Tackle, Tactics and Experience

Safety Afloat - Life Jackets

This article consists of the various contributions to the Lure Fishing UK message board on this subject. A few minor details have been edited for clarity.

From: Matt
Does anyone know where lifejackets can be aquired at a reasonable price ??
From: Martin S
Get a Fox! They're the bollos and the best value around. Ask Cliff Fox why! Don't get conned into buying a buoyancy aid, make sure you get a pukka lifejacket 150 Newtons or more of buoyancy with the CE mark etc I guess you need one for some gardening?
From: Dave.L
I got mine from Sawley Marina near Derby, it is CE marked and is 150 newtons of bouyancy. Mine is the manual inflation model using a small gas canister to inflate, it cost �55. You can also get the ones that inflate automatically if you fall in the water, I think they are around �65. It's a 'Sowester Fulmar' 150N Lifejacket, you can also get a 275 Newton model but I'm not sure of the price of those.
From: Martin S
Some of the other postings seem to say that buoyancy aids are OK Do you agree? I wouldn't touch one myself after what I've witnessed and nearly suffered myself! Lifejackets don't have to be self-inflating; you can get manual ones The Rules and Regs on many waters insist on lifejackets and don't accept buoyancy aids. What price your life? Why skimp?
From: Keef
Could you give us some details of the incident you witnessed and the problems you had with a bouyancy aid. Please - this is important.
From: Keef
Dont discount bouyancy aids, they are OK for inland waterways, however they will not keep your head up if you are unconscious. They also provide a measure of insulation, and one big advantage - you KNOW they are going to work. Take a look at Cabelas or BassPro, they have good selections. You can also get a reasonable sailing type vest from just about any boat chandlers. �25 - �30 should do it.
From: Tim
I'm with you on that one Keef. I bought a Bass Pro vest ( 50n buoyancy ) as I can put it on and it doesn't matter if I put a coat on over the top, it will still work. Many people wear inflatable ones incorrectly so they might not work at all in an emergency. I have fallen in whilst canoeing with a 50n vest on and it is perfectly adequate for keeping you afloat. As long as you are concious I think they are more reliable. In the photo of me with my 20lber in the gallery I am wearing the Bass Pro vest.
From: matt
ok, most of my fishing is on the warwickshire avon and severn. would a boyancy aid or life jacket be better and what is actually the difference ??
From: Dave.L
As far as I know the difference is that a lifejacket will support your head above water and turn you face up if you were to be knocked unconcious as you fell in the water. A bouyancy aid just *helps* you to stay afloat and would possibly not support your total weight or turn you face up. I would always play safe and go for a proper CE marked lifejacket.
From: Tim
The trouble with the inflating type of lifejackets is just that. You have to rely on a mechanism to operate. If it fails, you just have more weight attached to your body which you would have to remove before you could take your coat off to make swimming easier or even possible. A manual one, where you need to pull a cord to trigger the mechanism is utterly useless if you panic when you fall in or are unconcious. The only reliable method is to have something with permanent buoyancy which will work whether you are wearing it under your coat or on top. There is nothing to fail. If you are unconcious when you hit the water you are in big trouble anyway. The other thing about automatic lifejackets is their tendancy to go off when they are not supposed to. I know of several people who have gone to get their lifejacket for a days fishing and found it fully inflated. One friend had a Fox jacket go off in his workshop while he was in there. Apparently there was a loud bang which scared the life out of him and the lifejacket leapt out from it's shelf. Of couse when he rang Fox they were extremely dismissive and said it happens all the time! Yes the 50n buoyancy aids don't give as much floatation as the inflating ones, but I believe that only 275n devices are actually called lifejackets and are guarenteed to turn you over if you are unconcious. The 150n ones are only meant as swimming aids, though I'm sure they will keep you afloat very well. If you are a hopeless swimmer they may be a better bet, but you need to read the instructions about how to wear them and follow them to the letter. Having them on under a coat renders them useless. Not having the buckle done up is a no no. Buy what you feel confident with but be aware of the pros and cons. I see far too many inflatables worn incorrectly.
From: Keef
A lifejacket has to be designed such that it will turn an unconscious adult on his/her back in the water and maintain a position where breathing is unimpaired. A bouyancy aid of 50 Newton bouyancy will support an adult male with no extra effort required. If the individual was submerged such a jacket would provide an upwards force of approx 11 lb. People that will probably spent alot of time in the water, eg. canoeists, windsurfers, skiers, etc. will nearly always be wearing one of these. If you are venturing out to sea then a lifejacket is a must. People become weak after a period of immersion in cold water, and you might have to wait some time for rescue. On British inland waterways you are never likely to be that far from the bank and the chances are you could swim/paddle to dry land. Having said that, and because I wear a bouyancy aid, as do guests in my boat, I would really like to hear more from the person who said he had had problems with a bouyancy aid. What were the circumstances? By the way, this board is developing into a very interesting forum, and some important issues have been raised. We needed something like this in the UK.
From: Tim Moran
Lifejackets or bouyancy aids and boats are of course the norm, for many very good reasons. But have we considered the risk that we lurists expose ourselves to while bank fishing? Inherently roving and seeking quiet and inaccessible banks, often miles from the nearest angler or habitation we are perhaps at greater risk than a boat angler. We carry all our tackle with us, wear boots or waders. One slip while negotiating that icy lock gate��. I wear an 'aquabouy', velcoed to a d ring on my fishing waitscoat. It's about the size of a very small mobile phone and contains an inflatable balloon, activated by a gas cartridge and attached by a short lanyard. If I fall into a weir or lock, I can fire it off, hit the surface and float. It's bought me the time I need to make a decision, dump the gear and swim to the bank. It�s a serious piece of kit and not expensive. Mine cost me about �20-30 (when the pts was about 180 to the quid, now its nearer 300) from a parachute centre in Spain. Email: [email protected] and ask for Pete or Ivan. Highly recommended!!
From: matt
Do the figures of boyancy people mention for boyancy, i.e. 50, 150 newtons take into account wearing full winter kit ?? will 50 keep an angler in one peice suit and boots plus whatever else afloat ??
From: Keef
The figure for bouyancy is independent of what you are wearing. 50 Newtons is approx equal to 11 pounds bouyancy or uplift. Take a 50N bouyancy aid and immerse it in the bath. It will take some holding down. The force you will have to exert to keep it under water will be equivalent to an 11 lb weight. Will a 50N vest keep an adult male in full winter gear afloat? Yes
From: Paul
I noticed that in all the recent debate on lifejackets, no one has mentioned floatation suits. These could be an alternative to a lifejacket, they also provide some insulation from cold water as well as being warm and comfortable to wear. I have done some checking, and found that Sundridge tackle will be selling GREEN floatation suits, more appropriate for Pike anglers than the more common red/yellow models from some time in December. They should be available up to Giant size(52-55 inch chest).Sundridge can be contacted on 01634-253487.Hope this is of some help.
From: Keef
Think we are mainly looking at offshore use here. Although a flotation suit could be good for winter fishing, I would like to try one to see just how much mobility it allows you for lure fishing - which we are talking about on this site. Try wearing one of those things on a hot summers day! That leaves you with having to buy another device anyway. The good thing about a bouyancy vest is that it will fit over just about anything - numerous insulating layers and waterproofs in winter, or just a T-shirt in summer.
From: martin g
Floatation suits sounds definatly the way to go I never did fancy my chances if I fell in the winter with just the life jacket,the cold would probably be as big a risk as drowning. I like the idea of them in green the vivid red I have seen them in looks seriously uncool.
From: Rob
I Used to use flotation suits for sea angling, from the original X3 to sundridge. I would not recommend them for lure angling in any way ( one piece suits that is ). They are restrictive when you are downtiding let alone constantly casting, If you are sat down for any length of time you get a cold, wet arse. In the confines of a small boat I would not recommend their use. A two piece flotation suit is a completley different kettle of fish! More expensive but worth the extra by a long way. For top quality water proofs look in sailing mags / chandlers. You may not be able to get green ( never wear that on a boat anyway )but you will find blues / blacks. Far better weather proof qualities than many of the Angling stuff. For my piking I wear 100% waterproof lightweights with good quality fleece and lightweight jacket along with a sowester inflatable lifejacket. Warm as Toast, totally dry, and not restricted in movement. I hope this may be of some help.
From: martin g
I didn't have an incident as such my Fox life jacket whent off at home in the dry! My gripe was mainly the way Fox spoke to me when I rang them they suggested it was entirely my fault and that I must have got it damp, it's true I occasionaly fish in the rain, mostly I avoid it.I don't pretend to know exactly how it works (something about a salt tablet dissolving)I know of a few other people that its happend to.If it's on such a fine hair trigger it's unreliable,the shocck of it going off whilst wearing it might cause you to fall in.(it's very noisy)I will continue with it for now because it was so expensive,my comment on the floatation suite was entirely a winter one.I think however good a life jacket is in winter the cold is the problem the suite would protect from the cold a bit longer.I hope never to have cause to put any of this to the test.
From: Keef
jeez! a lifejacket thats no good in the damp. Think I would have been asking for my money back.
From: Keef
This thread on bouyancy aids and lifejackets has been most useful. Seems more freshwater anglers are taking up boat fishing in this country, so maybe it would be a good idea to talk about what you would actually do if you found yourself in the unfortunate position of having falling in from a boat. Number one. Dont panic. Its a myth that clothing, boots etc will drag you down. You should have been wearing a flotation device, but if not then hang onto the boat - all boats sold in the UK now should be unsinkable. Its always safer to fish with a partner, and they will be able to help you back in. Dont try to get over the side, chances are you will swamp the boat. Go round to the back and get yourself hauled in that way. If you are on your own, and are fit, then you may be able to get back in over the stern yourself. Dont bank on it. I work in the oil industry and have to do periodic training for this type of stuff. We had to jump off a ship into Rotterdam harbour and swim over to a liferaft in our survival suits and life jackets. This was a soft-sided inflatable, yet it was surprising just how difficult it was to get in. The first guy was given a bunk up by two in the water, then those inside proceeded to haul the rest in. Dont think I could have done it on my own. A lifejacket tends to flip you on your back, so dont try to swim in a normal position. Do a leisurely backstroke using your arms, kicking won't help much. The bulk of the lifejacket on your chest makes it extra difficult to climb in. Think if I was trying to get over the stern of a boat with an inflated jacket on I would be inclined to take it off. If you are on your own, and cant get back into the boat, then there is a reasonable chance on most British inland waterways that somebody will come along to give you a hand. If not, then head for the nearest shore. You might even be able to tow the boat if its light enough. If the wind is pushing you towards a shoreline, stay with the boat, watch out for it though when you do reach the shallows. A set of waterproofs will help considerably against body heat loss. It will feel cold at first, but further water ingress will be restricted. If possible wear polypropylene thermals, polyester fleece or maybe wool, these will insulate even when wet. Cotton gets wet, stays wet, and keeps you wet. Safe boating and fishing guys and gals.
From: PETER WALLER
I've watching this site quietly for a while now, good one and sensible threads. This one about boat safety is long overdue. I've been in and out of boats since before I could walk. The best advice I was ever given was, firstly, 'one hand for you and one hand for the boat'. Basically it means that one hand should always be ready to hang on to the boat with. Secondly, as far as small boats are concerned, such as most anglers use, don't stand up and walk about in them. A common sight, especially on a cold, windy day, is to see two anglers standing up in a small boat. There they are, dressed in one piece, padded suits, ideal until they become waterlogged, out on water where hyperthermia is a certainty should they go in, no lifejackets, not only risking their lives but also those who might be called to rescue them. This site's awareness of the problem is highly creditable.

December 2009

This summer I noticed that my 3 auto-inflating lifejackets were all overdue for new inflators. I tested them. The 2 Hammar-equipped ones I bought from Marine Warehouse were 12 months overdue for renewal but they both popped into life and inflated. The more overdue Crewsaver didn't work, when I checked it out the CO2 cylinder (which was a replacement) had punctured OK but must have previously leaked, when I inflated in manually the material was all sound.

All auto-inflating lifejackets must have new inflators fitted at regular intervals as recommended on the inflators. Don't forget to keep them up to the correct standard, you'll only find out you've forgotten when you need it to work.