offshore rated one for boating. I would also assume that your friends boats would be coast guard complaint and would have the appropriate life preserver on board for every person. Just ask to borrow one of the on board flotation devices while underway.

For snorkeling, they make inflatables that you can blow up or deflate with your mouth. I think those are ideal because sometimes you want to swim down and get a closer look. If you get tired, you can inflate and rest on the surface for a bit of a rest.

I'm in SW Florida on a boat many weekends out of the year, and I wear an inshore rated inflatable. When it gets wet, it automatically inflates. Its comfortable to wear, so I wear it all the time while underway.

The most important thing is getting one that fits well. No good wearing a Type (insert rating here) if it slips up and or off when you enter the drink.

When I was in we wore type III work vests. They work if you are awake and not injured…falling 40’ off a jacobs ladder and entering the water will make you wish you had on a type I.

We used type I for abandoning ship. It keeps your head up even if unconscious. Not feasible if just swimming snorkeling or sailing.

Many units are using inflatable PFDs, (type V),they are expensive and must be maintained regularly-I would wear one if I was working at sea, but not for fun. I’ve seen them fail. And you don’t want a PFD that doesn’t float. Treading water until some saves you is not good.

When my kid was small we got a type I for kids. I buckled him into every one the store had and I lifted him by the collar to see if he would slip out. If we go out now that he’s bigger he will get a type III just like the rest of us.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:
For Puerto Rico, I would assume you would need an offshore rated one for boating. I would also assume that your friends boats would be coast guard complaint and would have the appropriate life preserver on board for every person. Just ask to borrow one of the on board flotation devices while underway.

It really depends. If they're staying within a few miles of shore and the weather is mild, an inshore/type II or type III PFD is probably fine.

Offshore/type I PFDs are really intended for severe weather or when you're far offshore and might be in the water for hours before anyone can get to you.

Also, borrowing one of the boat's USCG compliance PFDs will certainly do in a pinch, but every boat I've ever had or can remember being on carries inexpensive basic but functional PFDs for USCG compliance. They will do the job of keeping you afloat, but they're bulky and generally not very comfortable to actually wear.

I would recommend that anyone who wants to actually wear a PFD on a regular basis while boating (rather than simply having it available for emergency situations) go out and buy a "better" PFD.

"Better" in this context doesn't necessarily mean it will do a better job of keeping you afloat, just that the size and fit and distribution of flotation will make it much more comfortable to actually wear and move around in.

I would definitely still stick to a USCG certified PFD and avoid uncertified "toy" PFDs and canoe/kayak PFDs.

A side note, Type II and Type III PFDs are both intended for inshore/nearshore use in mild weather and have the same minimum flotation requirements. The difference is that Type II PFDs are supposed to (but aren't guaranteed to) keep you face up if you're unconscious, while Type III PFDs generally won't.