West Marine has 40% off sale tomorrow and I have a buttload of points to spend. I have heard that the inflatable jackets and throwables don't count as a life preserver during an inspection(and lifelines for that matter). Any truth to this?

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-m...ness--13928551

It is my understanding that a type V life jacket only counts if you are wearing it.

Throwables do not count. You need one on board anyways though by law.

Ya, you have to be wearing it (in Maryland) which makes no sense to me. Big orange jacket or my inflatable sitting side by side I bet I can get my inflatable on first. Orange jacket in the cabin (cause I wont wear one most times) or an inflatable that I wear religiously. hummmmm....

I guess I'll get more standard jackets. Those damned orange bricks drive me crazy to even look at.

You can get the orange bricks to keep on board so that you have the required number to pass the law requirement during any inspection. Depending on where you are they require one type III or type V Offshore per person on board. The inflatables are only considered USCG approved if they are being worn while the others will qualify while not being worn. Unless you are in an area that requires life jackets to be worn at all times. The lifeline jackets are not USCG approved but it is not because they are not a quality vest. They are actually very well made. It is a result of the certification process. Lifeline will make custom vests to order and would have to send each vest out to get certified vs making thousands of vests alike, only requiring to get certified once.

So from My experience w Bubba- I guess you need about 25 jackets on board

I carry 12 ski vests onboard my boat. They sell four packs of them @ West Marine.

....as a bonus, they aren't orange! Blue with yellows straps