I would like to share the following with The T&T List.  It is a response
recently prepared to answer the question 'what inflatable should I buy?' but
it also serves as a reminder to review our personal life jacket situation as
we go out on the water this spring.

INFLATABLE BELT PACK PFDs.  Commonly called "Fanny Packs" because people
rotate them behind their backs.  They come in two different versions for
day/inland use and for offshore use.  The main difference is buoyancy, 22.5 vs
32 lbs. Belt pack PFDs are recommended only for adults who are good swimmers
because after a person falls into the water they must be rotated to the front
of the body, manually inflated by pulling a ripcord and then pulled over the
head.  This is no small feat.  I recommend that people try this before they
buy one by orally inflating a borrowed belt pack and trying to pull it over
their head, while out of the water.  I have trouble doing this because of a
weak shoulder, for example, so I prefer a vest.

INFLATABLE LIFE VESTS.  There is a wide selection of this type of PFD.
Basically there are three decisions to make when chosing one:

Inshore or Offshore.  The difference is buoyancy (22-40 lbs) and strength of
the materials used.  The Offshore models are a bit more bulky but are designed
to float an unconscious person face up at an angle of 45 degrees to the
water.
Manual or Automatic Inflation.  The newer hydrostatic inflation systems are
working much better with few premature inflation incidents but they are more
expensive and require additional maintenance.
Integrated with Safety Harness.  These vests can be attached to a
tether/safety line to keep the person from falling overboard.  This is
particularily desirable in any rough weather, not just offshore.Most of these
vests are now being designed for comfort so it is important to try them on to
evaluate how they feel.  It is especially important that women try them on for
comfortable fit and that children have PFDs rated for their weight so they
will not slip out of it.  Once you find one that is comfortable you won't mind
wearing it in all situations.  If it is uncomfortable you will find reasons
not to put it on.

ACCESSORIES AND MARKING.  Every PFD should have a whistle.  If there is a
remote chance that you will be out at night it should also have a light.  All
PFDs should be marked with either the wearer's or the boat's name.  It is not
uncommon for an inflatable PFD to have crotch or thigh straps, a signal
mirror, a pencil or laser flare, a combination strobe/incadescent light, dye,
repellant, a PLB and a spray hood.
Any or all of these items add to the bulk and weight of the vest, so it is a
personal tradeoff.

TRAINING.  It is extremely important that each person wearing a PFD know how
to operate it and use all of the gear that it contains.  There are many
stories where failure to do this has almost been disasterous.  In a recent
case the person in the water did not know he had a whistle and could not turn
on his PFD light so a boat passed him close by unnoticed.  Fortunately, he had
a waterproof VHF that he used to call USCG.

MAINTENANCE.  Each inflatable PFD should be orally inflated once a year and
left overnight to test for leaks.  Additional service to inflators should be
done a regular intervals following the instructions that come with each PFD.
Care should be taken to dry wet gear after use and to store it in a dry place
between uses.

Ron Trossbach
SUNNESHINE (Sabreline 36 Fast Trawler)

All
PFDs should be marked with either the wearer's or the boat's name.

A word of caution about marking the vest with felt tip markers in
Canada. If boat is inspected by coast guard or RCMP life vests marked
by felt tip marker will not count as flotation device. The reasoning
is they do not know if the chemicals affect the buoyancy rating of the
vest.
Doug Chapman
Hill-Airy-Us

OMG! The markings go on the separate fabric cover. That is not insightful.

Ron Rogers

-----Message-----

From: Doug Chapman

All PFDs should be marked with either the wearer's or the boat's name.

A word of caution about marking the vest with felt tip markers in

Canada. If boat is inspected by coast guard or RCMP life vests marked

by felt tip marker will not count as flotation device. The reasoning

is they do not know if the chemicals affect the buoyancy rating of the

vest.

Doug Chapman

Hill-Airy-Us

Subject: Re: T&T: Inflatable PFDs

Re warnings: Felt tip markers, glues for extra cloth like crests and logos
and any markings can affect the fabric, not for the buoyancy but rather the
tearing of material if weakened by glue, ink or stritching etc.

The best way is to have slip ons like an epaulette and print your name and
boat name or what ever and slip it on you top most strap. If something
changes it is easy to change up update. And yes it adds on however it is not
any worse than clips and radios and cells etc. If you tie a whistle tie it
so that when you are in the water that it is close to your mouth. You don't
have to look for it.

For those inflatables, there is an expiry date on the trigering mechanism,
open the inflatable and check this out.

Roger, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, Summerstown, ON, CA,

First, I am grateful that a member of our neighbor's CG Auxiliary is
responding to clarify their views on this subject. In addition, the
alternative marking method is viable but I'll have to find a place on my
British Crewsaver vests - probably the harness to attach them. I just
examined the protective covering on the buoyancy chambers and it is so
thick, I really doubt any damage could occur. Also this covering is on both
sides so if one side gave way, the lifejacket will remain secure. But I
guess that it is easier to enforce a uniform regulation rather than have
every Coastguardsmen make an independent judgment brand by brand and model
by model.

Ron Rogers

-----Original Message-----
From: Roger Lalonde

Re warnings: Felt tip markers, glues for extra cloth like crests and logos

and any markings can affect the fabric, not for the buoyancy but rather the

tearing of material if weakened by glue, ink or stitching etc.

The best way is to have slip-ons like an epaulette and print your name and

boat name or whatever and slip it on your top most strap. If something

changes it is easy to change up update. And yes it adds on however it is not

any worse than clips and radios and cells etc. If you tie a whistle tie it

so that when you are in the water that it is close to your mouth. You don't

have to look for it.

For those inflatables, there is an expiry date on the triggering mechanism,

open the inflatable and check this out.

Roger, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, Summerstown, ON, CA