Complete Guide to Lifejackets and Buoyancy Aids

It’s not good enough to have life jackets on board, you should be wearing them! While boating they are just as important as seat belts when driving! The RYA’s advice is simple: wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid, unless you’re sure it’s safe not to.

Your decision should be based on weather conditions, the type of on-water activity and your level of experience. As experts note: “Something as easy as checking that your lifejacket or buoyancy aid fits properly can save your life.”

Lifejackets

• Designed to turn you face-up in the water, even if unconscious
• Suitable when you don’t expect to enter the water (e.g., powerboats, RIBs, motor cruisers)
• Self-righting capability – requires no action from the wearer to maintain safe position
• Higher buoyancy levels (100N, 150N, 275N)
• Additional safety features – whistle, lifting loop, retroreflective material, often crotch straps

Buoyancy Aids

• Assist conscious swimmers to stay afloat
• Suitable when you might reasonably expect to end up in the water (dinghies, PWCs, windsurfing)
• Require active participation – you need to swim or move to keep your face above water
• Lower buoyancy level (50N)
• Help is assumed to be close at hand

All lifejackets and buoyancy aids sold in the UK/Europe must meet ISO 12402 standards and may carry the CE mark. Here’s what the numbers mean:

Level 50 (Buoyancy Aids) – ISO 12402-5

• Minimum buoyancy: 50 Newtons
• Best for: PWCs, dinghies, windsurfing, calm water activities
• Requirements: Must be inherently buoyant (foam), not inflatable
• User: Conscious, competent swimmers only
• Help: Close at hand

Level 100 – ISO 12402-4

• Minimum buoyancy: 100 Newtons
• Best for: Sheltered or calm water, fully clothed users
• Features: Designed to turn unconscious user face-up
• User: Adults, children, and infants
• Conditions: Protected waters

Level 150 – ISO 12402-3

• Minimum buoyancy: 150 Newtons
• Best for: General purpose, offshore cruising, motor boating
• Features: Face-up support, self-righting, comprehensive safety equipment
• User: Adults, children, and infants
• Conditions: General offshore or rough water use
• RYA Recommendation: Look for the RYA Tick Mark – ensures third-party testing to ISO 12402-3

Level 275 – ISO 12402-2

• Minimum buoyancy: 275 Newtons
• Best for: Extreme offshore conditions, heavy clothing
• Features: Maximum buoyancy, self-righting even with heavy gear
• Drawback: Very bulky when inflated – RYA strongly recommends NOT using as it can impede getting into a liferaft

Adult Sizing

Lifejackets are sold in several sizes from child to XXL and must be a snug fit to work properly.

Simple Fit Test:

• Put on and adjust the lifejacket properly
• Try lifting the jacket at the shoulders
• If it lifts more than 50mm (2 inches), it’s too big

Weight Categories and Labels

When buying a lifejacket, check the label for:

Weight Range Specifications:

• Each lifejacket specifies a weight range (e.g., 40-70kg, 70kg+)
• Choose based on current weight – never buy one to “grow into”
• Different brands may have different weight ranges for the same size

Label Information to Look For:

• ISO standard number (ISO 12402-3, ISO 12402-4, etc.)
• CE marking (EN 393-399)
• Newton rating (50N, 150N, etc.)
• Weight range in kilograms
• Chest measurement range
• Manufacturing date and service requirements

Essential Features to Check

• Retroreflective material for visibility
• Whistle for attracting attention
• Lifting loop for rescue
• Crotch straps (essential for offshore use – prevents lifejacket riding up)
• Harness attachment point (if required)
• Light fitting (often sold separately)

Why Children Need Different Lifejackets

• Child’s head makes up larger proportion of body weight – they’re more top-heavy than adults
• More buoyancy around neck and head compensates for this
• Enhanced self-righting properties designed for children’s proportions

Sizing for Children

Critical Rule: Get a lifejacket that fits your child now rather than one they will grow into.

Proper Fit Test:

• Fit and adjust the lifejacket on the child
• Lift the lifejacket from the top
• You shouldn’t be able to lift it more than 2.5cm (1 inch) from the child’s shoulders

Age and Weight Considerations

• Babies: Lifejackets are available for babies, but newborns and smaller babies may not find suitable fit
• Buoyancy aids: NOT available for babies or children under 25kg
• Always take the child when buying to ensure correct weight category and fit
• Test in controlled environment where possible

Special Considerations for Very Young Children

• Nappies affect flotation – use swim nappies as they don’t get as heavy when wet
• Mobility limitations – extra length may limit ability to sit down
• Two lifejackets with same weight range may have different lengths – choose appropriately

When Children Should Wear Lifejackets

• Non-swimmers: Anytime there’s possibility of entering water
• When skipper deems necessary
• During boat handling operations
• In rough conditions
• When abandoning ship

Yes, lifejackets are available for pets! A buoyancy aid will keep your pets safe on the water and aboard.

Getting Your Pet Ready

• Give your pet time to get used to wearing the lifejacket before getting on the boat
• Practice swimming while wearing the jacket in a controlled environment
• Ensure proper fit – pet shouldn’t be able to slip out of it
• No legal requirement for pets to wear lifejackets, but strongly recommended

Inherent Buoyancy (Foam)

• Always buoyant – no activation required
• Reliable in all conditions
• Bulkier but no risk of failure
• Best for: Active water sports, children, rough conditions
• Caution required if to be warn in a cabin

Inflatable Lifejackets

Manual Inflation:

• Pull cord to activate – pushes firing pin into CO2 bottle
• User must be conscious and capable of activation
• Not suitable for: Non-swimmers, children, unconscious persons
• Advantage: Compact until needed
• Suited to cabin use

Automatic Inflation:

• Water-activated mechanism inflates on immersion
• Can be accidentally triggered by spray
• Professional servicing required annually for SOLAS-approved models
• Backup manual activation usually provided
• Not suited to cabin use

Essential Fitting Steps

1. Put arms through armholes – ensure jacket sits properly on shoulders
2. Fasten all zips and buckles in correct order
3. Adjust all straps for snug but comfortable fit
4. Secure crotch straps if fitted – essential for preventing jacket riding up
5. Check lifting loop position – should be easily accessible
6. Attach safety equipment – whistle, light (if required)

Common Fitting Mistakes

• Loose straps – jacket will ride up in water
• Missing crotch straps – jacket can pull over head when in harness
• Wrong size – too big or too small reduces effectiveness
• Damaged components – frayed straps, broken buckles, compressed foam
• Wearing under a clothing garment

Special Considerations

For Harness Use:

• Must have crotch straps fitted and secured
• Check D-ring attachment point is properly positioned
• Ensure harness line attachment doesn’t interfere with inflation (if applicable)

RYA Strong Recommendations

• RIBs: Wear lifejacket at all times
• PWCs: Wear buoyancy aid at all times
• Open powerboats: Wear lifejacket unless sure it’s not needed
• Motor cruisers/sailing yachts: Wear when conditions warrant

Specific Situations

• Non-swimmers: Anytime there’s risk of water entry
• Rough weather or sea conditions
• Night sailing or reduced visibility
• Single-handed sailing
• When skipper deems necessary
• During deck work in heavy weather
• When using tenders or going ashore
• If you feel you want to wear one

Legal Requirements

• Commercial vessels: Often mandatory
• Some charter operations: Required by insurance
• Certain waterways: May have specific requirements
• Rock fishing: Required in declared high-risk areas (varies by location)

Regular Inspections

Check for:

• Rips or tears in fabric
• Frayed webbing straps
• Broken or damaged zips, buckles, clips
• Compressed or damaged foam
• Faded or illegible markings
• Salt corrosion

Inflatable Lifejacket Maintenance

• Annual professional servicing recommended (mandatory for SOLAS)
• Check CO2 cylinder – should be securely fitted, not corroded
• Inspect inflation mechanism and water-sensitive elements
• Test manual activation (if safe to do so)
• Replace expired components

Storage

• Keep dry and well-ventilated
• Protect from UV exposure when not in use
• Don’t compress for long periods
• Store in accessible location – no use if you can’t reach it quickly

What to Look For

• ISO 12402 compliance – international standard
• CE marking – European conformity
• RYA Tick Mark – third-party verified quality (Level 150)
• MCA approval – for commercial use
• SOLAS compliance – for professional vessels

Quality Indicators

• Strengthening cord through the middle of inherent buoyancy models
• Retroreflective materials for visibility
• Quality construction – reinforced stress points
• Clear labelling with weight ranges and specifications
• Comprehensive instruction manual

Emily’s Code Warning

Following a tragic accident involving an ill-fitting buoyancy aid, Emily’s Code highlights the critical importance of proper fit. The victim drowned due to a buoyancy aid snagging on boat hardware – emphasizing that proper fit can literally be a matter of life and death.

Cold Water Shock

Remember that cold water shock can occur in water temperatures of 15°C and below – at any time of year. Even strong swimmers can be incapacitated by cold water shock, making lifejackets essential for survival.

Self-Righting Limitations

Important: Self-righting can never be guaranteed due to variables including:

• Clothing worn (dry suits can negatively impact self-righting)
• Body type and distribution
• Sea conditions
• How person enters water

Practice and Familiarisation

• Test your lifejacket in controlled conditions
• Practice getting into water wearing your lifejacket
• Experience how it feels and performs for your body type
• Understand its limitations and capabilities

1. Proper fit is critical – too big or too small can be dangerous
2. Choose right type for activity – buoyancy aid vs lifejacket
3. Children need properly sized equipment – never buy to grow into
4. Pets can wear lifejackets too – let them get used to it first
5. Understand the labels – weight ranges, Newton ratings, standards
6. Regular maintenance essential for reliability
7. When in doubt, wear it – better safe than sorry
8. Practice and familiarize yourself with your equipment
9. Choose right lifejacket for type of craft/use