Boating safety guide: essential items and informed recommendations

FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD, life jacket, safety vest, safety jacket)

At Sports Experts and Atmosphere, find a wide variety of flotation devices to accompany you on your nautical adventures. A personal flotation device (PFD) must be approved in Canada, which means it must be approved by a government body such as Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada or the Canadian Coast Guard.

Flotation jacket, life jacket: what's the difference?

The main function of a flotation jacket is to help the wearer float and prevent the risk of drowning. Designed to be worn at all times, flotation jackets are often more compact, less bulky and more comfortable than a life jacket. They offer greater freedom of movement, and are most often worn for water-based activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, wakeboarding and many others.

A life jacket or life vest effectively keeps the wearer out of the water, leaving the face, head and airways clear in the event of immersion. When wearing a life jacket, the wearer is automatically turned onto his or her back to keep him or her afloat. Because of its flotation purpose, the life jacket is thicker and bulkier.

There are several types of PFDs, adapted to the water sports you wish to enjoy. Whatever your choice, it is recommended choosing a coloured PFD to make yourself visible in the water.

Most adult PFDs are suitable for both men and women, although some brands have developed jackets adapted to women's morphologies, in particular to increase chest support and comfort. PFD sizes are based on chest circumference. We recommend that you try on your PFD before buying, to ensure an optimum fit.

When choosing your kayak PFD or paddleboard PFD, we recommend models with open back panels. This will maximize your range of movement and ensure you are comfortable enough to paddle.

KAYAK PFD

Discover jackets specifically designed for kayaking. Safely navigate the waters with the Deep River PFDs. The ARTEMIS women's model has a neoprene outer shell, a front zip for easy donning and a back slit for increased mobility when paddling.

JUNIOR PFD

Sail as a family and train your future sailors! The Stohlquist Escape Youth model features adjustable straps and a front zipper providing a custom fit around the shoulders and on the sides to children.

It is important to remember first that a flotation jacket is no substitute for supervision by a responsible adult. As with adults, we recommend that you try a child PFD on in store. There are a number of features to take into account:

• The collar must leave the head and neck clear
• It is important to have a collar to support the head safely when immersed in water
• Waist and shoulder straps are preferable
• The addition of a whistle is strongly recommended