PRORACE LIFEJACKET

If it is important to keep in perfect condition all the parts of our boat, how much more those that refer to safety materials.

It is not enough to buy and keep the material that the law requires us in each case, but we must review it and make the appropriate care in case we ever need them. We are sure that then we will not want to remember what we should have done and did not do...


You must take into account the following points in the care of the Lifejackets:

• Wash them every so often and before storing them check that they are dry.
• If you have inflatable lifejackets, check that there is no air leakage. Para inflate them and leave them for at least 24 hours with the air inside. Check the inflation valve, as it tends to get stuck due to lack of use, if this happens change the vest immediately.
• In case it is necessary to place a patch, it is preferable to order it to the manufacturer for a review.
• A point where we must take special care are the zippers and snaps, which can easily get stuck due to saltpeter. Keep in mind that a vest or a float that cannot close properly will be useless.
  Para to get a zipper stuck by salt to work properly again, you must wash it properly with fresh water; if this does not work, you should apply a special liquid to unclog zippers, and leave it to act overnight. If the problem still persists, you should remove the corrosion by scraping with the tip of a razor or knife, while applying more liquid.
  Once unblocked, scrub the teeth with a fine wire brush and apply the unblocking product.
  Repeat the whole process with the automatic zippers if necessary
• Finally, remember that it is essential to check the other elements of the vest: safety lights, whistles, reflective strips..

The lifejacket is a fundamental element and it is mandatory to carry it always in perfect conditions in the equipment of our boat.
There is a wide range of lifejackets in the market to be able to adapt to different uses and activities. Merchant ships use rigid foam models, but there are also more comfortable models with automatic inflation that do not hinder maneuvering and are more practical for recreational boats.
Life jackets measure their buoyancy index in Newtons (N) and can be found in four types; 50 N, 100 N, 150 N and 275 N.
The buoyancy index is one of the important data to be able to incorporate them as part of the safety equipment of our boat and to be able to pass the ITB, because depending on how far we move away from the coast or depending on the navigation area for which our boat is approved, we will need life jackets with a higher or lower buoyancy index. The other important thing to take into account is that they must be "SOLAS" or "CE" type approved.

Also and according to Spanish legislation we must take into account that inflatable life jackets must be checked annually by an Authorized Service Station and that is why many shipowners have rigid vests to pass the ITB and inflatable vests more comfortable and manageable for daily use.

50 N lifejackets:
50 Newtons lifejackets are suitable for people who can swim well as they are only an aid to buoyancy and are only recommended for use in inland, calm or sheltered waters and for the practice of nautical sports activities such as sailing, kayaking or water skiing because after a fall practicing these sports their use allows you to swim back to your boat.
This type of lifejacket has a buoyancy of only 5 kg and must fit the body perfectly, with different sizes available to be able to adapt correctly to each individual.

100 N lifejackets:
100 Newtons lifejackets have a buoyancy of 10 kg and allow a non-swimming person to stay afloat. This type of lifejacket is not capable of keeping a castaway face up in the event that he/she has fallen unconscious into the sea.
100 N lifejackets are only approved as part of a boat's safety equipment for navigation zones 5, 6 and 7.

150 N lifejackets:
150 N lifejackets are the most commonly used in recreational boating and are required for boats navigating on the high seas. They have a minimum buoyancy of 15 kg and allow an unconscious person to be turned over and held face up. This type of vest, due to the volume it occupies once inflated, makes movement very difficult and makes it impossible for the castaway to swim.
150 N vests are the type of vests approved for navigation in zones 2, 3 and 4.

275 N vests:
275 N vests are the type of vests approved for navigation in navigation zone 1, i.e. for deep-sea navigation in rough conditions and wearing heavy protective clothing. It is also intended for workers on oil platforms and due to its bulkiness once inflated, it makes movement very difficult, making it difficult for the person wearing it to swim or climb into a life raft by their own means.

Automatic inflation life jackets:
Automatic inflation life jackets work thanks to pressurized bottles of carbon dioxide (CO2). This gas is released automatically upon contact with the water or manually by pulling a lever that punctures the bottle and releases all its gas. In case of failure of the automatic inflation device, these BCs can also be inflated manually with the mouth by means of a tube located at the top.

Tips:

• Before setting sail, each crew member must have his own lifejacket for the entire voyage, having it adjusted to his size and knowing perfectly how to put it on and how it works.
• The lifejacket should always be worn over clothing and never under a raincoat, as in the event of a fall into the water the air pressure between the body and the raincoat can make breathing difficult.
• It is necessary to know how to anticipate and at the first signs that the weather conditions are complicated we must put on life jackets. Waiting until the last moment can complicate things a lot and something as simple as apparently putting on a life jacket can become very complicated with rough seas or symptoms of seasickness.
• When sailing at night and even in good seas, the crew on watch should always wear life jackets.
• Each lifejacket should be fitted with some accessories such as a whistle, an emergency light for easy location in the dark, and a personal radio beacon if available.
• There are also life jackets that incorporate a safety harness, these are highly recommended because we can always be subject to any fixed part of the boat, eyebolt or lifeline.
• Always check the condition of the lifejackets before each voyage.

Legislation:

• Boats sailing in zone 1 must carry at least one life jacket per authorized person plus 10% of the total.
• Boats sailing in zones 2 to 7 shall carry at least one life jacket per authorized person.
• Children shall have one life jacket appropriate to their weight for each child on board.
• Inflatable life jackets shall be serviced annually by an authorized service station.
• Life jackets for navigation zone 1 shall be SOLAS or CE and 275 Newtons.
• Life jackets for navigation zones 2, 3 and 4 shall be SOLAS or CE and at least 150 Newtons.
• Life jackets for navigation zones 5, 6 and 7 shall be SOLAS or CE and at least 100 Newtons.