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Life Jacket / Boyancy Aids

  • 12-04-2021 8:49pm
    #1
    Ger22
    Registered Users Posts: 21 ✭


    I've just bought a couple of kayaks to hopefully enjoy over the summer. I can't swim and am actually quite nervous of the water so just looking for some advise on what PFD (personal floatation device) I should be going with.

    From what I see, for kayaking most people would go for a 50N boyancy aid. For people that can't swim sometimes a 100N life jacket would be recommended.

    I'll likely only be using it on calm canals, lakes and rivers. Maybe on the coast but only in calm conditions.

    Would the 50N boyancy aid be ok, or should I be going for the full life jacket, given I can't swim.

    Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    sharingan
    Registered Users Posts: 911 ✭✭✭sharingan


    Full life jacket would restrict your movement and impede your paddling. I am not sure how a life jacket collar would work with a helmet too.

    50N was plenty fine for me when I was tumbling down rapids (out of the boat), but I think you can get higher newton BAs as well, but they are more for people who may be carrying extra kit (expedition gear).


  • #3
    Ger22
    Registered Users Posts: 21 ✭Ger22


    sharingan wrote: »
    Full life jacket would restrict your movement and impede your paddling. I am not sure how a life jacket collar would work with a helmet too.

    50N was plenty fine for me when I was tumbling down rapids (out of the boat), but I think you can get higher newton BAs as well, but they are more for people who may be carrying extra kit (expedition gear).

    Thanks sharingan. By the sounds of it a 50N boyancy aid should do the trick. Even though I can't swim though?


  • #4
    pullandbang
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 4,948 ✭✭✭pullandbang


    Ger22 wrote: »
    By the sounds of it a 50N boyancy aid should do the trick. Even though I can't swim though?

    50N will keep you floating and TBH it's actually quite difficult to swim with a PFD on. You should be more worried about keeping contact with your kayak and being able to self rescue if you capsize. I'm also assuming you have a SOT rather than a sit in kayak.


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