Boating USA — March 2018

BOAT DOCTOR ///WHAT TO L OOK F OR

44 | BOATINGMAG.COM | MARCH 2018

BOATDOCTOR///WHATTOL OOKF OR

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The sheer variety of life jackets available might surprise some

boaters. Models include those created specifi cally for boaters

who like to paddle, fi sh, perform tricks at the end of a towrope,

or cruise in cold waters. The Mustang Catalyst jacket ($350)

featured at the top left of this page, for example, is built for

cold-water boating. The following provides a primer so you

know what to look for if you seek a specialty life jacket for your

boating adventures. —Kevin Falvey

1. FISHING This MIV 10
   infl atable fi shing vest from
   Mustang minimizes weight
   and discomfort while casting.
   A mesh liner off ers a cool fi t,
   and six large pockets carry
   safety gear and fi shing tackle.
   A D -ring holds clippers, and
   a sheepskin patch secures
   fl ies and hooks. Manual in-
   fl ation means you can wade
   with it or fi sh in soaking rain
   or spray; it won’t infl ate un-
   less you pull the cord. $250;
   mustangsurvival.com


2. SUP You want larger
   armholes and a shorter body,
   like the way this O’Brien SUP
   Vest is cut, for maximum ease
   of motion when paddling a
   stand-up paddleboard. Fea-
   tures such as adjustments for
   waist, sides and shoulders help
   maximize eff ective paddling,
   and zipper pockets stow essen-
   tials. $59.99; obrien.com


3. KAYAK Roomy armholes
   and slim shoulder straps min-
   imize bulkiness so your arms

have full range of motion. The

short-cut design sits higher on

your torso for less restrictive

movement around your mid-

section while sitting. Refl ective

material increases visibility.

There’s a lash tab for a sheath

knife or other items, and it has

expandable zipper pockets.

$49.99; westmarine.com

4. PERFORMANCE BOAT-
   ING So-called “100 mph jack-
   ets” like this Comp Vest from
   Lifeline are the choice of many

performance boaters. The

collar diverts water, so it can’t

catch under the helmet. It

incorporates special impact-

reducing fl ak material. It has

extra-wide 1^1 / 2 -inch leg and

chest straps, and D -rings for

kill switches on both sides.

Available in custom colors

and designs. $535 to start;

lifelineracegear.com

5. WATERSPORTS Flex
   and fi t mark top watersports
   life vests such as the Ronix
   One Capella CGA. It is U.S.
   Coast Guard-approved Type
   III, so it counts against your
   carriage requirement. It fea-
   tures cylindrical construction,
   asymmetrical segmentation
   and a water-resistant liner.
   $179.99; ronixwake.com


6. OFFSHORE CRUISING
   An immersion suit (aka Gumby
   suit) like Mustang ’s MIS230-
   HR can keep you afl oat and
   alive in even the coldest wa-
   ters. It includes a watertight
   face seal, built-in harness, and
   5 mm neoprene layer for fl o-
   tation as well as protection
   against hypothermia. $450;
   mustangsurvival.com

ADVENTURE

LIFE

JACKETS

AND

SURVIVAL

APPAREL

PHOTOS: (COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT) COURTESY LIFELINE RACE GEAR, COURTESY MUSTANG SURVIVAL (3), COURTESY O'BRIEN, COURTESY WEST MARINE, COURTESY RONIX, COURTESY MUSTANG SURVIVAL

Some specialty life jackets may not fulfi ll U.S. Coast Guard and/or Transport Canada carriage

requirements, depending upon the product chosen, the ages of your crew and other factors.

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