Buoyancy Aids RSS

Different countries will have different legal requirements for whether lifejackets are required on boats. But irrespective of what is written in law, we would always recommend that each person on the boat has a lifejacket which is suited to the activity and the wearer’s weight. More importantly the jacket should be worn and not only be available ‘just in case’. You can read more about the different types of jacket here > Are lifejackets required on boats in the UK? There is no legal requirement in the UK for anyone on the water for leisure purposes to wear a lifejacket...

If you ride a jet ski, you need to wear a personal flotation device to keep you safe while you’re on the water. We’ve put together 5 points to explain the what’s, why’s and how’s of jet ski life jackets. Why do I need a life jacket for Jet skiing? You wouldn’t drive your car without a seatbelt, get on a motorbike without a helmet and you shouldn’t go out on the water without a lifejacket of some sort. Life jackets save lives. The type of jacket will depend on the activity, but they’re all designed to preserve the life of...

Choosing the right lifejacket is essential for being safe on the water. There are a few factors to consider when deciding which one is needed. Activity The first thing to do is consider the activity you need the jacket for. This will quickly determine whether a buoyancy aid, a foam lifejacket or a gas lifejacket is best suited. There may be a slight cross over in some activities, but generally there is a jacket that is right for the purpose. If the activity is close to shore, where help is near and / or you can swim to safety and...

Maintenance and care of your buoyancy aid is of the utmost importance. Doing so will extend the life of the buoyancy aid and ensure it performs as it was designed.   If used in salt water, rinse the buoyancy aid with fresh water after each use. Rinse off any mud, sand, dirt, stains and sun cream. Dirt on buoyancy aid can develop into mould which can damage the fabric and foam, risking reliability and performance. A more thorough clean can be beneficial using washing detergent and a brush. But never use use chlorine based bleach or your washing machine. Check...

Bouyancy aids will often have 50N on them and lifejackets 100N, 150N or 275N. But what does this mean? The 'N' The 'N' on each stands for 'Newtons'. A newton is how much force is required to make a mass of one kilogram accelerate at a rate of one metre per second squared. 1N is the force of Earth's gravity on an apple with a mass of about 102g. On the Earth's surface, a mass of 1kg pushes on its support with an average force of 9.8 N. In lifejacket terms the 'N' indicates how much buoyancy is offered. As...