In this article, we will explain the difference between life jackets, life jackets, flotation suits, survival suits and dry suits, so you get a better understanding of which vest best suits your needs. As well as what the law says in this area.
Legal requirements for lifejacket and lifejacket labeling
A lifejacket or lifejacket must be CE marked. This is the manufacturer's indication that the vest meets the requirements of the relevant standards.
A lifejacket or lifejacket must be labeled with the classification and thus where the type of vest is suitable to be used:
50 N: Life jacket for advanced swimmers near the shore and with help nearby.
100 N: Lifejacket for use in coastal and protected waters.
150 N: Life jacket for use in all waters.
275 N: Life jacket for use in all waters with extreme weather conditions.
The label inside the vest must state which classification applies. So be aware that you can buy a CE-marked vest that is not approved for sailing if it is a vest that is suitable for other purposes such as riding or absorbing impact in a crash. Therefore, the vest must have the classification.
When on the water in a boat, canoe, kayak, SUP board, water ski or rubber ring. A CE-marked vest must be available for each person on board that fits the size indicated on the vest label.
The rules do not state that vests must be worn by the crew while sailing, but they must be easily accessible.
At the time of writing, the fine is DKK 1500 per missing vest.
Life jackets
Life jackets have the property of keeping a person afloat in the water while keeping the head out of the water by means of a collar behind the head/neck. They have a whistle attached to call for attention.
Broadly speaking, there are 2 different types of life jackets: regular and self-inflating life jackets.
A regular/traditional life jacket
Consists of solid or liquid buoyancy material such as foam or cork. They are available in sizes from 0-10 kg up to 100+ kg.
Benefits:
The safety that turns you over in the water
You can keep them in the boat in any room, even if they get wet.
They are versatile and can be used in the boat or in the water for water sports.
There is no maintenance
The only right choice for children or people who can't swim. Because nothing can go wrong as long as it's fitted correctly
They are cheap to buy (from 150 kr and up)
Disadvantages:
They are a bit clumsy and you quickly feel like a "Michelin man"
They are not grateful in the sizes. In children's sizes they often jump every 10 kg, and in adult sizes they often jump every 20 kg. This means that if you have a rotating crew, you'll need a lot of vests: If one day you're sailing with 6 big guys, you'll obviously need 6 vests for each. Another day you're going out with only women and you'll need 6 other vests in their (typically) smaller size. That's 12 vests on board (!)
Because they're a bit bulky, many people choose not to wear them, and they just stay in the cabin to meet a legal requirement. But they don't work if you fall overboard and don't have them on.
They take up more space to store than self-inflating vests
Self-inflating vests
Here the name says it all. They inflate when you end up in the water. They work by having a self-timer that reacts to moisture and pressure - it pushes a needle into a gas cartridge that fills up a bladder and keeps you afloat. The self-timer has an expiration date and needs to be replaced when it has expired or is triggered. If the self-timer is faulty, you can release it manually by pulling a cord at the bottom of the vest. If the gas cartridge is faulty, you can fill the vest with air by blowing into a nozzle. When in the water, there is a whistle to alert you.
The picture shows a traditional self-inflating lifejacket. You can also buy a SOLAS self-inflating lifejacket. It has 2 vests in one for safety in case one component fails. This means that there are 2 x carrier, 2 x self-timer, 2 x gas cartridge, 2 x mouthpiece. For business, this is a requirement.
Benefits:
The safety of it turning you over in the water
They don't take up much space to store
They are grateful with sizes and often range from 40-120 kg.
They are easy to wear, which often means you actually wear them while sailing.
They can match your outfit as they come in different colors and designs.
Once it inflates, they're bright neon colors so you'll be seen.
Disadvantages:
They are more expensive than traditional vests and start from 500 SEK and go up to several thousand SEK.
When you fall into the water, they need to be serviced or at the very least have components replaced and repacked.
They should be checked once a year
You can't use them for water sports as they need to be repacked.
They should not be used for people who panic in the water, as you must be able to trigger them manually by either pulling the cord or using the nozzle.
After a wet sailing trip, dry them in a ventilated room, otherwise the moisture can trigger them (3 inflated vests in a small Ikea closet will result in you needing a new closet as the vests will not give up)
Life jackets/life jackets
These vests should only be used by people who can swim and near shore. Since they don't have a collar, they don't turn the person around in the water. This means that if you become unconscious and drown, you end up with your head in the water. Otherwise, it's the same as a traditional life jacket - just without the safety of the collar.
Benefits:
You can keep them in the boat in any room, even if they get wet.
They are versatile and can be used in the boat or in the water for water sports.
There is no maintenance
They are cheap to buy (from 150 kr and up)
For fast-paced water sports, it's an advantage not to have a collar as the collar can get in the way
It's typically a vest you see for kitesurfing, surfing, jet skiing, SUP, kayaking.
Good outside a drysuit
Disadvantages:
It won't turn you over in the water
They can't save lives if you are unconscious.
They take up more space to store than self-inflating vests
Flotation suits
A flotation suitis like a flight suit for adults, and is actually in the same category as a life jacket. It has solid or liquid material in it, which makes you float on top of the water. It's great in winter as it shields you from water and wind, just like a shell. The floating material also insulates a little, so you can make do with skiwear or a fleece underneath. A flotation suit is typically personalized as it needs to fit in weight and size.
There are cuffs at the feet and hands to reduce water ingress. But once you end up in the water, the water will enter your body and you will quickly cool down.
Since it doesn't have a collar, it won't turn you over in the water. So if you want to stay safe, a 275n lifejacket is recommended on the outside, so you're guaranteed to keep your head up.
Benefits:
Great for winter fishing trips.
Meets the legal requirement for a life jacket.
It's just lovely and warm with a high collar and hood to keep you warm on cold days
Good mobility (depending on model, liquid material has the most mobility)
Disadvantages:
It won't turn you over in the water
Gives false pressure with the heat as you cool down quickly in the water.
Takes up a lot of space
Smells like a wildebeest after 8 hours of sweat and farts.
Survival suits
Also called a 6-hour suit. This is a mix of a flotation suit and a dry suit. This heavy-duty suit is used offshore and for business. In a survival suit you need to be able to survive in ice water for over 6 hours. There are integrated boots and gloves as well as a hood.
You'll stay dry while you're floating in the water. They're typically SOLAR labeled, which means they meet the highest safety standards and have reflectors so you'll be seen.
Benefits:
Highest security
Warm
Requirements in many professions
Disadvantages:
They are expensive! Starting at 2,500 kr. and up
You are very restricted in movement (Here the Michelin man is laughing at you)
Takes up a lot of space
Dry suits
A dry suit is NOT approved as a vest and should always be used with a CE marked vest.
The drysuit is simply an alternative to a wetsuit and is great for keeping warm. Widely used by divers, surfers, kayakers and fishermen. It literally keeps you dry with a waterproof zipper, neck, hands, feet and cuffs.
Extra equipment worth knowing
Strobe light/emergency light
Attaches to your life jacket or survival suit. It produces a powerful pulsating light that makes you visible in the water from a long distance.
Spray hood
Mounts over the bladder of your self-inflating life jacket to minimize the amount of water in your head when lying in the waves.
Safety line Attaches to your lifejacket or harness and to the boat so you don't fall overboard in rough weather.
AIS MOB transmitter A distress beacon you can have mounted on your vest that transmits your position and can be read from the boat's chartplotter if it has an AIS receiver installed.
Watch a video about life jackets Patrick from Speedbåden.dk shows and explains clearly about the different vests and their purpose:
When you're in the water in your lifejacket, stay calm and preferably in the fetal position. This saves energy and reduces the risk of hypothermia.
If you want to learn more about life jackets or water survival, we encourage you to take a speedboat course, proficiency course or sea safety course. You can find a list of course providers here.
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