150N or 275N

Mertens

Mertens

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Recently bought a set of two 150N auto vests with harness, for quite a reasonable price. I'm thinking of buying two more vests, but now I'm not sure of wether to also buy 150N or trade up.

Do the cost really benefit the safety, or does the 150N do the job just as good?
 
What make are they?
Seago have very recently put out a recall on some of its 150 and 175 N jackets.
Following Nos IV/05, I/06, II/06, III/06, IV/06, I/07, II/07
have all been recalled, so better check, anyone who has got them.
They sent me a new one withen a day and half of posting them my one, although they dont tell what the problem was/is.
 
I'd go for the 275. Unless you are really thin, image yourself trying to float with sodden yottie gear and boots full of water! Being built along the lines of Phil Mitchell , I upgraded and kept the 150N stuff for smaller guests/ kids.
 
Why does your own build matter in these calculations? You can float, so you are buoyant. The lifejacket is there to overcome the weight of your gear. If boots are full of water or not will only become a problem when you try to lift them out of the water as water, in water, has neutral buoyancy.
According to This Page a 150n life jacket provides 33lbs of extra buoyancy and a 275n lifejacket provides 62lbs.. So you may float a bit higher, and have more spare positive buoyancy with the 275n than with the 150n, which will be a comfort if you have a lot of heavy gear on.
 
[ QUOTE ]
a 150n life jacket provides 33lbs of extra buoyancy and a 275n lifejacket provides 62lbs.. So you may float a bit higher, and have more spare positive buoyancy with the 275n than with the 150n, which will be a comfort if you have a lot of heavy gear on.

[/ QUOTE ]Which is why I've just moved up to 275N with crotch straps and sprayhood. Hope it never happens but I'm sure that, in the dreadful event, it would improve survival prospects.
 
A month ago I went on a day course run by a major marine safety manufacturer/supplier.

They told me that they could not think of a reason why anybody would need a 275n lifejacket. I only wish I could remember why.
 
Having tried a 150N in the water, I can't think of a reason why i'd want a 275N..... I was like a cork in the 150N.... could barely turn over onto my face in flat calm waters, and couldn't have dipped under water if my life had depended upon it.....

But, saying that, I couldn't swim in it for toffee either, so suspect i'd lose little by having a 275N one either....
 
I did a sea survival course a while ago. I used a 275 in the pool & stood no chance of getting out onto the side on my own (not using the ladder). I'm not too unfit nor too large but the size of the 275 would not allow me close enough to the wall to get out.

I did right the life raft with little difficulty though and could get in OK.

Swimming was fine. You do it on your back in just about any life jacket 150 or 275.

The 275 does give you extra around the head & holds you further out of the waves. With either though you do need: spray hood & crotch straps.
 
From Wiki
[ QUOTE ]
Increased body fat will result in greater buoyancy, while greater muscle mass will result in a tendency to sink. This is known as hydrostatic weighting.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't intend to suggest that you would plummet to the deeps
in a 150 N lifejacket.!

Whilst in my own instance I might float better than I thought /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif there is a disconcerting settling as buoyant air is displaced from your clothing (and boots !) and replaced by (as you say) neutrally buoyant water.

I'd still buy 275 N over 150 N if only for increased confidence and a higher ride. Why stint on buoyancy ?
 
275's are meant for rig workers etc with tool belts and steel toe boots. No harm in the extra buoyancy, but it's more important to have a built in harness so you are less likely to try the buoyancy, imho.
 
I am afraid I have to disagree with quite some here: I was on a survival course with the german navy a few years ago and able to test/compare a 150 vs a 275. Whereas the 150 failed to turned me in a unconscious-safe position (and several others of the group to, including some with quite light oilies), the 275 performed very well. As for going up into the liferaft, I hardy noticed a difference. My lesson learned (and what was recommended by the neutral experts there) is that, unless you wear only a swim suit, a 150 jacket is useless if it shall give you the protection (against lying face down in the dink) you expect.
 
[ QUOTE ]

I'd still buy 275 N over 150 N if only for increased confidence and a higher ride. Why stint on buoyancy ?

[/ QUOTE ]This is why I bought a 275N, thinking that my oilies and boots are XXL, over and above myself.

Having been on the Sea Survival Course and struggled into a liferaft wearing a 150N, I at least know I will never be able to do it in 275N - even more incentive not to avoid the situation arising!
 
I was wondering about this last week in the swimming pool.

There's a small percentage of the population - myself included - who do not naturally float. In a swimming pool, I have to swim to remain on the surface.

Does anyone know whether non-floaters need higher buoyancy life jackets?
 
[ QUOTE ]

Does anyone know whether non-floaters need higher buoyancy life jackets?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well I found the choice to go 275N quite simple, I'm 6ft 5 and 20 stone. Add my pockets and boots full of water and I'm pretty sure a 150N life jacket for me would be about as useful as a condom machine in the Vatican.
 
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