A Beginner’s Guide to Personal Flotation Device

Perhaps the most important boating accessory is the personal flotation device, also called a life jacket or life vest. It can truly save your life!

Keep reading to learn more–and remember 72 Marine Sales is here for your boating needs!

Why is a Life Jacket Important?

If you should fall overboard, the life jacket provides essential flotation assistance. It ensures that your head stays above water, even when you have no energy left to swim. Life jackets buy valuable time so you can either get yourself back onto the boat or get rescued.

Who Should Wear a Life Jacket?

Everyone needs to wear a life jacket–even strong swimmers need to always wear a life vest. 

There is always the chance of getting knocked unconscious or otherwise injured in a way that impedes your ability to keep yourself afloat. After all, it's much better to wear the life jacket and not need it than to need it and not have it!

What Matters When Shopping for a Life Jacket?

When shopping for life jackets, know that sizing is important. If the life vest is too large, it might slide right off. If the life vest is too tight, it becomes quite uncomfortable to wear. Make sure that every passenger on board your boat is wearing a well-fitting personal flotation device. 

If there are any young children coming along, seek out life jackets with two extra features. First, get models with a crotch strap that helps prevent the life vest from coming off over their head. Second, get models that offer head flotation to help keep them righted.

For more information or to explore boats for sale, visit 72 Marine Sales. We are a dealership located in Elberton, Georgia. We also serve those in Athens and Augusta, Georgia.