Choosing the right PFD

Marine safety expert Genevieve White offers advice on choosing personal flotation devices for offshore racing.

The statement that a lifejacket is not going to save lives if it is stowed away seems fairly obvious, but sadly there are still too many incidences of boat users who have been found in the water not wearing any form of floatation. In the past, this has probably related to the discomfort of wearing bulky and sometimes heavy lifejackets, but the modern day recreational ‘personal floatation device’ (PFD) can be very light and user-friendly. And while there is no guarantee that a PFD will save a life,
it certainly has the potential to help.

There has been a real push in recent years to ensure that boat users wear PFDs, preferably at all times, but certainly in situations of heightened risk including at night or in restricted visibility, when crossing an ocean bar, during severe weather warning situations, and when there is the potential to capsize or
be swamped by waves, or to fall overboard.

As a result, more and more people are purchasing personal equipment rather than relying on the boat set of gear. Choosing a PFD can be a big decision and potentially a big outlay depending on choice of the brand, model and extras. Following are some of the key features you should be looking for with offshore sailing in mind and some comparison of some of the popular yachting PFDs.

WHAT IS A PFD?

Most people will interchange the term PFD with lifejacket and are referring to a device which, when worn correctly, will provide buoyancy in order to increase the likelihood of survival in water.

In Australia, there have been three types of recreational PFDs, Types 1, 2 and 3, according to the style of boat, while commercial vessels use Coastal and SOLAS designs for the bulky lifejackets that they are required to carry. However, recent changes to the Australian Standard rely on a description of buoyancy rather than type.

PFD Type 1

A PFD Type 1, or ‘lifejacket’, is intended to maintain the wearer in a safe floating, ‘face up’ position whether conscious or unconscious, with sufficient floatation to support the body and head. Design features include a floatation collar to keep the head above water, high visibility colours, and retro-reflective patches. It is for use in smooth, partially smooth and open waters and is suitable for offshore sailing. It must comply with Australian Standard 1512-1996 and must be marked with the words ‘PFD TYPE 1’.

PFD Type 2

A PFD Type 2, or ‘buoyancy vest’ provides less buoyancy than a PFD Type 1 but is sufficient to support the body. Like a PFD Type 1 it is manufactured in high visibility colours but does not have a collar to keep the head above water. It is for use in smooth and partially smooth waters and is suitable for waterskiing, personal watercraft, sailing boats and dinghies. It must comply with Australian Standard 1499-1996 and must
be marked with ‘PFD TYPE 2’.

PFD Type 3

A PFD Type 3, or ‘buoyancy aid’ has similar buoyancy to a PFD Type 2 but can be manufactured in a wide variety of colours.
It is for use in smooth water and only where the user is likely to be in the water for a short time. It must comply with Australian Standard 2260-1996 and must be marked with ‘PFD TYPE 3’.

Coastal and SOLAS

Coastal and SOLAS lifejackets are bulky life jackets designed to keep the body afloat for long periods. They are mostly carried by commercial boats. Their bulk makes them inappropriate for the yachting environment.

BUOYANCY

Lifejacket buoyancy is measured in Newtons (N). Ten Newtons equals 1kg of floatation. Within the type designs above, there can be a range of buoyancies. The new Australian Standard uses buoyancy in its descriptions.

50N PFD

Buoyancy aids with 50N should only be used by swimmers in sheltered waters when help is close at hand as, while they provide some floatation, there is insufficient buoyancy to turn a person from a face-down position in the water.

100N PFD

The 100N PFD is for those who may have to wait for rescue but are likely to be in sheltered, calm water. It may not have sufficient buoyancy to roll an unconscious person on to his or her back, particularly someone in heavy clothing. Most foam recreational PFDs are 100N or less.

150N PFD

A 150N PFD is generally appropriate for coastal and offshore, rough-weather use and should turn an unconscious person to a ‘face up’ position. Its performance may be affected if the user is wearing heavy clothing. Most inflatable PFDs are 150N or more.

The 275N PFD

The 275 PFD is recommended for offshore use in extreme conditions and for those wearing heavy protective clothing that may adversely affect the self-righting capacity of other PFDs. It is designed to ensure that the wearer is floating in the ‘face up’ position with mouth and nose clear of the surface of the water.

STANDARDS

When looking for a PFD, you should be ensuring that it bears the applicable Standards Mark to ensure that it has been manufactured to comply with an appropriate standard.

As mentioned above, until now the appropriate standard for an offshore PFD Type 1 has been Australian Standard 1512-1996. The new standard in Australia is Australian Standard 4758 which reflects buoyancy as described above. Level 100 will be the minimum requirement for offshore use. The new standards cover the following:

Level 275 – similar to inflatable PFD Type 1 with extra buoyancy suitable for heavy clothing.

Level 150 – similar to inflatable PFD Type 1 and suitable for offshore use.

Level 100 – similar to PFD Type 1 and the minimum requirement for offshore use under government regulations.

Level 50 – similar to PFD Type 2.

Level 50 Special Purpose (50S) – to replace PFD Type 3.

Overseas standards which can be compared include EN396 – 1993 (150N), EN 399 – 1993 (275 N), and the International ISO standards ISO 12402-3 (150N) and SIO 12402-2 (275N).

Current offshore racing requirements in Australia require PFD Type 1 jackets which, as shown, may in fact be less than 150N buoyancy. Offshore racing regulations also require that the PFDs
are not the bulky, over-the-head type often described as Mae West. As of July 2011, the yacht racing regulations will require all PFDs
for offshore racing to be 150N or more, whether constructed under old or new Australian Standards, or under overseas standards.

INFLATABLE PFDs

As most recreational foam PFDs are less than 150N, this will effectively mean that to comply with a 150N rating, users will need to purchase inflatable PFDs with markings of 150N or more. This will require a CO2 gas cylinder of 33 grams or more. So, what are you looking for when purchasing?

Inflation Mechanisms

Inflatable PFDs can be purchased with either manual or automatic (with manual override) or hydrostatic (with manual override) firing mechanisms. All have a back-up oral inflation tube. Manually inflated PFDs are operated by pulling a string or tab, which pushes a firing pin into the CO2 canister, inflating the PFD. Automatically inflated PFDs rely on a small dissolving pellet or bobbin, which holds back a spring. When the pellet makes contact with water it dissolves rapidly, releasing the spring, which pushes a firing pin into the gas canister. Hydrostatically inflated PFDs have a spring release and pellet system which is protected by a case which will only fire when the case is submerged to about 10 cm and water pressure allows water to enter the case.

The choice of firing mechanism is one which is very personal and while it seems
a simple answer, there are some pros and cons of each.

An automatic or hydrostatic firing mechanism is designed so that the PFD will self inflate when entering the water, even if the wearer is unconscious. However, if the wearer is caught under the boat, they will likely need to empty the PFD of air through the oral inflation tube in order to swim out. In addition, the automatic mechanism is very sensitive and can fire inadvertently on deck if the dissolving pellet gets soaked. It is therefore very important to carry spare canisters and bobbin in order to re-arm the PFD.

The hydrostatic mechanism, while less likely to fire inadvertently, does require a small ‘key’ to replace the CO2 cylinder which is mounted on the inside of the buoyancy chamber and is less easy to visually check for that reason. There is the risk that the mechanism does not fire if the wearer in a face down position has buoyant clothing which does not allow the mechanism to reach the required depth for firing.

A manual system requires the wearer to actively fire the system and will therefore not be appropriate if the wearer is unconscious, but does not have the risk of firing inadvertently.

Style

There are two main styles of inflatable PFDs. In the bladder style, the inflatable chamber is folded and closed with Velcro with no additional cover over the outside. The advantage of this style is simplicity in checking and repacking, and no additional parts that can get caught up in the difficult situation of trying to don a PFD in the water. A valise style has a protective zipped or Velcro cover around the folded inflatable chamber and provided the opportunity to replace the bladder should it fail in a testing situation.

HARNESSES

Again, with reference to offshore racing, the regulations require a harness and tether with the purpose of keeping the wearer on the boat and with luck and good planning and preparation, not ever needing to test the buoyancy of the PFD. Many brands of inflatable PFD produce models with an integral built in harness. Like the PFD, it
is important to check the standard to which is has been manufactured as there are some models which do not comply. Look for the standard printed on the harness. The Australian standard is AS2227, or you can rely on overseas standards including EN1095 or ISO12401. These standards also cover tethers to be used in conjunction with the harness.

A GOOD FIT

PFD’s are manufactured in a range of sizes to suit people of different body masses and builds and to account for the type of clothing which will be worn. It is important to ensure that the PFD fits well and is comfortable enough to wear for long periods. It is also important to be confident that it holds you in an appropriate ‘face up’ position in the water when you are wearing the clothing for offshore sailing. You are not going to be able to answer this particular question in the local shop, so while it may be a matter of taking the salesman’s word for it, it is far better to try a PFD in the water. The Yachting Australia Safety and Sea Survival courses are highly recommended to give you the chance to do just that, and also to see or try a range of PFDs.

EXTRAS

Once you have checked the official details of PFDs for standards, buoyancy and harness attachments, then you can consider the ‘extras’ which may be included with a PFD or which you may choose to add. All Type 1 PFDs have retro-reflective tape, and should have a whistle to attract attention. Some will come with a strobe light or personal light or this may need to be purchased separately. An added feature which is also highly recommended to protect the face from spray and potential drowning or secondary drowning is a spray hood.

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

An important note is that inflatable PFDs need regular servicing. This brings up an ongoing discussion as to whether that means the owner can self service, or whether an authorised agent must complete the service.

Currently, the Australian offshore racing rules require that Each inflatable PFD Type 1 shall be checked and serviced at the intervals as prescribed by the manufacturer. These intervals are generally annual, although some brands extend this to two years, and most recommend specific trained service agents. And, while there are also instructions for self checks with many PFDs, many yacht clubs will only accept qualified service agents’ certificates for racing. The important thing to understand is that the trained service agent does much more than visually check the canister, mechanisms, and PFD. They inflate the PFDs to a specific calibrated pressure which is higher than that possible by mouth, and have the calibrated tools and equipment to replace O rings and schrader valves if necessary, with the correct replacements, and to re-tighten the connection nut to a calibrated torque level. These small things can be the difference as to whether a jacket leaks or not when inflated, and backs the argument for trained service agents.

Users do, however, also have an important role in PFD care by completing ongoing pre-wear checks, and general care and maintenance. Quick and simple checks include checking that the green indicator tag is in place, the CO2 and auto canisters have not been fired or pierced and are screwed in hand tight, and the oral inflation cap is in place. These checks are also demonstrated during the practical sessions of the Safety and Sea Survival Course.

SUMMARY

The choice of PFD for offshore sailing is based on technical design type of PFD, amount and type of buoyancy, and the government standards to which it has been manufactured. Within these parameters, it is also important to make active choices on the type of inflation mechanism for inflatable PFDs, the inclusion of an integral harness, and the ‘extras’ which come with the jacket which improve safety and also give value for money. For offshore sailing, look for PFDs with 150N buoyancy or more, that fit well and provide good performance in the water for your body type and the clothing you will be wearing. You are far more likely to wear a PFD which is comfortable and in which you have confidence.

Inflatable PDF Comparisons - Common Yachting Models

AS CE ISO Cover Style Light Spray Hood CO2 Cylinder Size Harness Model Manual Models Automatic Model 'Dissolving tablet or paper' (Water activated) Hydrostatic Models (Pressure activated)

Burke - BladderOptionalOptional33 gm - EN

XM Quickfit - BladderOptionalOptional33 gm - EN

Baltic Winner - Valise (Zipper)OptionalOptional33 gm - EN

Crewsaver Crewfit (150, 190, & 275 Versions) ???Bladder or Valise (Zipper) Optional (included in Plus models) Optional (included in Plus models) 33, 38 or 60 gm - ISO Adjustable after donning (190N)

Stormy Offshore Yoke (Available Nov 2010) ???Valise (velcro) - 38 gm - EN Adjustable after donning

Stormy Offshore Vest or Jacket - Vest Optional - 38 gm - (EN) Removable

Stormy Offshore Jacket - Vest Optional - 38 gm - (EN) Removable

Spinlock Deckvest (Current Generation) - Auto and Hydrostatic versions avail - Valise (Zipper) - Aqua-spec - 33 gm - (EN & ISO) Adjustable after donning Manual conversion kit

Secumar (150 & 275 Versions) - Valise (Zipper) Optional (Included with plus models) Optional (Included with plus models) 33 or 60 gm (Bayonet) - (EN & ISO) Adjustable after donning Manual Override kit ?

Please note this list is not exhaustive for brands or features.