Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

Chapter 17: Gearing Up for Safety
If you have kids aboard, you must have life jackets sized to fit them. In many states, children
under 6 must wear the jackets while onboard; in some states, all children under 12
must wear life jackets at all times.
Types of PFDs
PFDs are classified into five types.
Type I is the top-quality offshore jacket with lots of buoyancy or lifting force (22 pounds
or more, by law), and it’s fitted in a jacket that will stay in place even in rough seas. This
type will turn an unconscious wearer face up, a must for high-performance boats and bigwater
kayakers and canoeists. These jackets are bulky and most are made with blazeorange
shells. They’re a bit more expensive than the weekend-type jacket (about $30 to
$60), but worth it.
Type II is the “horse-collar” or near-shore life jacket, with 15.5 pounds of buoyancy. It
does not have to turn an unconscious wearer face up, and it will not necessarily stay on in
rough water. But it’s inexpensive (under $10).
These are the bright-orange jackets you see
sold in every discount store. Are they adequate?
Maybe, if the only time you ever need one is on
a quiet pond where shore is only a few yards
away. For the most part, boaters using bigger
waters should stay clear of type II jackets—a
type I or type III jacket (discussed next) is a better
choice.
Type III is currently the most popular type of life
jacket because it’s the most comfortable (see the
following photo). It’s made of foam rather than
kapok or other bulky material so it flexes with
the body, and is finished in attractive colors and
materials, often with plenty of pockets to store
gear. Type III jackets carry 15.5 pounds of flotation
and stay on well due to zippers and straps.
They provide good thermal insulation in cold
weather and are easy to store because they fold
flat. With prices staring at $15, type III jackets are
affordable, too. Some high-performance models,
with more straps and fasteners to make sure you
stay in the jacket, cost up to $80.
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Boat Bytes
Although white-water paddling
jackets must have lots
of flotation, they also must
have a special cut to allow
free arm movement; many
standard PFDs don’t. It’s best to
buy short-waisted jackets designated
for paddling use if this is
your primary water recreation.
Look Out!
If you have small children
aboard, you must have
vests sized for them. They slip
right through an adult-sized vest
in the water. In fact, in many
states, kids under 12 must wear
their vests at all times when the
boat is underway.