We provide external information about safety on the boat and marine.
How to choose Buoyancy Aids and Life Jackets?
Personal floatation devices come in two main forms – buoyancy aids and life-jackets.
A buoyancy aid is designed to keep someone afloat. It allows the wearer full movement whilst an active sporting activity is carried out. However if unconscious, the wearers head could be face down in the water.
A life-jacket has a buoyancy distribution sufficient to turn the user to a position where their mouth is clear of the water, even when they’re unconscious.
What should I wear?
· a buoyancy aid in a sailing dinghy, personal watercraft, windsurfer, canoe or waterskiing or if providing safety cover for such an activity.
· a life-jacket in an open boat such as small power boat or when going ashore in a yacht tender.
· a life-jacket at all times on a yacht or motor cruiser if you are a non-swimmer and when there is any possibility of entering the water. Also when the skipper deems it necessary or whenever you want to wear one.
Where it was once rare to see people wearing life-jackets afloat, it is now an accepted norm. Always wear a life-jacket when abandoning ship. Specialist life-jackets are available for infants and children.
Please remember that inflatable life-jackets and buoyancy aids require regular checks and servicing.
The link at the top of this page will allow you to download a pdf which includes the above advice and further information on levels of buoyancy and the labeling of personal floatation devices.
A second link is provided for windsurfers requiring information regarding the wearing of harnesses.
Ohter Links:
Crewsaver's CE Categories Explained
It is important that you pick the correct CE Category to suit your type of activity and experience.
Please take a look at the chart below, this should help you decide. If you are at all concerned please ask a professional.
Lifejackets and Buoyancy Aids are tested and rated to specific European Standards and split into CE categories. These are the universal criteria that define each product and the environment they are suitable for. Crewsaver's range is split into four CE categories: 275N, 150N, 100N and 50N.
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Buoyancy Rating
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Type
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275 Newton
Inflatable
Lifejacket
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150 Newton
Inflatable
Lifejacket
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150 Newton
Air FOAM Lifejacket
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100 Newton
FOAM Buoyancy Aid
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50 Newton
FOAM Buoyancy Aid
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Activity
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Yachting
Sportsboat
Powerboat
(including RIBs)
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Yachting
Sportsboat
Powerboat
(including RIBs)
Widely used for providing safety cover for dinghies and by those teaching yachting, sports and powerboat classes.
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Dinghy Sailing
Sportsboat
Powerboat
(including RIBs)
Ideal for non-active roles on board yachts and motorboats.
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Mainly used for active surface watersports such as: Dinghy Sailing
Canoeing
Kite Surfing
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Suitability
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Swimmers
Non-swimmers
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Swimmers
Non-swimmers
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Swimmers and Non-swimmers in Inshore & Coastal waters
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Only suitable for competent swimmers
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Conditions
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A high performance device for offshore and severe conditions, when maximum protection is required or where heavy waterproof clothing is worn.
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For use in all but the most severe conditions
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They give a reasonable assurance of safety from drowning in relatively calm waters
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Sheltered water use where help is close at hand.
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Assurance
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They give improved assurance of safety from drowning to people who are not capable of helping themselves.
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They give reasonable assurance of safety from drowning, to people not fully capable of helping themselves.
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They give a reasonable assurance of safety from drowning in relatively calm waters
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Sheltered water use where help is close at hand.
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Protection
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While they cannot be guaranteed to self-right an unconscious user wearing heavy waterproofs, the buoyancy they provide should ensure they will, in the great majority of cases.
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May not immediately self-right an unconscious user wearing heavy waterproof clothing. Equivalent performance to previous BSI Approved Lifejackets.
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Not guaranteed to self-right and unconscious user wearing waterproof clothing and should not be expected to protect the airway of an unconscious person in rough water.
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Only provides support to conscious people who can help themselves.
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EN(European Standard) Number
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EN 399
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EN 396
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EN 395
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EN 393
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All Crewsaver Lifejackets carry an EN (European Standard) number. These standards, which also have the status of British Standards, are intended to ensure that all Lifejackets sold in this country meet very stringent requirements regarding the design, performance, materials and components used and even give guidelines regarding the information to be provided to the customer about the Lifejacket.
The information within this table is a guide only. The final purchasing decision and liability thereof is left to the individual.
Crewsaver Inflatable Lifejacket Manual Links:
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