Sailing the Northwest

Almost 80 percent of all boating-related deaths occur by drowning.  Approximately 50 percent of all recreational boating deaths occur in calm water.  Wearing a life jacket while sailing can help you from becoming an unfortunate statistic.

The U.S. Coast Guard recommends that everyone wear a life jacket while boating or sailing.  In the state of Washington, any passengers under 12 years of age are required to wear a life jacket while on board your vessel.  If any of your passengers are new to sailing, it would probably be a good idea for them to wear life jackets as well, as the motion of sailboats can be at times unpredictable.

What type of Personal Flotation Device should I get?

A life jacket is also known as a Personal Flotation Device, or PFD. There are many different types of life jackets, and the type you choose depends on the conditions in which you will mostly be sailing. 

Type I: Offshore Life Jacket
A Type I PFD can be at times hot and bulky, but provides the most floatation and will also keep most adults turned face-up, even if unconscious.  Any non-swimmers or large people in your group would probably benefit most from a Type I PFD. If you spend a considerable amount of time racing your boat in heavy conditions, this may also be the best life jacket for you.

Type II: Near Shore Life Jacket
A Type II PFD is an excellent choice for the children on your boat, as many models have a collar handle and crotch strap for added safety.  The Type II PFD provides less buoyancy than a Type I PFD, and will also turn an unconscious person face up in the water.

Type III Life Jacket
A Type III PFD is more of a flotation aid, and will not turn an unconscious person face-up in the water.  These are commonly used in boating/sport activities such as water skiing, tubing, kayaking, fishing, etc.  They are usually also the most comfortable of the three types of PFDs.

 

Finding the correct fit for your Life Jacket

Perhaps the most important consideration in choosing a life jacket is comfort!  After all, the best life jacket doesn’t do you much good if you do not wear it. 

After you’ve chosen the correct type of life jacket for your needs, spend some time finding one which fits properly and comfortably.  PFDs are sold at many large stores (Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, etc.) depending on the season, but we recommend looking at your local Marine retail store (such as West Marine).  Marine specialty stores will usually carry a higher-quality PFD designed for sailing or boating instead of boating sport activities such as water skiing.

Follow these steps to find the correct fit for your PFD:

1. Put the life jacket on and make sure all the zippers, ties and/or straps are adjusted appropriately and fastened firmly.
2. Raise your arms up over your head and have someone pull up on the shoulders.
3. If the life jacket does not stay in place and rises above your mouth/nose (indicating water will as well), try adjusting the life jacket some more, or choose another size/model.

Testing your Life Jacket

After you’ve purchased your life jacket, test it out in a pool or down at the beach.  You want to make sure that your PFD keeps your chin above water at all times.  Try feigning unconsciousness to see if your life jacket will support you without any swimming/treading water, and that it also “rolls” you onto your back to keep your mouth clear of water.

When to wear your Life Jacket

The best option is to wear your life jacket at all times when you are on your sailboat.  If for whatever reason you don’t, however, here are some conditions in which you should definitely consider wearing your vest:

1. You are new to sailing
2. You are sailing in severe weather with high seas and/or high winds (15+ knots)
3. You are sailing solo
4. You are sailing at night
5. You are sailing/boating in dangerous water conditions (rip-tides, hazardous navigational areas, high-current areas such as the Hiram-Chittenden Locks or narrow bodies of water) 
6. You are sailing off-shore or a considerable distance from land (Strait of Jan de Fuca, as an example)

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t carry life jackets on board your boat just to satisfy your state and federal boating safety requirements.  PFDs save lives, and the next one could be yours.