Life Jackets & PFD's

Life jackets are something you should never leave at home as boat safety should be taken very seriously. In Australia on average there are around 980 coastal deaths due to boating and water sport accidents. The crazy thing is that of those numbers 70% were not wearing lifejackets. At Outback Equipment we have numerous different life jackets for sale to suit all needs. We take safety very seriously, so we stock only the highest quality life jackets from trusted manufacturers.

Things you Should Know:

Do life jackets have expiry dates? There is a general rule of thumb about replacing life jackets after a certain number of years, however it differs between states. According to Maritime Safety Queensland AS512 Code, as 1499 or AS2260. These codes will tell you when and why you should replace your lifejackets. It’s common for people to replace their life jackets at around 10 years old to ensure the safety and buoyancy. Depending on how they have been looked after it may be much sooner, so be sure to have the Australian Standards number (AS4758) attached somewhere on the life jackets, this will help you determine the age as well.

A life jacket is also known as a personal floatation device or PFD. They are critical and by law you must have one during all water activities. You must wear a life jacket on your person when crossing a sand bar because it can be dangerous at certain tides where it is harder to navigate, or conditions are unknown. Pets must always wear life jackets if you plan to carry them in a watercraft.

Maintenance for your Life Jackets:

Store life jackets out of the weather where they will not get wet or sweat, this will elongate the life of your life jackets. When out of use it is good practice to hang them up in a cool storage area where they will not get mouldy. For inflatable life jackets, we suggest servicing them as regularly as you can, especially if they are used every week. If you need to clean your life jackets, only use soap, as harsh detergents will damage the material.

Children's Life Jackets:

As every child is different, it is especially important to test your child's life jacket in shallow water before heading out. They may require adjusting or a bigger/smaller size if they do not appear to float comfortably in their life jacket. Once you have adjusted each life jacket to suit each child, mark them with their name or a colour so they know that their life jacket is the right one for them. Check each life jacket for leaks or damage before heading out on a family outing, either replace or have a qualified person repair the life jacket before using it. As children grow quickly, bear in mind they may outgrow life jackets. Life jacket sizes are determined by weight so check the classifications as it appears on their life jackets.

Adult Life Jackets:

Adult life jackets are typically rated for 40kg and above. This means that they will have around 150 newtons of buoyancy or about 15kg of lift. Adults also come in many sizes so it is important to also test life jackets in shallow water to see how a person will float in case of an accident.

Types of Life Jackets:

We can break life jackets into various levels ranging from 50-275. The rating indicates the diverse types of life jackets including PFD 50 which are meant for “partial smooth waters” including use on kayaks and can also be used for recreational sports such as ski boats, jet skis or towing on a tube. PFD 100 life jackets are designed for coastal and SOLAS waters and vessels. They have more flotation, are typically bulkier life jackets that do not need to be inflated. For the minimum requirement for offshore use, heading into deeper waters, life jackets are bright in colour with reflective patches rated 150 PFD and usually comes with a whistle to attract attention. For 275 PFD these are inflatable life jackets.

For ‘non swimmers’ or people that struggle to tread water, inflatable life jackets are not recommended as they may panic or might become unconscious easily. Therefore, it is good to test life jackets to see how you will float as a well-designed life jacket will angle your head out of the water. If your centre of gravity favours leaning forward when testing your life jacket, look for different designs and double check the weight and size rating. Double check the life jacket is intended for the water activity you plan to take part in and always be sure to readjust before entering the water.

Why shop with Outback Equipment?

• We’re Australian owned and operated – We’re based right here in the south of Brisbane. If you ever need help with an order or a product, you can call straight through to our friendly local team.

• Plenty of payment options – You can pay via PayPal, MasterCard, Visa, zipMoney, Afterpay, and direct deposit – whichever is most convenient for you.

• Delivered to your door – You don’t have to worry about darting across town to grab your order. We deliver your goods straight to your door to save you time and energy.

Order Your Life Jackets & PDF’s Today

Stay in complete control of water safety with our range of life jackets. For the best life jackets and PFD’s Australia has to offer, shop online to find the final additions to your recreational boat today.