Hi,
I am a pretty good swimmer (i do laps each day), but I'm planning to get a buoyancy vest for windsurfing, just to wear as a safety precaution. Would this be good enough for me to use as a beginner-level windsurfer? Is there another type I should consider?

www.whitworths.com.au/hutchwilco-aquavest-lifejacket-pfd-level-50?q=18654

snapper

That would do, but you said you were a good swimmer. Everyone I know learnt without wearing life jackets. I would enjoy the freedom of not wearing one.

Too much. The harness gives a lot of flotation. Get a Neil Pryde high hook pfd - it's more than enough and does not impede the harness.

2nd that on the NP high hook.

I'll third that. The NP one is the go.

All it takes is one knock to your head & if you sail on your own life's over. I wear a helmet just in case.l find a life vest gets in the way, not that lm saying don't wear one.

i have blow up rubber duckies in my wet suit


on a serious note now .impact vest is easier..to move in ...and provides good float .
even though i don't wear mine ,unless cold.I'm with the mob ,helmet and a floaty harness.

just a thought .has anyone designed a inner blow up vest that fit into a wetsuit .?less catchy parts.

If you are going to get one, get one that sits a little higher
The NP's a re good but Whitworths do a few diferent styles
www.whitworths.com.au/burke-lifejacket-d50-pfd-level-50?q=18073

Gill also do some good ones with pockets for Flares and PLBs if needed
www.gillmarine.com/au/sailing-accessories/buoyancy-aids/pro-racer-buoyancy-aid.html

www.gillmarine.com/au/sailing-accessories/buoyancy-aids/compressor-vest.html

The NP is the pick of the bunch for windsurf specific vests. www.shq.com.au/collections/impact-buoyancy-vests/products/2018-np-high-hook-elite-ce50-buoyancy-vest

The burke one (see above) is pretty good, but for a little bit more you can get the ronstan one, which is very close to the NP but without the harness opening. www.ronstan.com.au/marine5/SAILINGGEAR.asp#pfd

Clarence

I use the NP high hook with a waist harness. Better than the standard boaties stuff, but still reasonably bulky. The trade off is that you protect your ribs, stay warm and have a pocket for the keys. Useful for waterstarts too.

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MarkSSC said..
I use the NP high hook with a waist harness. Better than the standard boaties stuff, but still reasonably bulky. The trade off is that you protect your ribs, stay warm and have a pocket for the keys. Useful for waterstarts too.

I use the NP high Hook vest with either seat or waste harness. Helmet too on slalom kit but a hat on the RB and booties on the RB and winter if really cold

ION booster x pfd. I like 1, the harness hook feature that holds the pfd down when you are in the water, 2, the water bladder, 3, the zipper and mesh pockets and 4, the reflective trim.

I have a self inflating flotation device on the back of my harness for just in case. It's called RestTube. It's very small and out of the way. Helmet when going fast.

Is a vest much use? Either you are conscious and it just gets in the way, or you are knocked unconscious and anything less than a proper lifejacket won't save you. I don't wear a helmet, but if I was worried about my safety it would be my first consideration before any type of floatation. If you want something to help with water starts, that's a different matter.

Thanks for all the advice. I had not thought of a helmet but will get one as it could be useful for my Laser sailing activities, too.

Btw, regarding the NP vest, what is meant by the term "high hook"?

Snapperfish.

Highhook, vest is cut n shaped to enable the use of waist harness. ( high hook.)

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Stuthepirate said..
If you are going to get one, get one that sits a little higher
The NP's a re good but Whitworths do a few diferent styles
www.whitworths.com.au/burke-lifejacket-d50-pfd-level-50?q=18073

Gill also do some good ones with pockets for Flares and PLBs if needed
www.gillmarine.com/au/sailing-accessories/buoyancy-aids/pro-racer-buoyancy-aid.html

www.gillmarine.com/au/sailing-accessories/buoyancy-aids/compressor-vest.html

Thanks for the heads up there on the Whitworths one, without entering into the state by state legal requirements i think it looks the goods.

I use the NP high hook and am a fan.
Helps with floatation for my dodgy water starts and offers good rib protection.
Putting your harness hook through the opening in the front means that the vest stays low when you are in the water. If I have forgotten to clip in the loop at the bottom the vest rides up under your chin.
I would imagine the Whitworths ones would do the same without a strap going through your legs?
Pocket on the front for spares and loops on the back that I can add a small camelback if needed. Had it for 18 months of quite regular use and still looks like new.

Hmmm, so if I understand correctly, the vest will float up around the chin unless you also wear the harness. (As a beginner, I don't use a harness yet).

With the laser sailing vests that I have used in the past, they can float up around the chin, however tightening the left and right side straps prevents that from happening. I am guessing that's the case with the NP Highhook flotation vest, too?

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BSN101 said..

MarkSSC said..
I use the NP high hook with a waist harness. Better than the standard boaties stuff, but still reasonably bulky. The trade off is that you protect your ribs, stay warm and have a pocket for the keys. Useful for waterstarts too.

I use the NP high Hook vest with either seat or waste harness. Helmet too on slalom kit but a hat on the RB and booties on the RB and winter if really cold

I have a Camelbak 3litre Unbottle on the back too. Great for the longer sessions on the water

is it mandatory to wear vest when sailboarding in new when freesailing ?

what about when racing - i imagine yes if it is with sailing club associated with YA

I purchased a NP Rise impact vest 6 month ago. I am very happy with it. It is not an authorised buoyancy vest, i.e. if you were knocked out, it wouldn't hold your face above water. The reality is that a buoyancy vest that does, is not compatible with wearing a harness. It does provide sufficient buoyancy to hold your head above water when you are conscious and assist with swimming and flying a cam sail when water starting. It has the advantage of being incredibly comfortable to wear, it doesn't ride up, looks OK and your harness fits comfortably over the it.

I am pretty sure that no 'Buoyancy Vest' (PFD type 2) will actually hold an unconscious persons face out of the water. A vest that does (or is designed to) is usually called a 'Lifejacket' is defined as PFD1, and is designed to turn (or at least keep) an unconscious person on their back and support their face above the water.

PFD type 3 are sometimes lower in flotation and available in a range of colours. A waterskiing padded barefoot wetsuit may comply with PFD 3. Some of those windsurfing vests may actually be able to pass PFD 2 or 3 too (perhaps with very minor modifications), if they were tested.

Australian Standards doc: canoe.org.au/2010/10/28/new-pfd-standard-for-australian-boaters

I'm looking to buy a vest to comply with competition rules. I've only just started to look at what's available in type 2 at a reasonable price.....fairly uninspiring. Shame that the NP style appears to be only type 3, so can't be used in all events. Looks like I'll be buying a bulky ugly thing that will otherwise remain in the shed for 99% of the time. But, at least the lawyers will be happy on race day

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pirrad said..

Stuthepirate said..
If you are going to get one, get one that sits a little higher
The NP's a re good but Whitworths do a few diferent styles
www.whitworths.com.au/burke-lifejacket-d50-pfd-level-50?q=18073

Gill also do some good ones with pockets for Flares and PLBs if needed
www.gillmarine.com/au/sailing-accessories/buoyancy-aids/pro-racer-buoyancy-aid.html

www.gillmarine.com/au/sailing-accessories/buoyancy-aids/compressor-vest.html

Thanks for the heads up there on the Whitworths one, without entering into the state by state legal requirements i think it looks the goods.

I tried one of the Witworth vests. It seemed bulkier in the front so I went to the NP. Regardless of what you choose, make sure it stays in place. The experience of everything up around your chin takes away the fun, and is mighty uncomfortable when you rise up out of a waterstart. Sometimes the harness contributes to this, so make sure you have a good one that stays in place. The better waist harnesses can do this now, and the seat harnesses strap I like a nappy.

I use the NP high hook as a learner. it really helps when you are learning because you fall in a lot and means you save energy getting the rig in the right position etc - floating is easier than treading water. also helps in learning to water start - you can focus more on technique than not sinking.....

impact vests don't help with this and I don't think really help when learning - you likely wont be going fast enough to warrant it - but the high hook will do both -impact and float.

I haven't used another type but the windsurf specific cut of NP feels like a bigger benefit than a non-windsurf focused pfd.

I would also get into a harness asap - saves your arms so you can sail more - if you are going to learn to windsurf you are going to need a harness in order to progress in any wind worth sailing in.

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Stretchy said..
I'm looking to buy a vest to comply with competition rules. I've only just started to look at what's available in type 2 at a reasonable price.....fairly uninspiring. Shame that the NP style appears to be only type 3, so can't be used in all events. Looks like I'll be buying a bulky ugly thing that will otherwise remain in the shed for 99% of the time. But, at least the lawyers will be happy on race day

What competitions are you planning on entering? If an event is run by a group affiliated with Australian Windsurfing Association AWA (eg Windsurfing Western Australia), a vest which meets the equivalent ISO/European standard will more than likely be fine. The PFD regulations for events was recently discussed by AWA and from memory vests like the NP high hook which meet the ISO are fine. Self inflating vests/yokes like the Stormy are NOT compliant. I can confirm if you like.

Claence

From the Screamin' Leeman thread;

-Personal Flotation device (PFD) Type 2 or above (e.g. Type 1) (Australian Standard Type 2 or equivalent is the minimum standard for Open Water Events)
-NOT ALLOWED are Type 3 PFD's (50S is equivalent) which are for protected waters only.

The allowable ones are often referred to as Level 50 and above. Level "50S" is unacceptable.

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AUS1111 said..
From the Screamin' Leeman thread;

-Personal Flotation device (PFD) Type 2 or above (e.g. Type 1) (Australian Standard Type 2 or equivalent is the minimum standard for Open Water Events)
-NOT ALLOWED are Type 3 PFD's (50S is equivalent) which are for protected waters only.

The allowable ones are often referred to as Level 50 and above. Level "50S" is unacceptable.

Yep. Same goes for the Cervantes event, which is the one I'm thinking of entering. Legal BS is ruining this world. I'll suck it it up, but I don't think I'll quite be able to get the dummy back in

Surely the solution for local events could be something like this:

www.whitworths.com.au/cl-burke-inflat-man

It well and truly exceeds the standards stipulated by DOT and wouldn't get in the way so much for racing..

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AUS1111 said..
From the Screamin' Leeman thread;

-Personal Flotation device (PFD) Type 2 or above (e.g. Type 1) (Australian Standard Type 2 or equivalent is the minimum standard for Open Water Events)
-NOT ALLOWED are Type 3 PFD's (50S is equivalent) which are for protected waters only.

The allowable ones are often referred to as Level 50 and above. Level "50S" is unacceptable.

The NP High Hook vest is type 50N in sizes M and above. Smaller ones are 45N and below.
www.neilpryde.com/products/high-hook-ce50

Type 50N complies with PFD type 2, at least in NSW:
maritimemanagement.transport.nsw.gov.au/lifejackets/lifejacket-law/index.html