Type I is a bulkier jacket that floats the wearer face up even when he or
she is unconscious.
Type II is shown in the safety icon in this book — this type is quite
common because it’s the cheapest life jacket. It’s safe, just not as com-
fortable as the next type.
Type III is a comfortable vest that you can easily wear all day. If you’re
going to buy a life jacket for your own personal use, this will likely be the
one — we both own one of these and wear it more than any other type.
They’re best suited for use on dinghies and for day sails on bigger keel-
boats in protected waters.
Type IV is the throwable life ring or float that you should keep on deck
(on boats longer than 16 feet) to throw to a person in the water.
Type V is an inflatable life jacket with a compressed air canister. Many
offshore keelboat racers wear this type of life jacket because it’s the
least bulky of all.
Using life jackets correctly
When wearing your life jacket, you want to ensure that it fits properly. You
put on most life jackets like a vest. A snug fit is the most comfortable and
safest, so always zip them up and tighten any adjustment straps. The follow-
ing list provides some important safety tips to help you:
Always wear a life jacket on a dinghy, because the dinghy can capsize.
Wear a life jacket on a keelboat any time you feel the conditions warrant it.
As with all safety equipment, make sure that everyone knows where the
life jackets are stored before you set sail.
Children, nonswimmers, and anyone requiring extra assistance should
always wear a life jacket on any boat.
If your life jacket is waterlogged or damaged, replace it.
Make sure that the life jacket fits, especially for children. Don’t put an
adult’s jacket on a small child — it may slip off in the water. Children’s
life jackets are always sized by their weight.
Children and life jackets
Life jackets don’t guarantee your children’s safety around the water — you
still must watch them vigilantly and know where they are at all times. Making
sure that the life jacket fits properly and that the child feels comfortable wear-
ing it are very important. Most states have regulations that require children
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Chapter 3: Planning Ahead: What to Wear and What to Bring
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