Life Jacket Recommendations

If you would like to get your own life jacket, we do have a few recommendations. There are some different categories from our safety policies and procedures. At the end of the day, these could save your life, so consider what conditions you are rowing in (rowing alone, what body of water, who is there to help you if something happens, etc.) and choose accordingly. The guidelines below are what is required to use equipment.

Medical considerations

If you have, or have had, a medical condition that could cause you to become unresponsive, limit your ability to communicate, or cause you to struggle either in the water (should you end up in the water) or with basic rowing tasks (for example, the ability to set the boat) at any time, we highly recommend rowing in an auto inflate PFD at all times. This is for your safety as well as the safety of the other people at practice and/or in a boat with you.

Life Jacket Considerations

If you are going to purchase your own life jacket, there are a few things that you should consider:

• Make sure the life jacket you purchase is appropriate for your weight range (kids life jackets could look less expensive, but will not support adult weight)

• Make sure you look at the re-arming kit and instructions for re-arming and how easy the re-arming kit is to get

• Know what the inspection and recommended replacement schedule for parts including CO2 cartridges, salt rings, etc.

• You will be required to self-attest regularly that your life jacket has been inspected and parts replaced on the recommended maintenance schedule for your jacket

Water temp 50 degrees or below and/or prior to completing the Basic Safety Certification

In order to use equipment prior to completing the Sweeps & Sculls Basic Safety Certification and/or when the water temperature is 50 degrees or less, everyone must wear an inflatable PDF that goes around the neck.

• High End ($$$) - Mustang Survival
  This life jacket is expensive, but Mustang Survival is high quality survival gear. This jacket inflates by pressure (hydrostatic) rathar than a disolving salt crystal so it will not activate in the rain and it has to be submerged to activate.

  • • Pros: extremely slim profile and sits high so oars clear, pressure activation, high quality gear, has a panel or "yolked" back for better fit while rowing and allows the front of the jacket to sit higher so oars clear

    • Cons: expensive to purchase and expensive to re-arm if it goes off (check the cost of the re-arm kit when you purchase), needs to be inspected and re-armed every 2 years

    • Link: Mustang Survival Inflatable PFD

• Middle of the Road ($$) - Cabellas/Bass Pro, Mustang Survival, Onyx, Bluestorm, etc.
  These are great options and are usually right around or just over $100. Make sure the jacket you get supports your weight (there is usually a specification stating the weight they support), make sure you check how much the re-arm kit is and how easy it is to get.

  • Pros: more affordable, re-arm kits are generally less expensive

  • Cons: generally hang lower in the front, salt crystal that will eventually need to be replaced.

  • Mustang Survival

  • Bluestorm

  • Onyx

  • Bass Pro Shop

• Low End ($) - Generic brands
  Anything under $100 is going to be pretty low end. You're going to want to look at it carefully to be sure they come with a CO2 cartridge (some of them don't), and make sure they support your weight (there is usually a specification stating the weight they support).

  • Pros: very low cost

  • Cons: may not come with a CO2 cartridge, quality is usually not great, usually not very easy to adjust, depending on your situation, these may not be a great idea

    • Generic one sold at Walmart (does not come with a CO2 cartridge)

    • Generic brand sold on Amazon

After completing the basic safety certification and the water temp is above 50 degrees

Once you have completed the club's Basic Safety Certification, you can elect to wear a manual inflate waist belt when you use equipment, as long as the water temp is above 50 degrees. Here are a few recommendations:

• Mustang minimalist waist belt

• Onyx waist belt

• Cabelas or Bass Pro Waist Belt

What we DO NOT recommend

We do not recommend rowing in a kayaking, sailing of fishing PDF that is padded. Even if they sit higher and are less restrictive with movement of the waist, they thend to be bulky up top and restrict movement. We have tested several and have not found one that we feel works.