tcrobine
New Member
What is the best type of lifejacket for a 10 year old child for use in coastal waters? Any thoughts, suggestions, recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks
Lifejackets For Children
- Thread starter tcrobine
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Talbot
Well-Known Member
That surely will depend on what you are doing, what sort of boat etc. At that age it is a tos up between a permanent buoyancy device or an auto-inflate lifejacket. My preference would be for the buoyancy aid as it then does not require the child to do anything when they fall in the water.
robbieg
Well-Known Member
You need to think about what the child will wear in practice and balance this against the safety issue. "Solid" lifejackets have nothing to go wrong but in my experience many kids won't find them "cool" & so will resist wearing them. You'll end up nagging them & may well forget from time to time. From experience inflatables like the adults wear do get worn-my son wears his all the time on board w/o dissent!
Having been through the fight over this we have gone for inflatables but with the kids strapped on (as well as in L/Js) when underway. It means my son comes up topside more when underway & we have less battles on what is supposed to be leisure time! For us its worth the slight extra risk of an automatic inflatable not working but you'll have to work out what is right for your family.
Having been through the fight over this we have gone for inflatables but with the kids strapped on (as well as in L/Js) when underway. It means my son comes up topside more when underway & we have less battles on what is supposed to be leisure time! For us its worth the slight extra risk of an automatic inflatable not working but you'll have to work out what is right for your family.
Mirelle
N/A
My 11 year old has a buoyancy aid for dinghy sailing - he wears this all the time, as it is dinghy racing kit and therefore "cool" - no problem at all. He also has an inflatable lifejacket which his Captain Bligh of a father insists on him wearing at sea or with oilies.
He would reckon that a solid one is OK for his four year old brother, but seriously un-cool for a rugger-playing, dinghy racing, Sea Scout.
He would reckon that a solid one is OK for his four year old brother, but seriously un-cool for a rugger-playing, dinghy racing, Sea Scout.
jhr
Well-Known Member
My kids are 9 and 12. After several years of increasing consumer resistance, we have agreed that we'll get them auto inflating lifejackets for next year. In practice, I think the most important thing is to get them to wear the jackets and, as well as the Cool Factor, solid jackets are bulky, uncomfortable and can restrict movement.
Phoenix of Hamble
Well-Known Member
Yep,
Mine are similar ages, and they now wear auto inflators..... they think they are the dogs wotsits in them, and we actually have to force them to take them off ocassionally... my son would sleep his if he thought he could get away with it....
Compared with the battles to get them to wear bouyancy aids, its a doddle... they would previously have preferred to stay below than come on deck with the buoyancy aids, which kind of defeated the purpose of taking them sailing!
Mine are similar ages, and they now wear auto inflators..... they think they are the dogs wotsits in them, and we actually have to force them to take them off ocassionally... my son would sleep his if he thought he could get away with it....
Compared with the battles to get them to wear bouyancy aids, its a doddle... they would previously have preferred to stay below than come on deck with the buoyancy aids, which kind of defeated the purpose of taking them sailing!
Genoa
Well-Known Member
I see everyone thinks they should wear one then!
I subscribe to the "shackle to the anchor" route myself! - We have 5 from various marriages and a cull definitely seems to be in order.
I subscribe to the "shackle to the anchor" route myself! - We have 5 from various marriages and a cull definitely seems to be in order.
andy_wilson
Well-Known Member
I tend to agree with the commercial requirements for the most exposed users. Some permanent bouyancy, plus auto inflation of further bouyancy when immersed. Crewsaver do one for kids but it's not cheap.
For smaller kids a foam jacket is best, they can bump around in it, fall asleep upright, can't frighten the crap out of themselves by setting it off, and don't have to do anything if they fall in. Even an auto could fail.
For smaller kids a foam jacket is best, they can bump around in it, fall asleep upright, can't frighten the crap out of themselves by setting it off, and don't have to do anything if they fall in. Even an auto could fail.
Mirelle
N/A
When they were less than one we never bothered with floating cots, etc., reckoning that it would be cheaper and easier to replace them. Once they could walk and talk the balance swung in favour of keeping them alive.
The 11 year old is Really Useful - can hand, reef, steer and (most important!) go up the mast!
The 11 year old is Really Useful - can hand, reef, steer and (most important!) go up the mast!
Genoa
Well-Known Member
Fair point about the mast! Just that my teenage crew seem incapable of holding on to anything for long so expect a rain shower of mobiles, gameboys, PSPs and oh, the tools to do the job that they went up to do falling from their pockets. And a complete inability to do the job IF they and the tools make it. Maybe we'll get up the Deben again soon for some lessons!