Catamaran basics

It’s not necessarily at sea and in heavy weather that you need a lifejacket! You can fall overboard...any time.

Foam lifejackets They are certainly bulky, and their famous collar is quite frankly a nuisance with the wind behind you...but these foam lifejackets are puncture-proof, will last forever, and are cheap. The right choice for collective and/or all-purpose

An inflatable? Try it on in the shop! Choosing an inflatable means choosing your personal safety equipment, a bit like choosing gloves or a hat. As a result, we advise you to try it on in the shop before buying, rather than ordering it on the internet. P

Manually inflatable lifejackets These are the simplest of the inflatable lifejackets. There is no risk of inopportune inflation, as the control is...manual (as in airplanes). On the other hand, it won’t be much help to an unconscious man overboard.

Salt tablet lifejackets In the automatic inflation family, the salt tablet mechanism – it melts on contact with water – is the most popular. Don’t worry, they aren’t sensitive to damp lockers or spray. And maintenance is easy.

Hydrostatic valve lifejackets These lifejackets are triggered by water pressure – 10cm is sufficient. They appeal to ocean racing skippers who are constantly being swept by big waves, but resetting the cartridge, situated in the bladder, is not easy.

And why not a professional lifejacket? Lifejackets of over 150N (200 or 275), adopted by professional sailors, are sometimes a bit heavier and cumbersome, but they are capable of turning an unconscious person on to their back, even if they are laden and/

An inflatable lifejacket for the children? Numerous manufacturers are offering inflatable lifejackets for children. In the case of long passages, they offer ideal comfort. But as the child grows up, make sure that his or her lifejacket remains suitable!

Foam for day sailing... In the case of short day sails, foam lifejackets for the children have a few points in their favor...cheap, no maintenance, and above all, the possibility of going swimming in the anchorage in complete safety!

And foam again for nautical activities Foam lifejackets are obviously particularly recommended – for both children and adults – for nautical activities such as SUP, kayak, dinghy, etc. During all these activities there is a great risk of falling in t

Visual check of your lifejacket Safety equipment must be in...good condition. Stating the obvious? Not really...stitching on the lifejacket and straps must be checked regularly. In this picture, the lifejacket is ready for the trash.

Checking your lifejacket The pressurization date appears on your inflatable lifejacket’s cartridge. The bottles don’t have an expiry date, but...change them every 10 years, and even earlier if they are rusted.

Cleaning the lifejacket To clean your lifejacket, use a brush or a sponge, warm water and soap. And be careful not to wet the activation system!