When you have a wakeboard boat, you know that safety is tantamount. The extreme watersports that you and your friends and family practice with your treasured wakeboard boat involve some risks, so it’s important that you always have the right equipment and gear on hand to keep everyone safe.

One of the most vital components of participating in watersports is the wearing of a personal flotation device or PFD, colloquially called a “life jacket.” You’ve undoubtedly seen the traditional puffy orange vests with buckles, but you may not be aware that there are a number of different types of PFDs available. You’ll want to have a few different types available on your wakeboat for different purposes and you need to make sure that you have a PFD for everyone on board!

This breakdown of the types of PFDs that you can stash on your wakeboard boat comes to you courtesy of the staff here at Active Water Sports, serving the greater Portland metro area. If you have any questions about watersports safety, come talk to us!

Type I PFD

Type I life preservers are very buoyant, designed to turn the wearer face-up in the water. This is essential in the event the watersports participant falls into the water and hits their head on the board, losing consciousness. This style isn’t very comfortable to wear due to its bulk, but it’s reliable in rougher waters. However, there are no models of this type that are currently United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved, so if this is all you have on your wakeboard boat, you’ll need to do some shopping!

Type II PFD

Type II PFDs are much more comfortable to wear than Type I styles. One drawback is that they don’t turn the wearer face-up in the water, so they’re no good in the case of incapacitation. If you’re carefully monitoring your wakeboarder and know you’ll be able to fish them out immediately, this is an acceptable PFD for them to wear. This type of PFD is affordable and comes in both inflatable and inherently buoyant styles.

Type III PFD

As the most comfortable option to wear, this style is pretty popular. It’s more like buoyant clothing than a device. Type III PFDs come in coat or jacket or vest stylings with extra features like hypothermia protection and pockets. They’re designed to be used in calmer waters and also come in inherently buoyant or inflatable options.

Type IV PFD

This type of PFD is one you’ll need to carry regardless of what other types you may have. Type IVs are throwable life rings intended to be tossed overboard to rescue someone who’s fallen into the water. They should be kept within arm’s reach of the side of your wakeboat instead of stashed away under a seat or in a cabinet. This style is never to be worn, so don’t allow children to play with it! It’s only useful if your person overboard is conscious and capable of grabbing onto it. Some Type IV styles come in a cushion format instead.

Type V PFD

Finally, you have activity-specific personal flotation devices. These fall under the broader Type V category and include those specially designed for watersports like waterskiing and wakeboarding. These flotation devices will additionally fall under the categories of Type I, II or III, depending on how they’re styled and their inherent buoyancy.

PFD Guidelines

You should only invest in PFDs that have been approved by the USCG. Every passenger on board needs to have access to one if your boat is over 16’ long. All watersports participants should always wear some form of PFD, preferably one designed for their particular sport. Review your state’s laws regarding the specifics around PFD usage. If none exist, adhere to the USCG rules that all children under the age of 13 need to wear an inherently buoyant PFD at all times on a moving boat.

Examine your PFDs at least once every season for signs of wear. If there is sun fading or you find holes or tears in the material, that PFD needs to be replaced immediately. Keep PFDs that aren’t being worn stored somewhere dry without sharp objects. Don’t put them in high cabinets or in plastic bags or locked compartments; passengers must be able to quickly access them at all times.

Visit our Beaverton and Oregon City locations to check out our current stock of new and used wakeboard boats for sale. We’re proud to carry a wide selection of wakeboats for all your watersports needs! Active Water Sports welcomes all of our Oregon customers in and around the Portland area.