Life Jackets

Gas lifejackets have largely replaced the bulky solid foam jackets of the past. This type of jacket is easy to wear and will fit sailors of all size, shape and weight. Every one of the gas lifejackets that we stock are activated via a gas cylinder and have the added option of inflating through a mouth tube, commonly known as oral inflation.

The protective jacket transforms from its compact folded state to a large buoyant lung in seconds. When fully inflated a gas lifejacket will support you in the water for a considerable amount of time, cradling your head and turning you the right way up if unconscious.

Inflation Techniques

Manually inflated lifejackets are activated by pulling a cord attached to the gas cylinder. This will empty the compressed gas into the lung which fully inflates within a couple of seconds. Manual versions are ideal for small boat sailing where the risk of being knocked out is minimal.

There are two types of automatic inflation; either where the gas cylinder is activated automatically upon contact with the water or through water pressure, known as the hammer system. The main benefit of both systems is that the jacket will inflate automatically if you are unlucky enough to enter the water unconscious. Based on water pressure, the hammer system has the added advantage that it is much less likely to be activated from innocent contact with water. This is because has to be briefly immersed under water in order to fire. This type is ideal for wet sailing and use on power craft such as RIBS.

Standard Safety Features

These lifejackets are equipped with a number of practical safety features to offer the maximum chance of survival should you fall overboard.

• A mouth tube that allows the wearer to test before use, top-up with air if necessary and deflate after use.
• A built-in lifting strop makes it easier to recover someone from the water.
• Adjustable belt webbing enables the jacket to fit comfortably around the body.
• Reflective tape fitted to the lung makes it easier to spot the lifejacket and wearer in the dark.
• A whistle is fitted to help attract attention.

How Much Buoyancy Do I Need?

Buoyancy is measured in Newtons. A standard CE-marked gas lifejacket must have a minimum of 150 Newtons of buoyancy. This standard will be suitable for anyone weighing more than 40kg with a chest size between 55cm and 140 cm. This should cover most adults and some children.

If you are likely to be wearing heavy equipment or engaging in heavy offshore and ocean sailing, you may want to consider buying a jacket with 275 Newtons of buoyancy, to provide additional support in the water.
For the majority of applications adults will require a minimum of 150 Newtons of buoyancy.
Although smaller, lifejackets for children must also have a minimum of 150 Newtons of buoyancy.

Do I Require a lifejacket with a harness?

It is possible to buy a lifejacket with a built-in safety harness. This is a fully CE marked harness in its own right, built into the shoulder and belt webbing of the jacket. These are ideal for yachting where the user requires the added security of being able to attach directly to the vessel. A range of safety lines are also available, varying in elasticity to suit your particular needs. The harness is an integral part of the lifejacket with a stainless steel buckle and D-ring and contrasting colour stitching on the webbing.

Additional Safety Equipment

Your safety at sea can be enhanced with extra equipment designed to meet your own specific needs. Any sailor who has completed the RYA Sea Survival course will appreciate the value of thigh or crutch straps as well as the spray hood.

Thigh straps hold the inflated lung closer to your body, thus allowing the person in the water to conserve their energy. This will make the lifejacket considerably more efficient in keeping you the right way up. The spray hood fits over your head and the corners of the lifejacket, preventing spray entering the airway and therefore greatly reducing the chances of secondary drowning.

A light can be fitted to your jacket, typically to the mouth tube. These beacons can be activated manually or automatically after contact with water and are particularly useful in assisting recovery at night or in severe weather conditions.

Safety Lines

Safety lines are designed to be used in conjunction with the harness option. There are three versions available, all with a maximum length of 2m. They allow you to be attached to the deck of the boat as you move around. There are two designs with two hooks, one of which is elasticised to reduce the amount of line that can dangle when not in use. The third kind has three hooks which means you can move around the deck whilst constantly attached to a strong point.

Servicing & Rearming

Most lifejackets can be serviced by the user. You can test the integrity of the lung by inflating the jacket with the mouth tube at any time you desire.

Spare gas cylinders and automatic activators can be bought when you buy the jacket or be purchased later from chandlers throughout the UK and Europe. The Hammer hydrostatic lifejackets are slightly more difficult to rearm as the gas cylinder is housed within the lung of the jacket. On the other hand, they are less likely to need rearming as they are far less prone to accidental inflation.

Should you require professional servicing you can return your lifejacket to your retailer or take them to a liferaft service station, such as Cosalt.

Click here for life jackets