Life jackets
 

Who makes a good, reasonably priced, life jacket?

Jet ski style vests are available at any boat shop.While not as good as lifelines they are still better than what most people wear which is nothing

Lifelines , nothing but the Best :eek:

It all depends on what your expectations are. If you want it to save your life, I'd buy one of the better one's. Lifelines are the best. In that class, you can shop the competition but there's no money to be saved.

Life lines are the best for a high speed crash.
We have Mustang suspender style. If you get those buy the ones for sail boats with d rings, gives you a stronger harness.

Sorry, my pockets aren't as deep as most of you guys. I can't really afford to spend $2000 on 5 life jackets.

Go to the Mustang site and click on power boating ..... they offer a life jacket rated up to 100 mph .... it has a small collar .... good looking jacket .... available in yellow with black and gre accents or red and black ....

Should run you about $79.00 each ..... follow their site and it will direct you to a vender who has them.

i just bought 4 of them through www.defender.com great customer service and easy shipping.

Good luck ....

Jeff

You can buy 2 good ones, and 3 cheap ones. Unless you always carry 5 people.

Good point.

It's O.K. to buy the best you can afford! Just remember you have to have Coast Guard Approved life jackets for everyone on board no matter what you choose.

The point is any comfortable wearable jacket is going to be better than buying a 4 pack bag of Orange vests stuffed up into the cabin.

[QUOTE=got twins ?;2581367]Go to the Mustang site/QUOTE]

Ditto! I got one of these. I think I paid around $100. 100 MPH impact rating.

http://www.mustangsurvival.com/produ...p?id=460&mc=74

My personal preference is to go one of three ways.

1. If you can afford Lifeline, go for them. Remember they are not USCG approved so you must have backups on board.

2. Buy whatever 100mph vest you like the best in your price range and buy the legstraps from Mustang, (or make your own with 100mph straps and buckles), and you are almost as good as Lifelines.

3. Stearns Trophy series, (and probably some others), are USCG approved, come in about three colors, have neck flotation and leg straps, and are only about $60 from most stores, or around $35 on EBAY most of the time.

The key for me is to make sure you have at least three 1 1/2" straps and leg straps of some kind. The upright collar is nice in case you're knocked out.

I'm with you there! lol I went this route. It's pretty comfortable and meets my needs. Check it out.

http://www.rocknrescue.com/acatalog/..._SAR_Vest.html

SRP also makes a good jacket

Are Lifeline jackets Coast Guard approved yet?

$4.99 orange ones at Wal-Mart.....

Overton's has some really nice reasonably priced "water ski" style vests. They are Coast Guard approved and have the straps to keep them from coming off. I think they were around $35 each on sale.
My Comp seats 5 so I have 5 of those, 5 inflatables, and 3 Lifelines.
The inflatables are only CC approved if you are wearing them. I use them in the everyday use of the boat. When it is time to run hard, I will only do it with one or two other people on board, I break out the lifelines.

That's the Trophy Series. It comes in orange, black and bayberry I think. On Ebay they're about $35.

That will be of great comfort to everyone who attends the wake.

Buy Lifelines or risk your life and the life of your passengers.

T2x

I have 2 very good friends that would have been ran over and most likley killed in a poker run had they been wearing conventional style life jackets. When theres boats behind you running above 100 mph and you get ejected you are nothing but a floating turn buoy.

I guess its the lesser of the 2 evils, stay afloat and hope not to be ran over, or save your last breath to inflate your suspenders.

Call Wiggler, gramps, leiles, boonville etc,etc,etc. He can HOOK you up like no other on Lifelines.:evilb:

Appears not to be.

When I bought my Lifelines, My GF said why spend that kind of money on a life jacket. I'm worth more that the cost of the jackets and she is too. After she put hers on the first time, she wont wear anything else. I boughtthe suspender type first and still keep them on board for guests.

If they are so good why aren't they cost guard approved?

I'll make sure you get invited. I don't know if you are aware of this but defending your country isn't the greatest paying job.

I respect anyone who serves his (my) country but you don't wear cotton helmets on foot patrol for a reason.

T2x

Because they are racing life jackets and not simple ferry boat under seat units........ which are Coast Guard approved. When the government standards on anything are worth a d*mn we can continue this debate.

T2x

If the lifeline Vest would not meet atleast the costgard standart,they would not alow them for racing.:eek:
The rules with safety in a race is even more harsh then the regular costguard rules.
Think about it.:rolleyes:
And acctualy i think they are CG.-certified.

It still doesn't make sense (I am not trying to argue with you). Cost of the jackets aside, would I get hassled by someone if I only had the lifeline jackets onboard?

I went to Dick's sporting goods and got 4 life jackets that are USCG approved for $100. They look pretty good and feel sturdy.

We run the black Stearns Trophy series 4185 vests. They are OK. Basicly a nice vest with leg straps.
I believe you can get them with the Mercury logo as well.
I got mine through Boaters World. They will have to call their special order dept to get them.
Black is hot and the collars are somewhat irritating because they are so high on the neck and don't stay folded down at speed. The straps stow nicely.
We wear them running from place to place but they get shucked off quick when we come off plane. Did I mention they are hot?
We only run 60 but always wear the vests on plane.


Jim

Yes, there are no CG approval id's on Lifelines...(at least not on mine). I have had at least a dozen over the years, including a Parachute version. I have flipped, barrel rolled, and tested them with my life.......(see below for instance)

I honestly have no idea what they cost me....and I don't care.

T2x

Well I appreciate all of the options that you guys gave me. I'm sorry for offending the others. Hope you guys all have a fun, safe weekend.

Do they float you face up or face down....?

Minor but perhaps important detail when you are unconscious....

Lifelines should be tested and sent back for adjustment if they don't.

T2x

As far as coast guard approval, I don't think A-N fittings are approved either.
Thought I read that somewhere, but it's the internet, and you can't believe anything; and everyone posting is an expert:rolleyes:.

Just be glad that someones asking about life vests, instead of how to properly stock the cooler.

If you are wearing the lifelines then most likely you won't get hassled. If they are stored then you may as well have the cheap ones.

I have only been stopped once and we were all wearing them (lifelines) so that was not an issue, And they went over every inch of the boat ,the only problem i had was that the flares were out of date :(
From what i understand the reason they are not CG approved is that it takes to long to put them on. you have a zipper/leg straps/chest strap/ lower D ring. The ones that are approved normally have a couple of straps and thats it. ( they probably figure you not going to put them on until there is already a problem)
When i bought mine i got six, since i usually don't have more then 6 peeps in the boat when i run in the ocean, that way i don't have to decide who's life is worth more.

I can just imagine the lawsuit from someone about how come you gave so and so a lifeline and the other person a cheap one when you know that the lifeline is safer.

Thanks.

It all depends on the individual. Mine will turn me face up but someone with different body proportions it may not.
Its important to try out your jackets while swimming to see.
When I was taking my STCW95 water survival training there were a few guys in the class that a Type 1 offshore PFD would not float face up.
I see your point and agree that Lifelines are the best on the market. Eventually we will buy Lifelines for the "hell runs". If we keep the boat.
Unfortunately due to the fuel costs we don't run fast much. We mostly anchor out and cruise. I run around 40 from place to place.
I feel safe wearing a Stearns PFD on the lake and take pride that I make all my passengers ,including the wife and our dog wear PFD's while on plane at the lake.
In the winter when the water temp is way down we wear fishing vests at all times on the water. We run the fish boat year round. Hypothermia is a b**ch
I totally respect your opinion and accept it as fact on fast boats.
Jim

Does Mustang have leg straps for the suspenders? If so I'll have to get them.

Mustang has seperate leg straps that fit all of their inflatables, but I'm not sure on their other designs. Call them or email them. Most rescue teams use Mustang vests because of their design and safety features. Their high-end vest do float you face up if adjusted correctly. I believe the Coast Guard rescue teams use Mustang Type1 rescue vests (not positive).