Which automatic life jacket is right for me? On this page we provide an overview of vests from various well-known manufacturers such as Spinlock, Crewsaver and Plastimo. We give an overview of the release types (Hammar or automatic), the right buoyancy and the equipment with lamps, Lifesaver, splash protection and much more.
Look at the here linked video of the Youtuberinnen Anna and Malin an and visit their page to accompany the two on your long trip. In the video advises Hauke of MARE SPORTS the Youtuber in the preparation of their long journey.
.
Die richtige Rettungsweste auswählen
Where am I travelling and what clothes do I wear?
The first question when choosing the right lifejacket should be: in which area of use am I travelling? Am I travelling on inland waters, near the coast or even in the high seas? The type of vessel also makes certain demands on the waistcoat: SUP, canoe, fishing boat, dinghy, sailing or motor yacht - the more precisely the location and the vessel can be named, the more clearly the decision on the right life jacket for my purposes will be made.
Contrary to the often heard opinion of recreational captains, one's own body weight (for adults) does not play a role in the choice of buoyancy class - in the water, the 150-kilo sumo wrestler is in the same situation as the flyweight ski jumper. What determines the buoyancy class of my lifejacket?
In fact, the clothing worn under the lifejacket is decisive for the choice of buoyancy class. A fair-weather trip in the Mediterranean with swimwear or light sailing gear or a heavy-weather mission in colder climes with heavy oilskins, sea boots & co. - it depends on how much buoyancy a lifejacket needs to have.
Which buoyancy class should my lifejacket have?
When choosing the right buoyancy class for my lifejacket, the system of performance classes as described in the standard DIN EN ISO 12402 can be a good orientation. Various performance criteria are defined here, such as minimum buoyancy or turning behaviour. The waistcoats are graded as follows:
50N - Buoyancy aids
Vests with 50 Newton buoyancy are light and thus also offer optimal wearing comfort for e.g. SUP riders and paddlers. However, due to the low buoyancy, they are not safe against fainting and are therefore explicitly not a lifejacket. The waistcoats are therefore suitable for experienced swimmers who are travelling near the shore or close to possible helpers.
100N - Lifejackets
Vests with 100 Newton buoyancy offer similar advantages to buoyancy aids with 50 Newton buoyancy and are therefore particularly suitable for use on inland waters and in protected areas and are, albeit only to a limited extent, faint-proof.
150N - Lifejackets
Lifejackets with 150 Newton buoyancy are also suitable for use on the high seas and under extreme conditions and are almost unrestrictedly faint-proof. However, the fainting safety can be negatively affected, e.g. by wearing heavy oilskins and bad weather clothing, up to the failure of this feature.
275N - Lifejackets Lifejackets with 275 Newton buoyancy are suitable for use on the high seas under extreme conditions and are fainting safe in almost all applications, even when wearing heavy oilskins or bad weather clothing. The lifejacket should be equipped with reflective stripes for better visibility.
All lifejackets should be equipped with reflective stripes for better visibility.
Signal flute on the lifejacket
In order to attract attention and help in an emergency, a signal flute is a mandatory accessory of every lifejacket. Mouth valve on the lifejacket
The mouth valve on the lifejacket is intended for re-inflating or deflating the buoyancy chamber and is an integral part of every inflatable lifejacket.
Salvage belt on the lifejacket
The salvage belt should never be missing from a good lifejacket, it helps with salvage and securing.
SOLAS emergency beacon on the lifejacket
A SOLAS emergency beacon is an optional accessory of a lifejacket and is particularly recommended for use at sea. The light is automatically activated when the waistcoat is deployed and helps in the search for shipwrecked persons. Spraycap on the lifejacket
The spraycap is an optional accessory on the lifejacket, keeps the head warm and protects the person in distress from spray, thus preventing drowning from flying water as well as from being washed over by waves.
Pocket for marine beacon on lifejacket
In particular, lifejackets for use on the high seas often have a tab with pocket for attaching AIS or PLB marine beacons. It should be noted that not every marine beacon fits into every lifejacket. The respective manufacturers provide information about the compatibility of the devices.
The D-ring on the life jacket
The D-ring on the life jacket is important for crews of sailing yachts. The D-ring allows sailors to pick themselves up in heavy weather or when working outside the cockpit, preventing them from going overboard. In most cases, the D-ring is made of metal, but it is also offered in a textile "soft version" to improve wearing comfort.
