Is a ski vest good enough?

**robert jordan** · 07-05-2017, 07:44 PM

Hey guys, I just bought a lightning ( Action Marine copy) and have been running it with out a vest or life jacket, Yes I know not very smart. So today I bought a couple of ski vests at a great price. Buy one get one free! So for a 100 dollars I got two vests. After I get home I read that it will not hold the face of an unconscious wearer clear of the water and wearer may have to tilt head back to avoid going face down. So now I am wondering if this is worth while wearing? Looked at Life Lines web site and there sport vest doesn't look like it will hold a unconscious persons face out of the water either. How many of you wear only a ski vest?

**David** · 07-05-2017, 07:51 PM

Lifeline over 80, nothing at lower speeds - that is what I do

**Hot Shot Merc** · 07-06-2017, 06:37 AM

Lifeline makes a jacket that has frontal buoyancy although they are very very uncomfortable to wear. The poker runs vest by LL does not. The race jacket with frontal buoyancy is very expensive tho but your life is worth it.

If you chose not to go that route then i would at least get a jacket that has thigh straps. These keep the vest on you where most without can easily slip off your body during an ejection and tumble across the water. If your knocked out during this ejection then you sink to the bottom before anyone can rescue you. This is what kills most people. They drown. Even worse is your family and friends have to go through a living nightmare for a day or so before the divers can find your dead body. Basically if you cant afford and or refuse to buy a high dollar frontal buoyancy race jacket at the very least you should buy one with thigh straps so that it will stay on in the event things go south. You will be floating at least if unconscious but could still drown. At least you will be floating and able to be rescued and pray you will be resuscitated if your knocked out and ingest water to the lungs. Some people will say " never wear anything but frontal buoyancy race jacket with thigh straps" witch is the best thing for sure but i believe that something is better than nothing.

By the way. I bought that Lightning Action of yours new for a friend of mine and he paid me back as soon as he could. It was a center steer when first rigged. Its a pretty light layup too. Hope you enjoy it. He wishes he never sold it

Glad to see you thinking safety. Its very wise

**robert jordan** · 07-06-2017, 08:46 PM

Thanks for the detailed reply Rob, If a frontal buoyancy race jacket is very uncomfortable like you say, it will not get worn and will wind up under the bow of the boat, not doing any good! You now have me thinking hard about returning this ski vest and getting one with the thigh straps. Bass Pro Shops has one on there web site with thigh straps. That's cool that you bought this boat new. I bought it from Eddie Diaz in Key West last year, and I love it!! Once agin thanks for the great reply.

**Ted Stryker** · 07-07-2017, 06:18 AM

as covered already there's no good option with vests, it's breaks into two categories of uncomfortable and the other being nearly ineffective..

**FrenchPhil** · 07-07-2017, 06:37 AM

As said Lifeline or at least a vest with good buoyancy that'll get your head out of the water if ejected.

**mjw930** · 07-07-2017, 06:42 AM

There are 2 vests out there, aside from the Lifeline that will give you a fighting chance at higher speeds, the Stearns trophy series with leg straps and the Mustang Accel100 which is rated for 100 mph but does not include leg straps. Additionally the Mustang Elite 38 inflatable is a viable alternative when you aren't running "balls to the walls" and their EP38 racing inflatable, while expensive, is interesting though neither provide any impact protection.

There are options, you just have to take the time to understand them and apply their application to how you boat. Lifeline is not your only option.

**roadkill636** · 07-07-2017, 08:25 AM

My opinion is that nobody really WANTS to wear a life jacket but anything is better than nothing. That being said if you have a jacket that is uncomfortable you wont wear it as much no matter the cost. So get som3that is very comfortable and easy to put on and take off and you will wear it.

**RMG 2.5** · 07-07-2017, 09:04 AM

Bass Pro sells XPS with thigh straps, i have 2 of them an they are not to uncomfortable.Price is around 80.00 or less

**CHICKENHAWK** · 07-07-2017, 09:17 AM

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...just another way to look at what you spend for a lifejacket.

**mach351** · 07-07-2017, 11:17 AM

When LCB Mikey blew over at river ranch a couple years ago, I was behind him. He had a ski vest on, and when I got to him, the impact had pulled the vest up and held his arms up above his head...his face was in the water and he was gurgling pretty much unconcious. I was first in the water and pulled his head back so he could breathe. That jacket was so close to coming off him it was scary.

Moral of the story is, I have the uncomfortable front bouancy lifeline jacket, and wear it EVERYTIME my boat is on plane. There is no excuse. If I hadn't got to Mikey in 20 seconds it took me to jump out of my boat (still on plane) and swim to him, the results would've been bad. However, that pos ski jacket did keep him afloat so I could get to him, so I guess it's better than nothing.

**rock** · 07-07-2017, 12:22 PM

I own a Lifeline 125 mph jacket and it has the impact panels and there is no possible way to land face down. Calling it uncomfortable is saying it very nicely but you will survive. I also have a couple I bought from Cabellas that are designated "fishing vest only" and are tested at a measly 35 mph however they do have three front straps sewn in place, a full zippered front, removable piece around the back of the neck, and leg straps. Very comfortable and used regularly. As said earlier, no body likes to wear a vest when it is hot as hell but until you spend a couple days waiting for the authorities to find a friend that is on the bottom of the river it is hard to overstate the importance. Be safe my friends.

Rock

**rude tim** · 07-07-2017, 12:28 PM

I had a blow over wearing a Life line poker run jacket. End result, broke the center strap buckle, plastic zipper blewout, leg strap buckles came undone and I was hanging by my wrist on the jacket and completly under water when they got to me. That life jacket is pretty stout and it failed in multable places but I am alive so I guess you can say it worked! My opinion. "No light weight nylon jacket will stay on if you hit the water going fast." I can tell you that a Life line race jacket is uncomfortable but I believe that if I had been wearing it instead of the poker run life line my injuries would have been far less. I suffered 10 fractures in five vertebrae's caused from excessive bending of my back, (the poker run jackets are open on the sides giving no support) separated both shoulders and pushed my femur through the back of the acetabulum. Talk about uncomfortable! 3 months in a wheel chair and pain every day of my life.

Wearing any life jacket is better than nothing. Its your life and your choice, be safe and have fun!

**rjdubiel** · 07-07-2017, 01:01 PM

COMP VEST / PN-170

Not that uncomfortable! They are bulky but......anything can happen and when it does you may not get through it even with the best of jacket so do yourself a favor and get one. I also use a helmet and leather jacket on a motorcycle and that has saved my ass once already so I don't care anymore about how hot and uncomfortable it is. If you like to do risky things, get the protective equipment that will help you live through a nasty situation.

I still cannot get myself to buy a leatte brace yet. Just cant do it for moto! So maybe I should read above!

**transomstand** · 07-07-2017, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by rude tim

I had a blow over wearing a Life line poker run jacket. End result, broke the center strap buckle, plastic zipper blewout, leg strap buckles came undone and I was hanging by my wrist on the jacket and completly under water when they got to me. That life jacket is pretty stout and it failed in multable places but I am alive so I guess you can say it worked! My opinion. "No light weight nylon jacket will stay on if you hit the water going fast." I can tell you that a Life line race jacket is uncomfortable but I believe that if I had been wearing it instead of the poker run life line my injuries would have been far less. I suffered 10 fractures in five vertebrae's caused from excessive bending of my back, (the poker run jackets are open on the sides giving no support) separated both shoulders and pushed my femur through the back of the acetabulum. Talk about uncomfortable! 3 months in a wheel chair and pain every day of my life.

Wearing any life jacket is better than nothing. Its your life and your choice, be safe and have fun!

Had not seen a Lifeline poker run jacket until a few years ago and to be very honest I was amazed at how lightweight they are compared to the competition jacket.