![]() Regular-length life vests won’t be able to give you the coverage you require – and you will just end up looking like you’re wearing a kids’ vest, instead. If you’re over six feet tall, you’re going to need a longer PFD. It’s a constant struggle I’m sure I’m not the only one dealing with it. Is it just me, or are things always too short? And when they’re of proper length, then they end up being loose-fitting everywhere else. So, let’s talk about a unique issue that tall folks (again, I am in the same boat as you here, as a big guy who stands six-foot-three, with a 54 inch chest measurement, I feel your pain) deal with when choosing any kind of clothing: Okay, it seems like I’ve mostly focused on the “big” portion of the whole “big and tall life jackets” thing. So, I’m glad that I’ve had the chance to address this common misconception. Most of us who carry a few extra pounds will only need an additional 7 to 12 pounds of flotation. If you weigh 250 pounds – with 80% of it being water – and your body fat percentage is 15%, you can do the math yourself and check the actual amount of weight your PFD has to support in the water.Ģ50 pounds (your total weight) – 200 pounds (water weight) – 37.5 pounds (fat) = 12.5 pounds You’ll actually need a bit more flotation if you are lean and have higher-than-average muscle mass. Muscle tissue, as you may know, is less buoyant than fatty tissue. That brings me to something called “design flotation.” And according to the US Coast Guard, the minimum amount of flotation for a Type III PFD is 15.5 pounds – more than enough to support your weight in the water.Īctually, there’s an interesting plot twist worth mentioning here: I’ll take a wild guess and say what you’re really concerned about here is the buoyancy that your life vest will (or will not) be able to provide. USCG-approved life vests are rated based on chest size rather than weight. There is actually no such thing as a weight range that PFDs are intended to fit. Now, let’s see what I can do to help you choose the best big and tall life jacket, shall we? Do Life Jackets Have A Weight Limit? Sorry for the rant – but I just had to get this out. And I’m guessing that you wear a seat belt when driving around. It’s like the water sports equivalent of a seat belt. That’s especially true if you know there’s a chance you might encounter hazards like strainers or low-head dams. Plus, given that more than two-thirds of all boating-related fatalities – and over 90% of drownings – occur when the victims weren’t wearing one, I think it’s safe to conclude that wearing a life vest does make a difference. Wearing a PFD isn’t just a good idea it’s required by law. I’m sure you’re well aware of it you’re here, trying to find the right one, aren’t you? Okay, I promise I’m NOT going to turn this into a lecture about the importance of PFDs. ![]()
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