How Do You Buy An Inflatable Personal Flotation Device For Sailing?
Inflatable personal flotation devices (PFDs) have become more comfortable and easier to wear than the old lifejackets. Step 1 Determine whether the device has met U.S. Coast Guard approval requirements. You may not need approval if you don’t count the inflatable PFD as one of the required PFDs. Step 2 Select between vest and belt types of inflatables. Vests inflate around the victim’s neck and have more secure webbing around the back. Belts are less cumbersome when they are uninflated. Step 3 Consider a built-in safety harness (available in vests). The existence of a harness may alter the type and approval status of the PFD. Step 4 Select the appropriate inflation option. You can choose one of three methods: automatic, manual (ripcord) or oral inflation. Step 5 Check the buoyancy rating. Inflatables often exceed federal requirements.
