Safe at Sea: How to Find the Right Life Jacket

• 50N Life Jackets: They serve as swimming aids. An unconscious person cannot independently turn in the water. These jackets are particularly suitable for experienced swimmers near the shore and potential helpers.
• 100N Vests: These vests are also only limitedly safe against fainting. This strongly depends on the clothing worn and how the person in question is positioned in the water. Therefore, they should only be used in inland or protected areas.
• 150N West: West life jackets of the 150 Newton class are suitable for all waters. However, when wearing heavy weather clothing, they are only conditionally safe against unconsciousness. This class is the minimum for anyone traveling offshore.
• 275N-Westen: These life jackets are suitable for any body of water. Even with bad weather clothing and heavy conditions, life jackets of this buoyancy class are safe against unconsciousness.

In reality, the values usually deviate from the DIN classes. For example, the Baltic Legend. Although it falls under the 150-Newton class, it actually has 165 Newton. This means it has more buoyancy than required for its class.

Things to Consider When Buying Your Life Jacket

The first question before buying a life jacket should always be: What do I plan to do? Coastal sailors, who mainly sail in good weather, have different requirements than offshore sailors who might encounter a storm. This answer then determines the selection of the appropriate Newton class. Offshore sailors should opt for life jackets with a buoyancy class of 275 Newton. With more buoyancy, a larger cartridge is also necessary. This leads to higher weight and sometimes less wearing comfort, which is why the vest often stays in the locker. But: A life jacket in the closet saves no lives. Those who plan to leave the heavy oilskins in the bag are therefore well served with the 150N class.

Overall, the buoyancy must be strong enough to turn the person onto their back in the event of unconsciousness and then keep their mouth and nose as far out of the water as possible. The rule is: the greater the distance of the head from the water, the better!

The body weight of a person does not play a role in the selection of the buoyancy class. People always float similarly in water, only the head, weighing about four to six kilograms, must be reliably kept above water. Clothing with its air pockets has a greater influence. As a general rule: The more (heavy weather) clothing is worn, the greater the necessary buoyancy. 

The equipment of the life jacket

Besides the buoyancy of the life jacket, the specific equipment also plays a significant role. The same applies here: the more precisely I can define my plan, the easier it is for me to make a choice. A motorboat driver, for example, doesn't need a lifeline, as there are often no attachment points. A sailor, on the other hand, would rather not do without it.

Important factors when choosing a life jacket are: the automatic unit with cartridge, the design of the buoyancy chamber, the spray cap, emergency light, as well as the design of the waist, crotch, and rescue belt.

• The automatic unit with cartridge: It makes sense to ensure when purchasing that the life jacket has a traffic light system and a viewing window. This way, it is immediately clear whether the system is operational. Additionally, the vest should also be able to be manually activated, which could be interesting, for example, when racing. Those who are traveling for a longer period must also keep an eye on the issue of spare parts: Can the vest be manually reactivated after activation, or does the entire automatic system need to be replaced by professionals? When purchasing replacement cartridges, it should also be ensured that they match the buoyancy class of the vest.

• The Buoyancy Aid: The buoyancy aid provides flotation. A large part of it is located in front of the chest to reliably turn the person into a safe position in the water. Only a small part is located in the head and neck area. The buoyancy aid of the life jacket must be equipped with a valve that allows air to be released or the jacket to be inflated. Additionally, it should have a signal whistle and reflector strips. Optional for many jackets, but an absolutely sensible addition: The emergency light. It is activated upon contact with water and then lights up for eight hours, significantly facilitating the person's detection in the water.
  
• The closure of the life jacket: Even if it seems trivial, the closure of the life jacket plays a significant role. Because only if putting on and taking off the jacket is quick and easy, will it be worn. It is better to avoid rings that need to be hooked together. With these, not only does the width often need to be adjusted for putting on and taking off, but both hands are usually required. The closure should be operable with gloves and only with two fingers. With one finger, there is a risk that the jacket could be accidentally opened. Furthermore, it must also be able to open under load, for example, if someone has become entangled.
  
  
• Lifebelt: For sailors, it is essential that the life jacket is equipped with a Lifebelt, also known as a Lifeline. It is hooked onto the D-ring of the jacket – made of fabric or metal. A good lifebelt has three carabiners that are protected against accidental opening. The hooks themselves should be made of stainless steel, as aluminum suffers too much in saltwater. A high-quality lifebelt also features a stress indicator. This shows when the belt has been subjected to high stress due to a fall or similar, indicating that a replacement is advisable.
  
  
  
• Spraycap: This hood is pulled over the head, to protect the airways from water in the air. This can reduce the risk of secondary drowning from inhaling spray. Additionally, the hood protects against further cooling. The World Cruising Club, which organizes the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, requires all participants to have 275N life jackets with a spraycap.
  
  
• Emergency transmitter: A useful addition to the standard equipment of the life jacket for many sailors, especially long-distance sailors, is the inclusion of an emergency transmitter. If a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or an AIS-MOB transmitter is considered, the vest must also have a suitable holder. This way, the transmitter can be installed so that it is automatically activated when triggered and the vest and transmitter do not interfere with each other.
  
  

For some manufacturers of automatic life jackets, such as the Swedish life jacket producer Baltic, the abbreviation SLA stands for exactly that: Sprayhood, Light, AIS. This addition in the name means that the life jacket is equipped with a spray hood, emergency light, and a mount for MOB-AIS or PLB. These requirements are also set by the World Sailing association for offshore-capable life jackets.

The location of the life jacket

The life jacket, whether solid or automatic, should be worn on every trip. To ensure this is the case, it should be comfortable. Manufacturers have done a lot in recent years to achieve this. Baltic, for example, has developed a life jacket specifically for women. The valve of the Baltic Athena is positioned horizontally under the chest, making this vest comfortable regardless of body shape and even with, for example, a larger bust.

A life jacket in the locker doesn't save lives. Furthermore, it only serves its purpose if it is worn correctly. It fits optimally when two fingers can comfortably fit between the vest and the body or clothing. A fist should fit between the closure and the body at most. The crotch strap should also fit snugly. It should not be uncomfortable or pinch anything, but it should prevent the vest from riding up. Otherwise, there is a risk that the vest will ride up and possibly restrict breathing or hinder turning into the unconscious-safe position. Without a crotch strap, there is a risk that the vest will slip over the head if worn too loosely.