Buying a new life jacket should be like buying a new pair of shoes: try it on, wiggle around in it and make sure it fits comfortably.
To the same tune, we feel that wearing a life jacket should be like wearing a seatbelt when driving a car – always “buckle up’ before you ‘start your engine.”
It makes sense, right? You buckle up for the safety of you and your family during transportation. So, the same concept should apply when you’re boating! After all, you need a boating license just like you need a driver’s license. So this year, make wearing a life jacket while boating as instinctive as buckling up your seatbelt while driving!
BOATsmart! is here to help. Here’s how to find a perfect-fitting life jacket this season in just five steps!
Life Jacket Shopping Tips
Making the right choice when buying a flotation device is essential to your safety on the water.
Don’t just grab the vest with the neon discount sticker. Instead, look at several styles and read the tags and labels carefully. Think about what type of boating activities you’ll be participating in:
- Do you and your family love to waterski behind a towing boat?
- Are you a fisherman planning to catch bass from a tin fishing boa
- Will you be operating a jet ski or standing on a SUP board?
By identifying your favorite water sports activities and your level of activity, you’ll better understand what type of jacket will be the most comfortable for you to wear while you’re boating.
So try it on, buckle or zip it up, and get moving so you’ll know how your device feels before you take it home.
Have your family do the same! Get your kids to bust a move in their life jackets while in the store! That should give them a good giggle.
Oh, and don’t forget about your pooch! Dogs need flotation devices, too!
What About the Paddle Factor?
Paddlers are active boaters (straight up: kayak = fitness). For this reason, they prefer compact, inflatable life jacket styles that won’t get in the way while they’re paddling their canoe, kayak, or SUP board.
For example, some life jackets have been designed specifically for kayakers, and inflatable waist belts have been designed specifically for Stand-up Paddlers (SUP boarders). These specialized jackets are ideal for paddlers because they don’t interfere with their dynamic paddle movements.
Motorized boaters have access to a wide variety of Canadian-approved life jackets! So, if this is your boating category, the options are limitless. Personalize your choice and make it work for you.
Choose a jacket that fits as well as your favorite flip-flops do and you’ll be more likely to wear it every time you hit the water.
How to Find the Perfect Fit in 5 Steps
Ready to find your perfect life jacket? Take the insights we shared above and follow the five steps below.
- Read the tag. Look for the sizing and approval info. Not all vests are Canadian-approved (many wakeboarding vests are not)!
- Think about your boating activities and what type of life jacket you’ll be most comfortable in during those activities.
- Make sure your life jacket has a small amount of room in the area covering your chest to allow some water between your chest and the jacket. Aim for a snug fit, but be able to comfortably move your arms.
- Check that your chest doesn’t feel too restricted. You should have enough space to be able to take a deep breath.
- The final step is to make sure all of the zippers, fasteners, buckles, and straps are secured and correctly adjusted.
It’s worth it to take the time and go through these steps to choose the right life jacket. Skipping a step or going with “something that almost fits” could put you in a dangerous situation in the water. An ill-fitting jacket won’t be able to keep you afloat properly, while a well-fitting jacket could save your life!
Buying a Child’s Life Jacket
There are no big surprises here. Use the same procedure to find the correct life jacket fit for your child.
Read the label, identify the weight categories, have the child try on the jacket in-store, and fully secure it (including the strap between the legs). Make sure your child is comfortable in their jacket, or they won’t want to wear it.
Seriously, save yourself from an epic dock battle/screaming match, and make sure your child will be comfortable in their life jacket before you go boating!
Parents should also remember that kids outgrow their life jackets as quickly as they outgrow their shoes. Don’t try to make it work if it’s too small (or too big). The jacket either fits . . . or it doesn’t.
Other Floaties Are No Substitute
Speaking of your child’s safety, remember that water wings, boogie boards, and inflatable sea turtles are not a substitute for lifejackets.
These devices are not designed to save lives.
To help keep your kids safe on the water, you should always buckle up their life jackets, consider signing them up for swimming lessons (Canadian Red Cross), and have your family take the BOATsmart! Safe Boating Course!
Keep Your Family Safe With the Right Life Jackets
Every day on the water can be a safe one when you plan ahead. Setting yourself and your family up with perfectly-fitting life jackets is the best way to start your adventure on the water!
As we mentioned, we also recommend taking the safe boating course through BOATsmart! In Canada, boaters must pass one of these courses to get a boating license. Plus, you’ll learn safety essentials to navigate the waters safely every time you leave the dock.
Keep your family safe on the water! Start your course through BOATsmart! and have a safe and happy boating season.
Content most recently reviewed and updated August 2, 2024.
