Hi Guys,

Can anyone recommend a floatation vest with a PFD1 rating for kiting?

So many buckles on all the ones that I have been able to find.

Thanks in advance for your help :)

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Sabs said..
Hi Guys,

Can anyone recommend a floatation vest with a PFD1 rating for kiting?

So many buckles on all the ones that I have been able to find.

Thanks in advance for your help :)

I have never seen anyone kite in a PFD1. There are a few PFD3's that people kite in.

Don't think you will find a PFD1 rated vest suitable for kiting, because PFD1 is the type or design that has a neck collar to hold your head above water.
PFD2 and PFD3 can be identical in construction an bouyancy, but PFD2 has to be a certain very bright color usually orange or yellow
So look for PFD 2 or 3 rated vests, as PFD1 could be quite dangerous and cumbersome to use for kitesurfing.

NP vests available from Cabrinha dealers are CE rated and this I'm told is the same as PFD2/3 and are designed for kitesurfing.

Pfd3 was mentioned as what's required in wa from WAKSA in regard to the new changes. Go to a ski/wake shop they'll have some zippered neoprene ones that'll be good.

Not sure how they'll fit with your harness or whether if knocked out they'll even keep you upright especially with a harness and kite attached.

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NickT said..
Pfd3 was mentioned as what's required in wa from WAKSA in regard to the new changes. Go to a ski/wake shop they'll have some zippered neoprene ones that'll be good.

Not sure how they'll fit with your harness or whether if knocked out they'll even keep you upright especially with a harness and kite attached.

Do the PFD3 have a pocket for flares or a Epirb? All well and good wearing the jacket but you also need the other ridiculous equipment to comply to the rules.

what other ridiculous safety equipment are you talking about samokta ?


Read the rules very carefully and if you have a type 2 "which ones that are available at the moment from NPX have a pocket on the front for a plb" .

Up to 5nm from shore you only need to carry flares OR plb OR epirb . Now an epirb is not practical in size for kiters to carry . A plb is . You only need to carry parachute flares more than 5nm from shore as well as a PLB .

So for 99% of the downwinder crew they won't need to do anything .

Just Curious, what are the guys wearing on the Rottnest - Lighthouse to Leighton, will they have to have - flares, epirbs, pib, solar panels, early warning shark systems, fog horns etc… (I am joking about the last couple).

L2L has special exemptions just like loc and as always yo will need a type2/3 pfd and two orange flares

I am yet to see anyone else wearing a pdf out on the water...what implications are there on insurance if you are not wearing the correct gear? (thrid party liability I mean).

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Green Cherub said..
I am yet to see anyone else wearing a pdf out on the water...what implications are there on insurance if you are not wearing the correct gear? (thrid party liability I mean).

Good question mate? Anyone know?