Personal safety equipment
Regulations
The regulations imposed for navigation of less than 2miles from shelter, are individual equipment (vest or jacket,) of 50 Newtons. You will not find them in our guide (except special dinghy vest.) For sailing between 2 and 6 miles, the regulations require 100 Newton models. For this zone the harness and lanyard are not obligatory. Beyond 6 miles, it will be better to replace 150 Newton foam vests, with inflatable life jackets. This is the type of equipment one purchases for themselves and which serves one well when travelling on different vessels.
Salt pellet or hydrostatic?
All automatic vests also have a manual activation system. This may be salt tablets, which disintegrate in water, freeing the CO ² bottle’s trigger release. The models we offer have a spray protection system to prevent accidental release. The hydrostatic valve (Hammar system,) activates under water pressure. Theoretically 10cm of water is sufficient. Note, that although the hydrostatic system is attractive on paper, with no nuisance tripping due to moisture, in practice it is much more difficult to reset. There is also a risk of leakage, due to the cartridge being located within the vest.
Professional advice
“When choosing a vest, take one with an integrated harness. With a line you may thus, remain connected to the boat in case of fall.”
“When choosing a vest, take one with an integrated harness. With a line you may thus, remain connected to the boat in case of fall.”
3 families of vests
The vests are defined by their buoyancy. The CE standard gives a buoyancy value (for carrying from 70kg) expressed in Newtons (1N = 0.1kg.) Three families are proposed for recreational craft:
50 Newton: “flotation aid,” ensures that airways are retained above water for a conscious wearer, able to swim; does not guarantee righting the unconscious wearer. Forbidden for infants of less than 30 kg. Recommended for use on small embarkation boats such as dinghies.
100 Newton (foam or inflatable): buoyancy vest ensures turning of wearer and enables an unconscious person to have their head out of the water. May be used for all categories of sailing.
150Newton and above (foam or inflatable): life vests, ensures turning of wearer and enables an unconscious person, wearing clothes, to have their head out of the water. Uses: all categories of navigation. Since 1st January 2010, a 150N buoyancy aid is obligatory for every person on board, undertaking sailing of more than 6 miles
(Article 3.12 Division 240.)
50 Newton: “flotation aid,” ensures that airways are retained above water for a conscious wearer, able to swim; does not guarantee righting the unconscious wearer. Forbidden for infants of less than 30 kg. Recommended for use on small embarkation boats such as dinghies.
100 Newton (foam or inflatable): buoyancy vest ensures turning of wearer and enables an unconscious person to have their head out of the water. May be used for all categories of sailing.
150Newton and above (foam or inflatable): life vests, ensures turning of wearer and enables an unconscious person, wearing clothes, to have their head out of the water. Uses: all categories of navigation. Since 1st January 2010, a 150N buoyancy aid is obligatory for every person on board, undertaking sailing of more than 6 miles
(Article 3.12 Division 240.)