having just bought my first boat, i'm after a decent life jacket, one of those auto inflating jobbies i reckon, anybody got any thoughts on which is best or where i can get a decent one cheap?

thanks

jon

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Hi mate I have spent a lot of time in boats and can assure you you are doing the right thing when looking to buy one.A life jacket as opposed to a bouyancey aid is an essential piece of kit.To my mind the auto ,self righting type is the only way ahead as a strong swimmer the time I am really going to need one is when I am unconcious.Remember that you need different "newton" rated jackets (newtons are simpley what bouyancy is measured in)) depending on your size and indeed what clothing you are likely to be wearing ie one piece thermal suit! The ones aimed at anglers like the Fox BG for example are fine for the person of average build wearing light clothing but not up to much if you are a 18stone+ Piker! Crew Saver are a reputable manufacturer and most Boat Chandlers sell them.They come in lots of sizes/boyancys.
Make sure you get the right one,the right size and wear it!

A nice little life jacket anicdote-
Whilst fishing Bough Beech when it first opened to Pikers we had a few days of very rough weather.A lot,in fact the majority of the anglers there were very inexperienced in boats none of them had or were wearing the life jackets supplied by us.I overheard one of these people taking the **** out of a very experienced big water boat angler who was wearing one "Whats up Gord cant the legend swim?" he replied "Ay the legend can but his bloody parka cant" Summed it up for me.

Fred Guttfield seemed pleased with this one:

http://anglers-net.co.uk/reviews/wych01.htm

Oh BTW as to where to get one cheap,shouldnt really come into it as what price do you put on your life? but we have tyo be realists so as for most gear try the States with Cabellas or Bass Pro comming to mind.

Brundall Angling and Jeckells of Wroxham. Under £60.00. Bought mine in their winter 1/2 price sale!! Somehow I don't think it was meant to be in the sale but they honoured their offer, but removed it the instant I left the shop!

Also try the Glasgow Angling Centre ... the Parmaris range of life jackets is worth looking at.

http://tinyurl.com/3bhs4

Many 'yotties' replace their's on a regular basis (due to racing regs) - ask at yottie clubhouse and you can get e'm cheap - best to get a new inflator fitted though!
Also good idea to test it! (worth an inflator!) as you will find that it may ride up.
I have done MOB drills and they are excellent at inflating & righting you, but very hard work to swim in so remember to fit an MOB cutoff switch if you are likely to go out alone. Wellcome to the 'money pit' that is boat ownership!

thanksfor your replies everyone.
the pamaris ones are certainly the cheapest i've seen, do you use one mick?

As Budgie said the buoyancy in Newtons is very important, but to all of us, however much we weigh.

I once went to a Press Day at Crewsaver where all their models of buoyancy aids and life-jackets were demonstrated in the pool. As a non-swimmer I even volunteered to jump in the deep end fully clothed! It was quite a shock I can tell you!

However, what was emphasised was that the standard 150 Newton life-jacket isn't suitable when wearing heavy clothing, as of course is common when fishing. This is because, even though it will bring you to the surface, it won't always allow turn you up the right way due to air trapped in the clothing. You'd therefore be floating, but face down.

The answer is to get a 275 Newton life-jacket. They cost rather more, but as Budgie said how much do you value your life?

Also, make sure that you get a self-inflating model. A friend of mine, a strong swimmer, ducked to avoid a seagull, slipped and knocked himself out as he fell overboard. If he hadn't been wearing a self-inflating like-jacket he'd now be dead!

If you think you can't justify getting the right model, show this post to your loved ones. I bet between you the money is found!

[ 08. July 2004, 08:19 AM: Message edited by: Steve Burke ]

thanks steve, most of the models i've seen are 150n and i was just about to ask if this is enough.