I am a non-swimmer. Never got learn how to swimming as I had some childhood traumatic experience of drowning + nearly dead when drowned so ever since then I am too chicken to bury my head under water. 

Have been doing more and more rocks fishing plus the odd occasion of going onto mates boats I think it is a good idea to invest in a good, reliable lifejacket. 

And by 'reliable', I mean one that can actually float me and lift my head out of the water so I don't get drowned. I weight 80kg. Will there a lifejacket that can do this? How much do they usually cost? I have seen some inflatable PDFs at my local tackle store but was told that their buoyancy aren't as good as lifejackets. 

Any advice is welcome!

 

I'll have to check, but I think the inflatable ones actually have more buoyancy than the standard ones (once inflated of course!).

An inflatable one might be your best option - less restrictive, more comfortable and not as hot on a summer day.

 

Touched ... ? ................ Probed more like it !!!

 

ycha223 , seriously if you can`t swim my advice would be to stay off the boats and even the rocks , it just seems crazy . Learn to swim buddy .

 

Life jacket types ? . we have the collard hutchwilco types onboard. I don`t like the inflateable ones because my theory is that if you bang your head as you go over and become unconscious you will float and don`t have to pull a rip cord to make it work .... and hope the cartridge is fully charged .

For someone like you who has to wear one full time and being uncomfortable ,well that`s the price for not being a swimmer .

 

ps...Dealer cost recently from a major dristributor is $47+Gst

 

I'm 110kg's and don't swim (not can't. but don't) and have been in the drink more than once on the same day.

 

The reason I wear a foam filled life jacket is once the inflatable goes off and has done it's dash, it's uncomfortable to weat when standing on land.

 

If you do choose to go for an inflatable, get an auto version. the reason for auto is if you smash your head on the way into the water (I have), you probably won't think to pull the cord due to not being concious or paniking.

 

You can buy life jackets from Burnsco, Smart Marine, FCO, Rebel sports and I think Top Catch too.

 

How's this, I've had issues with a couple of sweepers on the coromandel twice in the space of 20 minutes......... now the obsure thing is that we were facing auckland at the time on a bright sunny day and the sea condition was as flat as a pancake. Now I wear my life jacket on the east coast too.