What makes a pfd wear out

Some of the most simple but vital rules to follow include:. You can easily tell that a faded PFD has been left exposed to the sun rays for a long time. If you are in the market for a floatation device, for your kayak or boat then you should always keep them away from direct sunlight. Another cause of wearing out of your floatation device is storing them in a wet or damp place.

Placing your PFD on wet place will the buoyant materials to wear out quickly which will make your device not float very well? The moisture and humidity on your jacket will make it to have mildew or mold, the floatation device must be air-dried constantly keeping them fresh and clean.

There are multiple ways when it comes to storing your persona floating device, before putting your floating equipment in storage; you must ensure they are dry. The perfect place for storing a dry and cool place that is away from direct sunlight. For those who are using inflatable equipment, examine them for air leakages before heading out.

Tampering with your floating device affects its stability but also making it not Coast Guard Compliant. Never stand, knee, or exert pressure on your PFD as it changes the foam placement as well as putting additional wear and tear on the equipment which reduces its efficiency and the buoyancy design. The main aim of proper handling is ensuring the PFD remains in its original shape and quality with the foam and feel remains the same just as new.

Avoid folding or bending your PFD as it will significantly reduce its lifespan. The persona floating device should always be worn when partaking in water activities or kayaking. But always remember to wear it on land before going on the boat. Privacy Policy. Testimonials Agent Login Policyholder Login. Find An Agent. Man Drowns After Slipping out of Life Jacket: A man drowned after being thrown from an inner tube he was on with two other people.

He was wearing a personal floatation device while on the tube, but after falling off he slipped out of his life jacket and drowned. His body was not immediately recovered, but his life jacket was. It is believed that his life jacket was not secured effectively or did not fit properly. Boating-Related Drownings Thousands of people are injured and hundreds die in boating-related accidents each year. In , there were 2, injuries and fatalities from boating accidents.

Alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating incidents. Some of the most significant aspects of their study include: 9 out of 10 drownings occur in inland waters, not on the ocean like most people think.

Most boat-related drownings involve boats less than 20 ft. Almost every drowning victim had a life jacket available and chose not to wear it. Types of PFDs Personal floatation devices, also know as life jackets, life preservers, and PFDs, come in a variety of shapes and sizes — they even make life jackets for dogs! Class I PFDs: Bigger and More Buoyant These are also known as offshore life jackets and are designed to keep an individual afloat and face up for extended periods.

Inflatable Life Jackets Inflatable life jackets are designed to take up less space and be less bulky than traditional PFDs. Fastening a PFD Whether using a PFD that fastens via zippers, snaps, or claps, it is important that it closes completely and stays closed while wearing it. Test PFDs in the Water In addition to the aforementioned test, a PFD should be tested by getting in shallow water to ensure it effectively keeps the wearer buoyant.

Maintaining PFDs Only personal floatation devices that are in good, working condition are safe to use. A PFD altered in any way no longer carries U. Coast Guard approval. If a PFD needs to be altered to fit an individual then another one should be found. If any alterations are discovered, immediately discard that PFD as its effectiveness may be compromised. Allow PFDs to dry before placing in storage. While allowing a PFD to dry is important, it is not recommended to aid the drying of a PFD in any unnatural way like putting them in the dryer or placing them on a radiator.

Do not use PFDs for anything other than their intended use. Be honest: do you ever give your lifejacket some TLC or do you always assume that it will be there for you, like a doting dog?

There are times when maximum buoyancy is a life and death matter, such as when a hydraulic is making like a washing machine and treating you like a dirty, old sock or if you end up gasping in frigid water on a gray October day.

PFDs, like everything else, have finite lives. Lili Colby, the Chief PSDiva at MTI Adventurewear, which makes nothing but lifejackets and has done so for 25 years, understands how many paddlers abuse their products.

Tossed into a dark corner, PFDs can turn into a petri dish for mildew, which can both break down fabric and flotation and make them less likely to be worn in the future. So, how do you keep your PFD at peak performance and avoid the funk? After each use, rinse it out with freshwater, and not just after saltwater paddling. Even the salt from sweat can reduce its lifespan. There are many things you do that can lead to the short life span of your personal floating device.

Most people make the mistake of mishandling their personal floating devices. And you should never do such. I once heard someone say it is very important that one take good care of floating devices just as one takes care of oneself.

One of the factors that makes a personal floating device to wear and tear easily is the way you choose to handle it.

Recently, in the western part of Nigeria, it was said that many people lost their lives as a result of ship capsizing. The issue is not with bad occurrence, but the alarming part is that most people who had a floating device on lost their lives. The floating device could not keep their heads up the water because most of them are worn out, and boarders are not aware of that. I witnessed one myself as I went to the beach with friends and we had to go through the sea.

Those devices could have maintained the proper condition and last longer if they had been handled in the right way. You have less to do with a floating device that is not owned by you. But for the ones that are personal to you, you have all in your capacity to expand the lifespan of the floating device by handling it in the right way. Another important factor that you should consider with expanding the lifespan of your personal floating device is the aspect of cleaning.

After every use of your floating device, you should see it as a task to clean.