I didn’t see the wave coming that tossed me to the end of my tether; I was too busy trying to secure a headsail on the thrashing foredeck of my dad’s old J/44. We had recently peeled from a heavy J1 to a high-cut J3, and my job was to ensure that the big jib made it into its blue North Sails bag and not into “The Race,” that often-choppy slot of water separating New York’s Long Island Sound from Rhode Island’s Block Island Sound. We were roughly 60 percent of the way through the 2005 Block Island Race, and our helmsman was clearly tired as he stuffed our bow directly into an oncoming square wave. 

That’s when my sea boots left the deck. I landed atop my buddy, someplace near the port shrouds. I was happy that I hadn’t cracked my head on anything stainless steel or ­fiberglass. My buddy was happy that I was still on the boat. Two minutes later, we were back in the business district, sorting out the sail.

Yes, I finished my watch as wet as a rat in a drain ditch, but there’s no question that my tether, which was clipped to a foredeck padeye, saved my bacon. Thankfully, my PFD didn’t deploy unnecessarily, and I gained confidence in the system. 

Many years have slipped astern since that Block Island Race, but the basics of personal flotation devices are the same, as is the safety they afford. 

PFDs come in five types. Type I is for cruising, racing and fishing offshore, and for use by commercial ships, or when boating alone, or in stormy conditions. It can be inherently buoyant or inflatable (or a hybrid of the two), and provides a minimum of 22 pounds of flotation. 

Type II typically refers to the chunky orange-foam affairs with at least 15.5 pounds of positive flotation, but the type can also encompass some inflatable vests. It is best for daysailing in small boats. Type III is for activities such as sailing regattas, dinghy races, water-skiing, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, and provides at least 22.5 pounds of positive buoyancy. Type IV, with 16.5 pounds of buoyancy, is a throwable device such as a horseshoe buoy.  

Then there’s Type V, which has 15.5 to 22.5 pounds of buoyancy, is inflatable or hybrid inflatable and inherently buoyant, and is designated as a “special-use device” for activities such as inshore and offshore sailing. 

This article will consider eight Type V PFDs. Their designs may differ, but they all rely on an empty air bladder, a filled and sealed carbon dioxide cartridge, and a release mechanism. Some employ water-­soluble discs or capsules that trigger the spring-loaded firing pin that pierces the carbon dioxide cartridge, while others have a hydrostatic mechanism that fires when the vest is submerged in a few ­inches of water (water pressure on the hydrostatic sensor serves as the tipping point). While both types work well, hydrostatic systems are less likely to fire accidentally if exposed to huge amounts of on-deck water.

 Additionally, Type V PFDs all have a manual-release rip cord and an oral inflation tube in case the built-in systems fail, or if the air bladder needs topping off later. In all cases, it’s important to read the manufacturer’s care and use instructions, and to replace key components per the manufacturer’s guidelines.

I evaluated these PFDs by considering their features, wearing them with sailing gear, and floating in them at my local pool. Here’s what I found.

Mustang Survival MIT 100 Automatic Inflatable PFD

This PFD has more going on than initially meets the eye. Most PFDs employ an inner air bladder protected by an exterior jacket that breaks away when the jacket inflates. This US Coast Guard-approved PFD instead has Mustang Survival’s Membrane Inflatable Technology and the company’s clever “one-fold design.” The combo means the PFD’s air bladder is physically housed inside a protective jacket. When the jacket deploys, two Velcro strips rip away, revealing the jacketed and inflated bladder. This same design makes the MIT 100 the easiest PFD in this article to repack: Just bleed the air, rearm the carbon dioxide cartridge and trigger mechanism, and fold over two flaps. While the MIT 100 doesn’t have a tether hardpoint, its lower price point could make it a good choice for inshore cruising or blue-sky daysailing. The PFD’s waist belt is easily adjustable for guests, and an inspection window lets you evaluate the firing mechanism’s status. In the water, this PFD is comfortable, but there isn’t much behind-the-neck head support.

Mustang Survival HIT Hydrostatic Inflatable PFD With Sailing Harness

This is an affordable PFD with a full sailing harness, a hydrostatic trigger mechanism, and US Coast Guard approval. Its air bladder comes bundled in a sturdy jacket built from 500-denier Cordura, and it sports a neoprene-lined collar. A beefy harness with two equally beefy stainless-steel D-rings allows for attaching a tether. There’s an inspection window for checking the trigger mechanism’s status, a strobe-light holder, and Mustang’s SecureZip breakaway jacket-­closure system. The PFD’s Hammar-built hydrostatic sensor needs to be submerged to a depth of at least 4 inches to fire its carbon dioxide cartridge (read: no accidental deployments). Once inflated, the PFD delivers 38 pounds of buoyancy, and its high-visibility air bladder and even higher-visibility SOLAS-level reflective tape help ensure that you’ll be seen. The PFD also has a tidy-size zippered pocket. One consideration, however, is that rearming this PFD is more involved (Mustang’s instruction video runs 12 minutes, 30 seconds), but it’s a worthwhile trade-off. In the water, with the crotch strap attached, this PFD did a great job of orienting me face up and providing head support.

Mustang Survival EP 38 Ocean Racing Hydrostatic Inflatable Vest

As its moniker suggests, this PFD is made to take you from offshore racing on wet, fast boats to adventure cruising in wet climes. The US Coast Guard-approved PFD has a Hammar-built hydrostatic inflation mechanism, a sturdy sailing harness with an easily adjusted (even when wearing gloves) waist belt, a soft-loop tether-attachment point, and a small, integral backpack-style pod that houses the vest’s shoulder straps, spray hood, and removable crotch straps. While the backpack pod feels a bit bulky, its contents are a treasure trove when floating. This pullover-style PFD also has a low-profile design that allows for unencumbered athletic movement, and a zippered pocket that can house emergency essentials such as lights or electronics. There’s also a stitched-in lifting loop for emergency MOB retrievals. The vest’s hydrostatic mechanism is prominently situated on the front, behind a three-­dimensional inspection window, for a ­military-esque aesthetic. The EP 38 felt great to float in, especially once I ­deployed the crotch strap and spray hood.

Onyx A/M-24 and A/M-24 All Clear

Consider these PFDs if you’re seeking a basic Type V PFD and don’t need a tether attachment. Both are US Coast Guard-approved, employ lozenge-style automatic firing mechanisms, and can be used in automatic or manual mode, or converted to manually operated PFDs (which can be useful aboard wet boats, so long as the MOB is conscious and able to pull the manual-inflation rip cord). Both vests also have a Velcro-enclosure system, high-­visibility inflation chambers, and wide neoprene necklines that felt comfortable when worn with a T-shirt, and that added padding when worn with a jacket. 

While the two PFDs are similar in design and features, there are some differences. The A/M 24 is no-frills, with a side-release waist buckle and a plastic D-ring attachment that’s not for use with a tether, but it is useful for attaching a handheld VHF radio (see CW, August 2022) or an emergency beacon. The A/M 24’s firing mechanism is hidden in the Velcro-enclosed outer jacket, meaning a user must unpeel several inches of hooks and loops to ensure that the jacket is properly armed. 

The A/M-24 All Clear has some ­upgrades, most notably a plastic ­inspection window on the jacketed front that gives an at-a-glance status report of the firing mechanism. Additionally, the A/M-24 All Clear has a zippered front enclosure, a beefier nylon waist belt, and a smaller-profile D-ring attachment (also not for use with a tether).

Neither of these PFDs has crotch straps, and this absence was noticeable when floating. In our test pool, the ­A/M-24 All Clear failed to trigger ­automatically for almost two minutes.

Onyx A/M-33 All Clear With Harness

If you’re ready to go offshore, this PFD could be right for you. The US Coast Guard-approved vest has a sailing harness with dual soft loops (port and starboard) for attaching a tether, a beefy nylon waist belt with sturdy stainless-steel adjusters, a high-visibility inflation chamber, a breakaway zipper enclosure, and a  window for at-a-glance status on the vest’s firing mechanism. The vest’s back has shoulder-strap padding that doubles as ultraviolet protection, and also adds a bit of cushioning when leaning back in the cockpit or lounging on deck. 

This PFD also sports a zippered front closure (with an elasticized zipper garage to ensure that the vest stays put) and a thin neoprene neckline for extra comfort. As with its little brothers, the A/M-33 All Clear can be operated in automatic/­manual or fully manual modes, but it differs by delivering 35 pounds of buoyancy once fully inflated. This extra lift was immediately noticeable when floating; there’s no crotch strap, but its absence wasn’t an issue.

Spinlock Deckvest LITE+

Lightweight, low-profile, unencumbering—this PFD’s design (when packed) is wide at the neck, allowing about 165 degrees of head rotation without chin contact. The bit that does contact your neck is neoprene-covered for comfort. This is a side-entry PFD that arrives in automatic/manual mode, but it can be converted to manual-only with a kit. The LITE+ has a single crotch strap with a hidden receptacle clip, and it comes with loops for attaching Spinlock’s optional Chest Pack, which is handy for storing emergency essentials. 

The PFD also has Spinlock’s clever breakaway zipper system, a soft-loop attachment point and—when deployed—an emergency haul loop. The LITE+ can be upgraded with Spinlock’s Pylon Light, which is a water-activated flashing LED; Lume-On patches to illuminate the inflated bladder; and a spray hood. Customers also can purchase the LITE+ with an integrated Ocean Signal MOB1 AIS beacon. The LITE+ is approved to CE and ISO standards. In the water, the Deckvest LITE+ provided good head ­support and face-up orientation, ­especially once the crotch strap was properly deployed. 

Spinlock Deckvest 6D HRS

There’s a lot to like about this innovative PFD. It’s built to CE and ISO standards. Once inflated, it delivers 170 newtons of ­positive buoyancy. It can be ordered with 275 newtons, but this adds bulk. The PFD has Spinlock’s Pro Sensor Elite firing mechanism, which activates only when ­water flows upward into its cap, so there are no wave or rain deployments. It also has Spinlock’s Harness Release System, which has a load-releasable tether hardpoint. If the MOB is getting dragged, she pulls a rip cord and immediately separates from her tether. 

Once in the water, the automatic/­manual vest opens to reveal a spray hood, emergency haul loop, Spinlock Pylon 360 light, and Spinlock Lume-On air-bladder light. A crotch strap resides in a small pouch on the back of the PFD’s harness. Additionally, there’s a user-friendly waist-belt buckle, an inspection window for the firing mechanism, and compatibility with Ocean Signal’s MOB1 AIS beacon. The Deckvest 6D was one of the most comfortable PFDs to float in, and its design made accessing the spray hood a snap.

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The Siren 3 Pro makes the boating experience better & more secure than ever. Siren Marine’s smart boat monitoring system allows boaters to remotely track their boats’ location, engine, temperature, bilge pump activity, battery levels, water levels, shore power status & more. Control lights, A/C & digital switching systems with the touch of a button so that your boat is literally at your fingertips. Together with the easy-to-use Siren Marine Mobile App, the Siren 3 Pro connects you to your boat anywhere, anytime. Have peace of mind & enjoy stress-free boating. Welcome to the Connected Boat®.

Price: $749.99

Contact: sirenmarine.com

See the complete 2020 Marine Electronics Guide

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PEDPOX

Is there anything more annoying than not having a safe place to stash your things in the cockpit? This set of pockets attaches easily to a standard 4-inch steering pedestal, and provides a secure place for your sunglasses, handheld VHF, lip balm and more.

ZHIK

Wet, cold feet will not be an issue with the ZK Seaboot 900. These boots were developed and tested in the Volvo Ocean Race and offer support and comfort for long tricks at the helm. The neoprene and rubber construction, along with the integrated gaiter, will keep water out and feet warm.

Sirius Signal

This new Coast Guard-approved electronic flare is the first of its kind to have a two-color light combination. Studies by the US Coast Guard have shown that a two-color (red-orange/cyan) combination SOS flash pattern is more visible against background shore lights. It also has an infrared signal that is visible to rescue aircraft.

Available in men’s and women’s (shown) sizes, Henri Lloyd’s M-Pro hooded jacket features three-layer Gore-Tex Pro fabric for its durability, light weight and breathability. Aquaguard zippers, an internal spray skirt and waterproof inner cuffs with Velcro closures will help keep the water out.

Shakespeare

With more and more cruisers relying on cellular for remote work, keeping in touch and more, having a decent signal is imperative. The Stream booster will ­amplify weak cellular signals, allowing you to use your data while cruising the coast.

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The M300C combines a high-definition visible-light camera with a long-range (30x) optical zoom lens and gyrostabilization to give anglers a steady, crisp view, even in low-light and heavy-sea conditions. Standard pan, tilt and zoom functions deliver horizon-to-horizon viewing. When networked with a Raymarine Axiom display, the M300C enhances Raymarine’s ClearCruise augmented reality, which overlays navigation information onto the video feed. The camera’s video-over-IP, analog, and HD-SDI lossless digital-video outputs are compatible with many displays and security systems on the market.

Price: $6,495

Contact: flir.com

See the complete 2020 Marine Electronics Guide

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The Garmin GPSMap 86sci looks like a handheld GPS (with a 3-inch color display and preloaded BlueChart g3 coastal mapping), but it’s a whole lot more. The unit incorporates inReach satellite communications, which means you can enjoy two-way texting abilities everywhere you go. And on top of that, wireless streaming means you can use the GPSMap 86sci as an extension of your onboard electronics system, pulling in data from the chart plotter, using the unit as an autopilot remote and more.

Price: $649.99

Contact: garmin.com/newmarine

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Can you ID critical nav aids, AIS targets and waypoints all at the same time with a quick glance at the MFD screen? Whether it’s calm or rough, day or night? Not unless you have the AR200 Augmented Reality Stabilization Module, a CAM210 or 220IP marine camera and an Axiom at your helm. ClearCruise AR essentially turns your MFD screen into a heads-up display with color-coded callouts and critical data that can be interpreted at a glance. User-selected data layers and range controls also allow you to customize your view at the helm.

Price: Starts at $499.99 for the AR200 stabilization module

Contact: raymarine.com

See the complete 2020 Marine Electronics Guide

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Visibility restrictions can make docking difficult, but sliding into that slip won’t be a challenge if the DockSense Alert Assisted-Docking System is aboard. Utilizing FLIR 3D stereo-­camera vision, you’ll have a live video feed on the Raymarine Axiom display plus an overhead graphic view. Up to seven cameras (with automatic weather shields) can be incorporated into the system, so virtually any size or shape of boat can be covered. And unlike other docking-assist systems, DockSense is completely self-contained—no beacons or sensors needed at the slip.

Price: Varies by boat manufacturer and model

Contact: raymarine.com

See the complete 2020 Marine Electronics Guide

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Sure, we’re all constantly amazed at just how much tech you can hold in the palm of your hand, but prepare for that amazement to become absolute shock—the FLIR Scion handheld thermal camera (available in standard and hi-res versions) has capabilities that include: Wi-Fi-networked video streaming; video and photo recording; Bluetooth connectivity; onboard GPS, digital compass and accelerometer; and a high-definition 1280 x 960 viewfinder. The digital zoom is 8x; the rubber-­armored housing is IP67-rated, and the views through the ­darkness are delivered with FLIR’s Boson core.

Price: Starts at $2,495

Contact: flir.com

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The ability to see in color enhances your situational awareness, and the FLIR M364C makes it possible to ID those buoys as green or red even in complete darkness. And you can do it from quite a distance too thanks to an eye-popping 30x optical zoom. That image will stay in focus due to the camera’s gyrostabilization, and regardless of lighting conditions, it will provide better views than the marine binoculars sitting at your helm right now. The M364C integrates seamlessly with most MFDs from Raymarine, Furuno, Garmin and Simrad.

Price: $20,495

Contact: flir.com

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Thermal imaging is awesome, but a thermal camera with pan, tilt and zoom is even better—­especially when it’s available at a reasonable cost and in a compact package that will fit on virtually any boat. The M232 delivers all of the above, plus easy video-over-IP connectivity. Close-ups come via a 4x continuous digital zoom, and the housing allows for 360-degree rotation as well as a 90-degree tilt.

Price: $3,499.99

Contact: flir.com

See the complete 2020 Marine Electronics Guide

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