What type of lifejacket do I need to buy?

Just like sunshine and smiles, lifejackets are a big part of recreational boating in Australia.

They’re not only a sensible choice for anyone heading out on the water, but in many instances wearing them is mandated by law.

But which lifejacket, also known as a personal flotation device, is the one you need?

Lifejackets are split into a number of different categories, largely depending on where you’re going, what you’re doing, and what is taking you there.

Let’s go through them to match the right lifejacket with what you want to do on the water. But first, let’s explain the three types of lifejackets.

Flotation devices such as lifejackets that are sold in Australia are split into three different categories.

At the bottom of the scale are the devices that provide limited buoyancy, but are used in on-water activities where a snug fitting is needed and help is usually always at hand.

At the top of the list are the devices that are made specifically for boating, and are commonly referred to as “offshore” lifejackets.

Collarless Level 50 lifejackets only differ in their colour. However, offshore lifejackets can be very different.

An offshore-rated Level 100 or above lifejacket is designed to turn the wearer around so their face floats well clear of the water while a collar supports the head.

This lifejacket can be foam filled or inflatable, the latter using a cylinder of carbon dioxide to blow up the lifejacket like a balloon.

The advantage of foam-filled versus inflatable is that if you fall in the water, you start to float straight away. The downside is they can be bulky and a bit uncomfortable on a hot day. Ownership is also easy, with only a six-monthly inspection to ensure nothing on them is frayed or worn.

Foam-filled jackets are also the best choice for children.

Most adult-sized boaters these days will use inflatable lifejackets. These are either inflated manually by pulling a cord, or automatically, most commonly by using a paper cylinder that dissolves when it comes into contact with the water and triggers the inflation process (although you do always have the choice of inflating it manually).

Compared with a bulky foam-filled jacket they’re snug-fitting and comfortable to wear, and quite often you’ll forget you have it on.

Downsides? There are a few. Inflatable jackets need inspections every six months and annual servicing that includes weighing the gas cylinder used to inflate the jacket.

You also can trigger them accidentally if you catch the ripcord on something, and if you’re knocked unconscious and you’re wearing a manually inflating jacket it’s like not wearing a lifejacket at all – something important for sailors with low booms to think about.

You can usually service an inflatable lifejacket yourself, with replacement gas cylinders and even servicing kits readily available. Some lifejackets may need to be sent back to the manufacturer for service after a certain time, such as five years, has elapsed.

A basic lifejacket without any bright colours on it is known as a Level 50S. A Level 50S lifejacket is best suited to families who like to tow kids and adults behind the boat, either waterskiing, wakeboarding or messing around on a towed water toy. These activities usually only take place in protected, smooth waters, so if someone falls off they likely will be retrieved from the water very quickly.

Take away the “S”, and we get to the brightly coloured Level 50 lifejackets.

A Level 50 lifejacket is ideal for anyone who takes to the water alone in human- or wind-powered craft such as kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and dinghies, or personal watercraft. The high visibility is important in this instance because even if you don’t end up in the water but the wind starts pushing you offshore making it too difficult to return, it’s important to be seen.

Level 100-plus lifejackets are for powered watercraft, including trailer sailers. While you may not need to wear them all the time on your boat – depending on local state or territory laws – there are instances where you will need to put one on.

This includes if the boat is considered to be at heightened risk, such as travelling at night, through fog, heavy rain or smoke, in rough seas, boating alone, or if you happen to break down.

Keeping your lifejackets in good shape and replacing them regularly is an important part of managing safety for everyone who enjoys the water.

These days, lifejacket use should be a natural part of boating, much like wearing a seatbelt in a car. After all, as the saying goes, putting one on has never ruined a day out on the water.

The buoyancy of a lifejacket is defined as its level. The most basic lifejackets provide a minimum flotation level of 50 Newtons, a measure of how much upward force the lifejacket generates when it floats – the higher the number, the higher you sit out of the water.

The minimum rating for an offshore lifejacket is 100N, but they can have even higher ratings of up to 275N for those serious boaters who venture far offshore and wear heavy clothing.