Connected lifejackets: the future of safety at sea
With the evolution of technology, the connected lifejacket, digitally linked to a rescue station or an app, is shaping up to be the future of the lifejacket. Since the prototype presented at the Lépine competition in 2019, leading brands have been innovating to bring an equivalent product to market. Such equipment will need to meet the same characteristics as a standard lifejacket.
Types of lifejacket best suited to connected equipment
Buying a high-performance lifejacket comes at a price, but it's a very important step in guaranteeing your safety on board a ship, a fishing boat or a simple windsurfer. The different types of inflatable lifejacket do not claim the same level of safety, with some not requiring the addition of connected equipment.
Foam produced by Jobe are among them, since they are intended for leisure use only. But self-releasing inflatable lifejackets are eligible for wearing connected equipment in addition to basic accessories such as harnesses and subcutaneous straps.
If you're wearing connected equipment that's quite heavy, it's advisable to look for a lifejacket that can withstand a higher number of Newtons. These are particularly buoyant, despite the weight applied to them in the water. The best-performing vests are the automatic lifejacket (buoyancy 190 or 290 Newtons) and the (buoyancy 275 Newtons). The former is available with the Hammar or Automatic release system. Both can be purchased with or without a harness, and contain a manual release system. The price of these inflatable lifejackets is quite high, but they are the very best on the lifejacket market. They meet ISO and SOLAS safety standards, demonstrating the high level of safety of these lifejackets. Delivery is free for purchases over €150 on Nautisports.
Don't forget to keep a in your boat at all times. A lifejacket's release system is not infinitely reusable, and can wear out.
Connected lifejacket accessories
Several revolutionary lifejacket accessories have recently been launched. The most practical and effective accessory to increase your safety at sea is the from Ocean Signal. This beacon uses AIS radio technology, which stands for Automatic Identification System. This is a system of automated message exchange between ships by VHF radio, enabling ships and traffic monitoring systems (CROSS in France) to know the identity, status, position and course of vessels in the navigation zone. The Ocean Signal beacon is small and easy to use. It is designed to attach to any brand of automatic lifejacket, with any trigger system.
Whether you have a , , or lifejacket, you'll be visible to all nearby vessels with a portable or fixed VHF. Rescue stations will also see you, thanks to the AIS beacon attached to your vest. These accessories are not details to be taken lightly, they can really save your life in the event of a problem while out on the water.
CrewSaver's Ergofit+ lifejacket stands out for its comfort and practicality. It is designed to hold a McMurdo portable VHF, a high-performance piece of connected safety equipment.
Discover all our lifejackets on Nautisports
If you're not interested in the technical and hi-tech aspects of your lifejacket, you can always turn to Jobe and CrewSaver models, which are highly effective for your safety and comfort. CrewSaver's Crewfit Sport range is an excellent example of a comfortable automatic lifejacket.
Jobe lifejackets are mostly made of foam, even more comfortable but more suitable for water sports and leisure activities, ideal as . In this case, you can also opt for connected accessories that can be stowed away in your pockets, as with the .
