I didn’t see the wave coming that tossed me to the end of my tether; I was too busy trying to secure a headsail on the thrashing foredeck of my dad’s old J/44. We had recently peeled from a heavy J1 to a high-cut J3, and my job was to ensure that the big jib made it into its blue North Sails bag and not into “The Race,” that often-choppy slot of water separating New York’s Long Island Sound from Rhode Island’s Block Island Sound. We were roughly 60 percent of the way through the 2005 Block Island Race, and our helmsman was clearly tired as he stuffed our bow directly into an oncoming square wave. 

That’s when my sea boots left the deck. I landed atop my buddy, someplace near the port shrouds. I was happy that I hadn’t cracked my head on anything stainless steel or ­fiberglass. My buddy was happy that I was still on the boat. Two minutes later, we were back in the business district, sorting out the sail.

Yes, I finished my watch as wet as a rat in a drain ditch, but there’s no question that my tether, which was clipped to a foredeck padeye, saved my bacon. Thankfully, my PFD didn’t deploy unnecessarily, and I gained confidence in the system. 

Many years have slipped astern since that Block Island Race, but the basics of personal flotation devices are the same, as is the safety they afford. 

PFDs come in five types. Type I is for cruising, racing and fishing offshore, and for use by commercial ships, or when boating alone, or in stormy conditions. It can be inherently buoyant or inflatable (or a hybrid of the two), and provides a minimum of 22 pounds of flotation. 

Type II typically refers to the chunky orange-foam affairs with at least 15.5 pounds of positive flotation, but the type can also encompass some inflatable vests. It is best for daysailing in small boats. Type III is for activities such as sailing regattas, dinghy races, water-skiing, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and provides at least 22.5 pounds of positive buoyancy. Type IV, with 16.5 pounds of buoyancy, is a throwable device such as a horseshoe buoy.  

Then there’s Type V, which has 15.5 to 22.5 pounds of buoyancy, is inflatable or hybrid inflatable and inherently buoyant, and is designated as a “special-use device” for activities such as inshore and offshore sailing. 

This article will consider eight Type V PFDs. Their designs may differ, but they all rely on an empty air bladder, a filled and sealed carbon dioxide cartridge, and a release mechanism. Some employ water-­soluble discs or capsules that trigger the spring-loaded firing pin that pierces the carbon dioxide cartridge, while others have a hydrostatic mechanism that fires when the vest is submerged in a few ­inches of water (water pressure on the hydrostatic sensor serves as the tipping point). While both types work well, hydrostatic systems are less likely to fire accidentally if exposed to huge amounts of on-deck water.

 Additionally, Type V PFDs all have a manual-release rip cord and an oral inflation tube in case the built-in systems fail, or if the air bladder needs topping off later. In all cases, it’s important to read the manufacturer’s care and use instructions, and to replace key components per the manufacturer’s guidelines.

I evaluated these PFDs by considering their features, wearing them with sailing gear, and floating in them at my local pool. Here’s what I found.

Mustang Survival MIT 100 Automatic Inflatable PFD

This PFD has more going on than initially meets the eye. Most PFDs employ an inner air bladder protected by an exterior jacket that breaks away when the jacket inflates. This US Coast Guard-approved PFD instead has Mustang Survival’s Membrane Inflatable Technology and the company’s clever “one-fold design.” The combo means the PFD’s air bladder is physically housed inside a protective jacket. When the jacket deploys, two Velcro strips rip away, revealing the jacketed and inflated bladder. This same design makes the MIT 100 the easiest PFD in this article to repack: Just bleed the air, rearm the carbon dioxide cartridge and trigger mechanism, and fold over two flaps. While the MIT 100 doesn’t have a tether hardpoint, its lower price point could make it a good choice for inshore cruising or blue-sky daysailing. The PFD’s waist belt is easily adjustable for guests, and an inspection window lets you evaluate the firing mechanism’s status. In the water, this PFD is comfortable, but there isn’t much behind-the-neck head support.

Mustang Survival HIT Hydrostatic Inflatable PFD With Sailing Harness

This is an affordable PFD with a full sailing harness, a hydrostatic trigger mechanism, and US Coast Guard approval. Its air bladder comes bundled in a sturdy jacket built from 500-denier Cordura, and it sports a neoprene-lined collar. A beefy harness with two equally beefy stainless-steel D-rings allows for attaching a tether. There’s an inspection window for checking the trigger mechanism’s status, a strobe-light holder, and Mustang’s SecureZip breakaway jacket-­closure system. The PFD’s Hammar-built hydrostatic sensor needs to be submerged to a depth of at least 4 inches to fire its carbon dioxide cartridge (read: no accidental deployments). Once inflated, the PFD delivers 38 pounds of buoyancy, and its high-visibility air bladder and even higher-visibility SOLAS-level reflective tape help ensure that you’ll be seen. The PFD also has a tidy-size zippered pocket. One consideration, however, is that rearming this PFD is more involved (Mustang’s instruction video runs 12 minutes, 30 seconds), but it’s a worthwhile trade-off. In the water, with the crotch strap attached, this PFD did a great job of orienting me face up and providing head support.

Mustang Survival EP 38 Ocean Racing Hydrostatic Inflatable Vest

As its moniker suggests, this PFD is made to take you from offshore racing on wet, fast boats to adventure cruising in wet climes. The US Coast Guard-approved PFD has a Hammar-built hydrostatic inflation mechanism, a sturdy sailing harness with an easily adjusted (even when wearing gloves) waist belt, a soft-loop tether-attachment point, and a small, integral backpack-style pod that houses the vest’s shoulder straps, spray hood, and removable crotch straps. While the backpack pod feels a bit bulky, its contents are a treasure trove when floating. This pullover-style PFD also has a low-profile design that allows for unencumbered athletic movement, and a zippered pocket that can house emergency essentials such as lights or electronics. There’s also a stitched-in lifting loop for emergency MOB retrievals. The vest’s hydrostatic mechanism is prominently situated on the front, behind a three-­dimensional inspection window, for a ­military-esque aesthetic. The EP 38 felt great to float in, especially once I ­deployed the crotch strap and spray hood.

Onyx A/M-24 and A/M-24 All Clear

Consider these PFDs if you’re seeking a basic Type V PFD and don’t need a tether attachment. Both are US Coast Guard-approved, employ lozenge-style automatic firing mechanisms, and can be used in automatic or manual mode, or converted to manually operated PFDs (which can be useful aboard wet boats, so long as the MOB is conscious and able to pull the manual-inflation rip cord). Both vests also have a Velcro-enclosure system, high-­visibility inflation chambers, and wide neoprene necklines that felt comfortable when worn with a T-shirt, and that added padding when worn with a jacket. 

While the two PFDs are similar in design and features, there are some differences. The A/M 24 is no-frills, with a side-release waist buckle and a plastic D-ring attachment that’s not for use with a tether, but it is useful for attaching a handheld VHF radio (see CW, August 2022) or an emergency beacon. The A/M 24’s firing mechanism is hidden in the Velcro-enclosed outer jacket, meaning a user must unpeel several inches of hooks and loops to ensure that the jacket is properly armed. 

The A/M-24 All Clear has some ­upgrades, most notably a plastic ­inspection window on the jacketed front that gives an at-a-glance status report of the firing mechanism. Additionally, the A/M-24 All Clear has a zippered front enclosure, a beefier nylon waist belt, and a smaller-profile D-ring attachment (also not for use with a tether).

Neither of these PFDs has crotch straps, and this absence was noticeable when floating. In our test pool, the ­A/M-24 All Clear failed to trigger ­automatically for almost two minutes.

Onyx A/M-33 All Clear With Harness

If you’re ready to go offshore, this PFD could be right for you. The US Coast Guard-approved vest has a sailing harness with dual soft loops (port and starboard) for attaching a tether, a beefy nylon waist belt with sturdy stainless-steel adjusters, a high-visibility inflation chamber, a breakaway zipper enclosure, and a  window for at-a-glance status on the vest’s firing mechanism. The vest’s back has shoulder-strap padding that doubles as ultraviolet protection, and also adds a bit of cushioning when leaning back in the cockpit or lounging on deck. 

This PFD also sports a zippered front closure (with an elasticized zipper garage to ensure that the vest stays put) and a thin neoprene neckline for extra comfort. As with its little brothers, the A/M-33 All Clear can be operated in automatic/­manual or fully manual modes, but it differs by delivering 35 pounds of buoyancy once fully inflated. This extra lift was immediately noticeable when floating; there’s no crotch strap, but its absence wasn’t an issue.

Spinlock Deckvest LITE+

Lightweight, low-profile, unencumbering—this PFD’s design (when packed) is wide at the neck, allowing about 165 degrees of head rotation without chin contact. The bit that does contact your neck is neoprene-covered for comfort. This is a side-entry PFD that arrives in automatic/manual mode, but it can be converted to manual-only with a kit. The LITE+ has a single crotch strap with a hidden receptacle clip, and it comes with loops for attaching Spinlock’s optional Chest Pack, which is handy for storing emergency essentials. 

The PFD also has Spinlock’s clever breakaway zipper system, a soft-loop attachment point and—when deployed—an emergency haul loop. The LITE+ can be upgraded with Spinlock’s Pylon Light, which is a water-activated flashing LED; Lume-On patches to illuminate the inflated bladder; and a spray hood. Customers also can purchase the LITE+ with an integrated Ocean Signal MOB1 AIS beacon. The LITE+ is approved to CE and ISO standards. In the water, the Deckvest LITE+ provided good head ­support and face-up orientation, ­especially once the crotch strap was properly deployed. 

Spinlock Deckvest 6D HRS

There’s a lot to like about this innovative PFD. It’s built to CE and ISO standards. Once inflated, it delivers 170 newtons of ­positive buoyancy. It can be ordered with 275 newtons, but this adds bulk. The PFD has Spinlock’s Pro Sensor Elite firing mechanism, which activates only when ­water flows upward into its cap, so there are no wave or rain deployments. It also has Spinlock’s Harness Release System, which has a load-releasable tether hardpoint. If the MOB is getting dragged, she pulls a rip cord and immediately separates from her tether. 

Once in the water, the automatic/­manual vest opens to reveal a spray hood, emergency haul loop, Spinlock Pylon 360 light, and Spinlock Lume-On air-bladder light. A crotch strap resides in a small pouch on the back of the PFD’s harness. Additionally, there’s a user-friendly waist-belt buckle, an inspection window for the firing mechanism, and compatibility with Ocean Signal’s MOB1 AIS beacon. The Deckvest 6D was one of the most comfortable PFDs to float in, and its design made accessing the spray hood a snap.

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Given the wide variety of life jackets available to recreational mariners, it’s hard to come up with excuses for not wearing one when underway on the water. After all, any even modestly experienced skipper will tell you that the unexpected can and does happen. Should an accident occur and you find yourself suddenly in the water, the best personal flotation device is the one you wear—not one that’s been left on board in a locker because it’s uncomfortable. 

While foam sport vests are well-suited for dinghy sailors, water-skiers and people who want to remain agile in the water, they can feel bulky and be hot to wear on warm summer days. A popular alternative is an inflatable personal flotation device (PFD), and it’s easy to see why: It’s lightweight, doesn’t get in the way when you move about and, with proper maintenance, will be ready to go when needed.

According to the US Coast Guard’s most recent safety report, “2020 Recreational Boating Statistics”, when the cause of death was known, three-quarters of fatal-accident victims drowned, and the vast majority of them—86 percent—weren’t wearing a life jacket. Given those sobering numbers, one of the easiest ways to stack the odds in your favor is to find a comfortable life jacket, then put it on and keep it on until the anchor is down or you’re back at the dock.

Types of PFDs

Inflatable PFDs come in a number of styles, including waist belts (think a fanny pack, but worn in front to keep you face-up when inflated), and vests that can be manually or automatically inflated in seconds. Which is best? Well, that depends on how you plan to use the PFD.

For sports such as paddleboarding that mostly take place close to shore, a waist pack could suffice. Most models are manually inflated by pulling a cord attached to a firing mechanism and a CO2 cartridge. If you go in the drink, pull the cord, and the flotation bladder pops out and fills with air. One drawback with this sort of PFD is that many models require you to reposition them by putting them over your head once inflated; therefore, they’re not recommended for nonswimmers.

An inflatable life vest, on the other hand, will be ready to go once you put it on and adjust the straps so it fits snuggly. There are two types of US Coast Guard-approved vests. Type II inflatable PFDs provide at least 33 pounds of buoyancy and are suitable for most water conditions. Type III inflatable vests are intended for inshore waters with land nearby and provide at least 22.5 pounds of buoyancy. Our take: If you’re going to spend the money, go for a Type II because you can use it anywhere.

And speaking of using an inflatable vest anywhere, most countries and airlines allow them in checked and carry-on luggage. Plan to take your own PFD along on your next aquatic adventure!

How to Choose a PFD

When buying an inflatable PFD, you have several choices to make. We recommend you try on various models before you buy, if possible. Sailors tend to amass several, and some are more comfortable than others.

A basic vest will be just that: a horseshoe-shaped collar that you put over your head, with a back strap connected to a waist strap, which in turn clips in front of you. For night sailing or offshore voyaging, opt for a vest that includes a built-in harness, which provides beefy webbing loops or metal D-rings to attach a tether to you and the boat. Again, for a few bucks more, you gain added versatility.

Having attended “Safety at Sea” sessions where we got to climb into a pool and actually inflate a vest, it’s easy to see the benefits of adding a leg strap to the device to keep it from riding up when inflated. Some models come with a leg strap, but aftermarket straps are also available.

When it comes to how the vest gets inflated, you have options there too. If your main use will be sports where you’re apt to get wet a lot, a manually inflated device would be your best bet because you decide when to deploy it. These PFDs are equipped with a fill tube that allows you to inflate the vest by blowing air into it, and a pull cord that sets off a CO2 cartridge to inflate the vest. However, the disadvantage of this type of vest is also that you have to decide to inflate it, meaning it won’t work if you’re incapacitated.

Automatically inflated PFDs are another option; again, you’ll have a couple of choices to make when you shop. Some vests rely on an inflater that employs a water-sensitive chemical bobbin to trigger the CO2 firing mechanism. (A manual inflater cord and inflation tube are also included.) Should you go overboard, the bobbin quickly dissolves and the vest inflates. The downside is the bobbin can also dissolve in particularly wet conditions, such as heavy rain; once inflated, the vest will need to be rearmed.

The alternative is a vest that uses a hydrostatic inflation system that senses water pressure and automatically goes off when the sensor is in 4 inches of water. We prefer this type of vest, though they are a bit more expensive.

Maintaining Your PFD

Any inflatable PFD requires a bit of attention, and don’t be afraid to unzip the outer cover to have a look at the bladder and inflation mechanism inside. Most manufacturers recommend you use the inflation tube to inflate the vest before the start of each boating season. Leave the bladder inflated for at least 24 hours to be sure it doesn’t leak. Also, check the expiration date of the CO2 canister and triggering mechanism; most need to be replaced at five-year intervals. It also pays to have spare recharge kits aboard in case a vest gets inflated, either on purpose or accidentally. We’ve replaced the bobbins, CO2 cartridges and hydrostatic valves on several vests. Although the details vary according to brand, it’s a simple job, and most rearm kits come with clear instructions.

When armed and ready to go, you should see a green indicator through the clear window over the inflation mechanism. If it’s red, the CO2 canister and trigger need attention.

Other than that, an occasional rinse with fresh water and a cleaning with soap and water are all that are required to keep an inflatable vest in good working condition.

A couple of last pieces of advice: Get in the habit of checking to see if the inflater indicator is green every time you put on the vest. And if you go aboard a boat and are given a vest to use, be sure you understand how the PFD inflates. Again, be sure there’s a gas canister installed and ready to go. Then you’ll be ready too, should your boating adventure take an unexpected turn that lands you overboard.

Ready to buy a PFD? Head to your local West Marine or visit www.westmarine.com to start shopping and to find more useful advice on all things boating.

The post Inflatable Life Jackets—There When You Need Them appeared first on Cruising World.

Do you have a favorite marina, waterfront park or other location where you often take friends and family to introduce them to sailing? You can help ensure that everyone aboard will have their own life jacket by applying to become a Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Station.

The foundation, through a grant from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund, wants to work with communities throughout the US to add at least 50 new Loaner Stations and restock hundreds of existing stations in the coming year.

According to Gail R. Kulp, executive director of the Sea Tow Foundation, the program is open to any organization, company, or family that is interested in helping to ensure boating safety. Appllications can be found on the Sea Tow Foundation’s website, and will be accepted until February 1, 2021.

“We are thrilled to be offering this application to expand our life jacket loaner program in the 2021 boating season,” Kulp said in a release announcing the application process. “Every new stand added and every opportunity to restock existing stands helps us make boating even more accessible and safe for everyone. We are so grateful to our partners at the U.S. Coast Guard for helping us save lives across the country.”

The foundation has distributed more than 65,000 life jackets to local businesses and organizations across the country since the program began in 2008. Today, there are more than 700 Loaner Stations, and all of them carry life jackets for those ranging in age from infant through adult, ensuring that sizes are available for anyone needing to borrow one.

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Every so often it’s healthy to be reminded that even on a well-built and maintained boat, sailed by a seasoned crew, things can — and do — go wrong, as they did on Lake Michigan last July, just 26 minutes into the annual Race to Mackinac from downtown Chicago.

In 20- to 25-knot winds and 6- to 8-foot waves, Jon Santarelli, an experienced crew member, was working at the aft end of the cockpit of the TP 52 Imedi when he went into the water and his life jacket failed to inflate. The crew immediately tacked the boat and circled back, making three attempts to save their mate. In the end, just as those on board tossed a line, Santarelli went under. His remains weren’t recovered until a week later.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Chicago Yacht Club asked a committee of local and national sailing experts to investigate the accident in an attempt to understand what happened and recommend steps to increase the safety of offshore regattas. Their report, released last February, includes a list of recommendations that, while tailored for racers, should interest any of us who are headed out on the water.

Here are a few of the takeaways I got from reading their conclusions (the complete document can be found here).

First, the most obvious: If conditions warrant it, wear a life jacket — and here, I use the term “conditions” loosely. It could refer to guests aboard who are poor swimmers, or it could involve a mechanical problem that puts vessel and crew at risk. On my boat, I think about PFDs when wind and waves get overly sporty, sailing after dark, and operating in fog or squalls — especially if there’s lightning. I figure, why go looking for multiple problems?

Aboard Imedi, some of the crew brought their own life jackets, others, including Santarelli, used boat-supplied ones. The report states the crew verified the PFDs on board had been inspected a week prior to the start and that the hydrostatic inflators displayed green, but “no expiration date was noticed.” The crew told investigators that the life jackets came with the boat, which means they could have been more than 10 years old.

It was not known whether the inflator in Santarelli’s PFD had ever been updated.

If you use inflatable PFDs, read and follow the manufacturers’ maintenance instructions closely, including checking to make sure the inflation devices are not past their expiration dates. Mustang Survival, for instance, recommends checking over and orally inflating a PFD every six months (more often is better), and letting it sit for at least two hours to see if it remains firm. Besides detecting a leak, opening the vest and repacking it will let you become familiar with how it works.

“Know your life jacket,” says Mark Anderson, Mustang’s director of engineering. If you have a PFD with a recently expired inflator, since you’ll need to rearm it anyway, he suggests you try inflating it just to see what it feels like when the carbon-dioxide cartridge fires.

In their findings, the CYC committee noted that reports of PFDs failing to inflate are not uncommon. “In fact, the Coast Guard explained that based on their experience, they train their personnel to the point of ‘muscle memory’ to pull the manual inflation cord on an inflatable jacket when they hit the water, and not to even wait for the automatic feature to function. According to the Coast Guard, they have experienced instances that without such training, a person who unexpectedly finds themselves in the water does not have the cognitive presence of mind to react by either pulling the manual cord or using the oral inflator.”

If you have a guest aboard who will be wearing an inflatable PFD, take a minute before you set sail to have them put it on and adjust it so it fits. Explain how it works. I think from now on, I will even make a point of opening the vest so a newbie crew will know how to reach the oral inflation tube, if needed.

The CYC committee notes, “The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the person in charge.” Starting with the basics — PFDs and crew overboard gear — only makes good sense.

The post Editor’s Log: Take Charge appeared first on Cruising World.

Any well-equipped offshore sailor knows that they should have an emergency VHF antenna aboard. The trouble is the space needed to stow them. Solving this problem is the new inflatable emergency VHF antenna from Shakespeare. The 3dB antenna inflates quickly to 5 feet using a CO2 canister, yet can easily stow away when not needed.

This useful PFD has both integrated floatation panels and an inflation chamber that can quickly inflate if you need more buoyancy. Unlike most inflatable PFDs, no repacking is required — simply squeeze the air out and attach a new canister. The Khimera is slim, form-fitting and comfortable, and is suitable for a wide range of activities.

RELATED: What’s New in Marine Electronics for 2019

It’s a fact of modern life aboard: we rely on electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets for anything from navigation to entertainment, and those devices need to stay charged. If your devices have wireless charging capabilities, check out the ROKK chargers. They are designed specifically for the marine market and carry an IPX6 waterproof rating. The chargers can be installed under a surface, flush with a surface or on a bezel.

What’s better than showering off with hot water aboard after an ocean swim? Nothing. Now with the new 5.8-gallon water heater from Albin Pump Marine, even if your boat is on the smaller side, you can still enjoy the comfort of hot showers. The square water heater features a nontoxic ceramic interior coating and will keep water hot for over 10 hours once disconnected from shore power.

If your boat is small or your onboard power needs are modest (say, weekends aboard), check out this portable lithium battery from Dometic. It can be charged via a 12-volt socket, a solar panel or AC shore power. The PLB40 provides 40 amp-hours of power — perfect for an electric cooler — and has 12-volt and USB outlets. An LCD screen displays capacity, charging status and output.

Heading out for a coastal cruise but hate missing your favorite show or sports team? The WAVU W1 is an omnidirectional HDTV antenna with a range of about 35 miles. It weighs only 2.1 pounds, has a diameter of 14.9 inches and is 7.25 inches high. The WAVU W1 comes with cables, mounting hardware and power supply.

Nothing says spring like rolling on a fresh coat of bottom paint. Pettit Paint has released their HRT line of antifouling paints, which utilizes a high-density biocide and film modifiers to provide strong protection while minimizing buildup. The line includes multiseason Premium, copper-free Eco, water-based Neptune and seasonal Unepoxy.

The post New Gear for Spring 2019 appeared first on Cruising World.

Helly Hansen Fjord Jacket

The new HP Fjord jacket from Helly Hansen offers good protection in a lightweight package. A shorter collar and snug hood provide the wearer with better peripheral vision than typical offshore jackets. The two-ply fabric is windproof, breathable and treated with a durable, water-­repellent finish. And with the Norwegian fjord artwork printed on the inside, this jacket also looks good when it’s not being worn.

$230

Mafia W-Pack

Looking for a new bag to take on shoreside adventures? Check out Mafia’s line of totes, backpacks, duffels and accessories made from upcycled sails. Argentinian brother-sister team Marcos and Paz Mafia launched their company in Buenos Aires in 2012, and today the company is based in San Francisco, California. Each bag is unique and hand sewn in California.

$150

Mantus SCUBA Pack

Whether you need to clear a line off the prop or you want to check out a nearby reef, there are plenty of times when having scuba gear on board would be handy. The Mantus Scuba Pack is made with cruisers in mind — the backpack, regulators, gauge and 13-cubic-foot tank weigh only 15 pounds total, and can all be stored easily in the specially designed backpack.

$600

SpotMe Strobe Light

The SpotMe Strobe is designed to attract attention quickly. The small light has an IPX7 waterproof rating, is available with white or red light, and has a rapid, three-flash-sequence strobe that’s visible up to 1 kilometer in sunlight and 3 nautical miles at night. It is supplied with a tiny webbing holster and Velcro strap to attach to harnesses, PFDs or even a belt loop.

$50 • www.exposurelights.com

MOB Lifesaver Lifting Strap

When it comes to getting a person who’s fallen overboard back onto the boat, you need all the help you can get. The MOB Lifesaver is a 3-meter long, bright-­yellow ­Dyneema line that attaches to the lifting strap on an inflatable PFD. The other end is spliced with a handled loop, and it rolls right in with the air bladder for normal wear. When the PFD inflates, the strap floats to the surface to be grabbed by a rescuer.

$25 • www.moblifesavers.com

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