The LL jackets can't be certified without big changes, offering less protection for a race jacket. And that's why LL won't do it.

Got mine last night real nice! but run a little small mine fits but the wife needs a little larger...

Dyno, keep us posted on how well you like the vest, how comfortable, etc.. Was Just getting ready to order some lifeline's.
Thanks

Cool, now go break a hole in the ice to test it out and let us know if it turns you upright or not...;) :D :D

comfort ......well.....its like any other vest.. a bit bulky but nice. I'll see how they work at keeping you face up if I get a chance at the local pool.

Found a lower cost high end "power run" life jacket. Come in many colors for $275.

http://www.securityrace.com/offshore1.htm

You get what you pay for. Period.
Want first hand data on why Life Line are not CG certified, call them, Bob will tell you the deal.
For us, we wear ours all the time, and feel safe, no worries.
If you ski, wear a ski jacket, if your a powerboater, wear a power boat jacket.
Like I always say, they won't have to look long to find us, dead or alive.
Bryan

Lastly, been stopped a bunch of times, certification was never an issue, how often does the fuzz actually stop jacket wearing boaters?

Years ago, I once nosedived at nearly 70mph in a smaller sized boat. My boat stopped on impact, and my body hit the dashboard so hard that it severed my tricep muscle completely into two pieces.

I then did end-over-end cartwheels over the bow of the boat and landed about 50 feet away.

My chest hit hard too, but all of my ribs were protected - because I was wearing a racing jacket with impact protection; My Lifeline (OPC racing version, not poker run version).

When they named it "Lifeline", they sure knew what they were talking about. :)

I would have definitely had broken ribs in this crash if it wasn't for that extra impact material. I've had broken ribs before, and they sure aren't fun. After that crash, I was happy I had paid the extra $250. Best value ever. :)

OK, here's one of the issues that I am struggling with. Let's say I buy my wife and I Lifelines, and then provide regular USCG approved ski vests to the other people in the boat or nothing at all. I have a boat capable of 100 but I usually only run 70-85 in reality. It has a 6 pack cockpit.

If someone were to get hurt wearing a ski vest or nothing at all while I am wearing a Lifeline that I obviously deemed neccessary, I think I would be liable. That means I really need to buy 6 lifelines so that everyone in the boat has one on. Now that is VERY expensive indeed.

I should not let "liability concerns" dictate my private safety but this is an issue to consider.

Just my $0.02, would like to hear yours.

That's a good point. I think I'd give the Lifelines to the guests I invited on board. But only because I'd put their safety ahead of mine.

But here's what I think; if someone were to be injured in a single boat crash, while riding in your boat/car/snowmobile, with you at the wheel, those folks could find a way to hold you liable regardless of what kind of vest you offered them.

If I'm going to take friends out in my car, I'm going to make them all wear seatbelts - even if I know I won't be driving wreckless. So if I was taking friends out for a high speed run in my boat (which I dont do), I'd make sure they had the best protection. If someone I care for gets hurt, I would not be able to endure the guilt. Hindsight is 20/20.