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Lifejackets for little girls Recommendation?

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MurphyPeoples
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/30/2009 : 18:28:06

Hello all. I have a 6 year old daughter that we're having trouble finding a PFD that won't chafe her under the chin. She spends alot of time in deep water at the lake and uses it for flotation. She's going to be taking sailing lessons later this month, using Optimists, so I'd really like to hear recommendations from those in the know. I'm thinking she'll need something that leaves her free to move about, but also comfortable and very "floaty". Is that a new word? Ha.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Murphy

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5453 Posts

Response Posted - 06/30/2009 : 21:12:59

My favorite PFD is from Cabelas (cabelas.com) which has mesh up top and three straps. It is not a type 1 with head floatation, but for sailing its not bad. The one I have is very floatie, and you can tie a whistle and a light to it

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0065302943050a&navCount=1&podId=0065302&parentId=cat601115&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat21276-cat601115_TGP&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601115&hasJS=true

If you go to the site, click on boating, lifejackets, kids and pets (yes they group them together) Cabela's Youth Comfort Mesh Vest. This may be a little too big for girls however.

Also, many kayaking PFDs are made expressly for women and girls. Look at NRS http://www.nrsweb.com/, and also look for Stohlquist, Lotus and Kokatat brands.

Edited by - on

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 : 06:25:44

Murphy - I just bought a Discovery II Junior PFD from LLBean for my 8 year old son. http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=54377&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&from=SR&feat=sr It has a ton of adjustments to customize the fit. The guy in the store helped us fit it, suggesting that once properly adjusted, he should not be able to pull the shoulder straps above his ears. He is built like a bean pole and we were able to get a decent, but not great fit.

Our primary concern was comfort. Our hope is that he stays in the boat and the lifejacket is only there in case he does not!

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 : 07:50:52

Unfortunately, both of these recommendations are for kids 50 - 90 pounds. I'm guessing your 6 year old isn't quite there yet. My 10 year old is barely 55 pounds. We never really found one that was very comfortable for her. We thought the key was the croch strap. Properly adjusted, it would keep the PFD from rising to her ears while swimming off the boat. It would also prevent her from slipping out of it. We used an inexpensive one from the boating department at our local Walmart. None of the high-priced versions we looked at were any better for a kid that size. It seems that the manufacturers make terrific ones for infants, adults and dogs and leave little kids completely out of the picture. Even the quality products recommended above probably aren't very comfortable for a kid on a 90 degree, sunny day. I wouldn't want to be encased in 2-3 inches of insulating foam on days like that. Our daughter often spends a lot of our sailing times below deck just because she can take off the PFD. Sad.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2009 : 09:46:54

Sounds like a good market niche to explore.

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ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2009 : 11:54:23

We found out that kid's PFDs are mostly designed to keep their face up and actually prevent them from swimming (more floating). Even the "swim vests" worked for my daughter but my son could never swim in one. In the end we settled on arm floats and the foam blocks you tie in the back (or back&front); I do not consider these foolproof so we swim with them as long as they are in these. Sailing class is completely a diffrent beast. <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MurphyPeoples
 Hello all. I have a 6 year old daughter that we're having trouble finding a PFD that won't chafe her under the chin. She spends alot of time in deep water at the lake and uses it for flotation. She's going to be taking sailing lessons later this month, using Optimists, so I'd really like to hear recommendations from those in the know. I'm thinking she'll need something that leaves her free to move about, but also comfortable and very "floaty". Is that a new word? Ha.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Murphy
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.