How long do life vests last?

Generally, foam life jackets have a 10 year lifespan. This includes PFDs for leisure purposes. Life jackets for commercial use will usually need to be replaced more frequently. With inflatable life jackets, you will often find that the air cartridge has an expiration date printed on the side.

Do life vests expire?

All of the care that you give to your PFD will prolong its use. There is no expiry date for a personal floatation device and/or lifejacket, but it becomes void if it has been repaired or altered; therefore, it is no longer usable and must be replaced and discarded for recycling.

How often should life jackets be replaced?

The lifespan of an inflatable lifejacket is thus limited to ten years. Linked to this ten year period is the regular servicing of the device in periods of no more than two years and is strongly recommended for all lifejackets used in leisure boating.

Do old life jackets lose their buoyancy?

The material in the foam life jacket is susceptible to damage and lower buoyancy due to regular wear and tear. This can affect how it performs and protects the user when they're in the water. Make sure to store your protective flotation devices in dry cool areas and only use them for their intended purpose.

How long do inflatable life vests last?

With regular maintenance before and after every use, you can expect your inflatable life jacket to last up to ten years before needing to be replaced. "Daily" maintenance includes checking your CO2 cylinder and inspecting the life jackets for rips, tears and missing components before every use.

Will Your Life Jacket Save You? PFD Testing

What do you do with old life jackets?

By donating your gently used life jackets, you can help bring the joy of boating to other people right in your local community. If you have a life jacket that no longer fits your boat's passengers, please fill out this form and donate them to the Sea Tow Foundation.

Will a life jacket turn you on your back?

Standard Type lifejackets are approved for all vessels, except SOLAS vessels. They: turn you on your back to keep your face out of the water, even if you are unconscious.

How do you test a life jacket?

Test your lifejacket occasionally by wading into chest deep water, bending your knees and floating on your back. Ensure your lifejacket keeps your chin above the water and that it is easy to breath. Children should be encouraged to wear their lifejackets or PFDs at all times.

Do life jackets expire USCG?

Answer: There is no expiration date but you should learn to inspect your PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) as seen below I will show you some of the things we look for when checking them. If you have torn, worn and rotted PFDs you may say they have "expired".

How often should a life jacket be tested for buoyancy?

Life jackets and PFDs should be tested for buoyancy at the start of each season and on a regular basis throughout the season. Even if they are new! How to test a flotation device: Put on and properly fit the life jacket or PFD and wade into chest deep water.

When should I get a new PFD?

It is recommended that you check your PFD every year but definitely at the 5-year mark. PFD's are rated for 15.5 lbs of buoyancy which is the average weight of a human head. Your PFD should be able to keep your head above water comfortably with your chin exposed so that no water is anywhere near your airways.

How do you clean a life vest?

How often should life jackets be checked?

Manufacturers generally recommend lifejackets to be serviced every two years by people they appoint. However, where lifejackets are used very regularly, an annual or more frequent service may be needed.

How long does a buoyancy aid last?

We estimate that it will last for up to 500 hours use if cared for properly. That's around 3 - 4 years if it is used for three hours a week. If you use it for an hour a week, you may get ten years use from it. If you use it for 10 hours a week, you may need to replace it after a year.

How often should a Type 5 life jacket be checked?

Check for leaks every two months; inflate life jacket orally and leave it overnight to check for leaks. Immediately replace any spent CO2 cartridges with new ones. Frequent users of inflatables should check them often, especially if used around sharp equipment like fishing gear.

Why can't you wear a life jacket at the beach?

An unapproved devices can slide off, pop, or float a child face down. Water wings can actually slide off and even trap a drowning child underwater. With any device a child can easily float away and into deep water.

What life jackets are not Coast Guard approved?

Level 70 Label Decoding - The bold 70 means it's a Level 70 life jacket which provides performance similar to the Type III life jackets previously available. Life jackets that are rated lower than 70 are not U.S. Coast Guard approved.

How do you store life jackets?

Life jackets should be stored in a dry, cool, dark place. If stowing in a small space on a boat or in a plastic bin, do not bend or place heavy objects on top of the jackets as this can cause crushing and damage performance. Never store a heavily soiled life jacket.

Do lifejackets ever fail?

Those are the primary reasons boaters wearing life jackets sometimes drown. Either the boater is unable to free him- or herself from some type of entrapment, is unconscious or otherwise unable to keep his/her face out of the water, or eventually drowns from numerous mouth immersions over a prolonged period of time.

Can you jump in water with a life vest?

No it is not possible and not allowed to jump in with a life vest as the impact when you jump in will injure you with a life vest on.

What is the difference between a life vest and a life jacket?

Life jackets, life vests, ski vests…they're all common names for PFDs, or personal flotation devices. Their job, as the names imply, is to keep the wearer alive and afloat should they unexpectedly end up in the water or elect to participate in watersports such as skiing or wake surfing.

How much weight will a life jacket hold up?

Infant PFDs: 8–30 pounds. Child PFDs: 30–50 pounds. Youth PFDs: 50–90 pounds.

What's the difference between a life jacket and PFD?

PFD's. Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), unlike traditional lifejackets, are more comfortable because they are designed for constant wear. However, they do not generally offer the same level of protection as lifejackets for staying afloat and turning an unconscious person onto their back so you can breathe.

How many life jackets are required on a boat?

Federal law requires that all boats be equipped with one wearable life jacket for each passenger onboard the boat (wearable life jackets include Types I, II, III, or V). As the boat operator, it's your responsibility to provide a life jacket for each of your passengers.