How Often Should You Replace Your Life Jacket?

Making sure your boat is ready both legally and recreationally is the responsibility of the boat owner. You already know that you need life jackets that are Coast Guard approved for every rider on the boat, but how do you know when and if your life jackets need replaced?

PFD (Personal Floatation Device)

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are to be worn by every person on the boat. A quality, well-working, PFD will keep a person afloat with their head out of the water if they are unconscious. 

All of the care that you give to your PFD will prolong its use. There is no expiry date for a personal floatation device and/or lifejacket, but it becomes void if it has been repaired or altered; therefore, it is no longer usable and must be replaced and discarded for recycling.

How to Test a Life Jacket

You can test the buoyancy of your life jacket simply by putting it on and with supervision wade out to where the water is chest deep and try floating on your back. You want to make sure that your flotation device keeps your chin above water and that you can breathe easily. 

Practice swimming on your stomach and your back to make sure that whatever position you're in, it will keep you afloat. 

If you have children you're responsible for, have them do the same as well just to make sure everyone is comfortable in their PFD and that it will work if need be. 

Maintain the Life of a Life Jacket

Clean your life jackets regularly with mild soap and water and let them air dry. Never put a life jacket in the dryer. This can cause heat damage to the material that makes them work. 

Safety is the Number One Priority

We recommend upgrading your life jackets and PFDs every couple of years to ensure the safety of everyone on board. Everything about boating is fun. Don't let worry and concern eat at the back of your mind. Keep a rotation of new life jackets on your boat to make sure everyone has a good time and that they're completely safe.

Precision Boats is staffed with the most boat-knowledgable people in this area. If you are concerned about the quality of your life jacket, bring it in and we can look at it together. If you are shopping for a new one, let us know what you liked and didn't like about your last one so we can help you find the best fit. 

Give us a call today: (208) 529-0520

Browse life jackets online: https://shop.precision-performance.com/collections/life-jackets