Help on 150N vs 275N?

A

adam2b

New Member
Joined
1 Jun 2010
Messages
14
Visit site
Looking at picking up a new lifejacket at the boatshow, initial research shows that whilst the majority are 150N rated there are more and more at 275N, anybody have any useful input or opinion on whats really needed? Generally I do coastal cruising but there is one offshore race planned for next August, don't want to skimp on it but is 275N really necessary?
 
Unless you carry a lot of kit, or wear a lot of clothes when sailing, a 150 will usually suffice.

I have 150Ns on my yacht for cruising, but wear a 275N when I'm working because I'm usually carry a lot of heavy camera gear, and if I did go in the water I'd need the extra buoyancy.

A 275 will make it harder for you to get in a liferaft as it's bulkier when inflated.
 
Seago and Kru offer a 175N Lifejacket. I have a Seago, about £80, which is OK but more difficult to repack than my Crewsavers, and the Velcro edges are not very secure, which is annoying. I would insist on opening up the jacket to check things like that.
 
adam2b said:
Looking at picking up a new lifejacket at the boatshow, initial research shows that whilst the majority are 150N rated there are more and more at 275N, anybody have any useful input or opinion on whats really needed? Generally I do coastal cruising but there is one offshore race planned for next August, don't want to skimp on it but is 275N really necessary?
Click to expand...

1) Clipper Ventures, a respected world racing organisation, equip their crews with 150N.
2) I have personal experience in going MOB, in the North Sea, with full gear including safety boots etc, plunging from a high deck on a commercial barge, wearing 150N.

Unless you are a freak of nature, 150N IMHO, should suffice.

All reports regarding 275N, suggest you are unable to move in the water when inflated, or able to enter a liferaft.
 
adam2b / Skysail,

I'm presuming this is for cruiser not dinghy sailing.

I've sailed cruisers for over 39 years man & boy ( or judging by my girlfriend's unkind comments, buoy ?! ) and have had Crewsaver combined lifejacket/ harnesses, then recently Kru combined jobs.

I'm very happy with the Kru's, ( 175 Newton ) they seem very durable - though I haven't been out in rough stuff since I bought them.

MUCH more important is, have spray visors and good, reliable lights, and a good danbuoy with a reliable light too.

Crotch straps are important, but to be honest I and I suspect a lot of others only use them if I think there's a real chance of going over the side, the boat sinking etc. Naturally I don't practice what I preach, so will insist on crew having straps fitted, then put mine on...

I also fit small waterproof torches on lifejackets, lifebuoy and danbuoy along with plenty of SOLAS reflective tape.

As for the different buoyancy options, I'm quite sure if I was afloat on my own out of sight of land a Goodyear Blimp would seem on the small side !

In reality 175 Newton is large compared to what was on offer just a little while ago, but if going trans-ocean or similar I'd go for the 250 / 275...

One tip; there's a lot of confusion caused by lifejackets being labelled as '150' while actually 175 Newton; this is an example of the European thing at it's worst, the lifejackets are indeed 175, but have to display a label of 150 !!!

Of course in any doubt ask the supplier - in my case Piplers of Poole ( no connection ) were happy to patiently explain, I can only imagine how many times they've had to do that...
 
Last edited:
Just to amplify slightly what Seajet says...

It may seem that you only have a choice between 150 and 275, but no. In reality, it's the LJ manufacturers who only have a choice of putting a 150 or 275 compliance label on their products, because those are the only two compliance standards available. An LJ may have considerably more than 150 Newtons of buoyancy, and less than 275, but it has to be labelled as 150. That doesn't stop them being marketed as their true buoyancy, though, so you'll find plenty of 175 and 180 Newton LJs out there, and maybe a few more variations. In my admittedly untutored view, if a 150 is regarded as adequate, than a 180 is 20% more than adequate and that'll do me.

As others have said, 275 is a big beast, and it may hinder your ability to manoeuvre yourself when being recovered or into a raft.
 
Thanks all, I think that has saved me a fair bit of time! Certainly leaning towards a 150N rated with an actual higher bouyancy, hood, light and Harness, think I'll just try on the 4 I fancy and go for the most comfortable! plenty more time for hunting out the other boatshow tat I don't really want!
 
Seajet said:
One tip; there's a lot of confusion caused by lifejackets being labelled as '150' while actually 175 Newton; this is an example of the European thing at it's worst, the lifejackets are indeed 175, but have to display a label of 150 !!!
Click to expand...

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159895&page=1

Another tip: When I bought a couple of 175 Seago's, and as SJ says EU legislation means that they HAVE to be labelled as satisfying the 150 feature. Take a 150 Seago and a 175 Seago out of their bags, put them side by side and you will be hardpushed to identify which one is which (assuming they are the same colour!). On my 175's I've added "175" to the insert label specifying boat name and home port.

Another tip: if you are thinking of buying at LIBS then check-out sellers price on their web-site pre-purchase and see which is best value. If on-line then haggle with the seller to match their web price.
 
Last edited:
The time when a 275 is needed is when a big man is knocked unconscious as he goes in. The 150N jacket will probably flip him on his back but the 275 certainly will.

Of the other options-

Crutch straps are vital
Self-inflation is essential if the MOB is unconscious so a manual 275 is a bit pointless.
A strobe light is vital at night. It's hard enough not to lose sight of a man in the water in daylight but far worse at night.
A spray hood can prevent drowning in rough water because the windage on your head and the drag of your legs will always turn you so you are facing wind and spray

The best option though is to buy the integral harness type and clip on so you don't go over in the first place.
 
I've been recently pondering the same question. I currently use a Crewsaver 275N as I had always thought that being a big lad would require something more than a normal 150N jacket. Not so it appears, according to Spinlock, who told be at LIBS that 275's should only be used by those wearing heaving gear and tools. As a result of this advice I'll be buying a Spinlock Deckvest 150N, which they also told me actually has 175N of buoyancy.
 
Good tips re size and light etc. I would just add that when looking at a jacket with a spray hood think about how you would get the spray hood deployed ie is it integral or in a fiddly pouch on the webbing? Cold hands in an emergency make some gear impossible to deploy/use.
 
Juniperskip said:
Good tips re size and light etc. I would just add that when looking at a jacket with a spray hood think about how you would get the spray hood deployed ie is it integral or in a fiddly pouch on the webbing? Cold hands in an emergency make some gear impossible to deploy/use.
Click to expand...

You can get integral hoods.

Anything in a pouch is useless.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top