Personal Flotation Devices are one of the safety measures for kayaks and paddlers (PFD). PFDs, categorized as safety equipment, has become one of the most often used safety measures to keep the wearer afloat on the water, especially in the event of a vessel accident or capsize.
Many applications exist for the Personal Flotation Device (PFD), and they face lots of wear and tear. When traveling with the family, it is crucial to understand how to deal with rips and tears in case you need a quick fix. Personal flotation devices will sustain harm, and a torn PFD doesn’t offer the same security as one that isn’t damaged.
It would be nice to replace the PFD, yet your location may mean a new one isn’t easily accessible. In the interim, there is a lot of advice about what should you do with a torn life jacket? Many PFD owners face the same. (Learn What Type Of Engine Uses A Tiller For Steering)
In our guide, you can learn more about how should you check a PFD to see if it is in good condition? By the end, you’ll see that even with a rip. You can fix this without any adverse effects on performance.
So, if you can’t immediately replace your torn PFD, you can use a temporary fix until you can get a new USCG-approved personal flotation device.
What Should You Do If a PFD Has a Tear In The Outer Fabric
You should regularly examine and check your PFD for any problems. It would be beneficial if you were alert to the following PFD issues. If it has any flaws, you must replace it as soon as possible.
Your PFD is no longer secure on water and can’t help you at this stage due to damaged or broken hardware. It is another area a waterproof radio can weaken the material or fixings.
Oil spills can cause a loss of buoyancy.
- You’ll need to fix any shredded, torn, missing, or damaged PFD webbing.
- Rotten material is a warning that your jacket needs to be examined. For example, too much water exposure and wear and tear chafe shoulder fabric.
- Try to patch any significant rips or large tears in your jacket as soon as possible.
- Because of broken hardware, your PFD is no longer safe for use.
- Loss of buoyancy can result from oil spills.
How To Store and Keep Your Life Jacket Usable?
Using the information above, you may determine whether your PFD is wearing or the material has been harmed because you are hooked on something.
How should a tear in the outside fabric of a personal flotation device be repaired?
Keeping your PFD correctly stored is the best way to ensure its safety. You must take the following actions to protect your PFD from any potential harm:
- Always keep your PFD in a dry, cool place rather than a hot area.
- Ensure you use a well-ventilated area. You need enough ventilation to stop mold and the hardware or fabric rotting.
- Don’t expose PFDs to direct sunlight. When in direct sun, it can fade the fabric, and UV radiation degrades the material.
- Hang the PFD rather than using a shelf.
Most PFD owners tend to follow these steps to keep any PFD safe for use on the water.
Can You Repair a Life Jacket?
There are 3 things you can do to fix your PFD if you see a tear on the fabric. Either you have to patch the tear using an iron on a patch or other method, or you’ll need it fixed by a patchwork expert.
A quick fix is duct tape to cover the torn area, or you’ll need the option in the last stage, such as buying a new Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
Here’s a bit more detail on a few options and what impacts your life jacket’s life. (Find the Best Life Jackets for Toddlers)
1. Patch A PFD With an Iron on a patch
You should know improper storage is one of the ways a PFD can develop an outside fabric tear.
A professional can mend the PFD and repair a tear in the outer fabric if the tear is not severe enough to cut the PFD.
2. Use Duct Tape For Damaged Personal Flotation Device
In this circumstance, the best course of action is to change your PFD because they are likely to act up.
If a PFD is torn, you can fix a torn part using duct tape and let it dry. However, exposure to water could make the tape pull away from the fabric.
3. Replace the PFD
If you’re still unsure and wondering what to do if your PFD has a tear in the outer fabric, you should know that boating regulations require a personal flotation device to be in excellent condition at all times.
If you keep life jackets tied up, you can get into difficulties because they should also be easily accessible. If your PFD has a tear, it is best to replace your PFD with tangles and boating accidents.
Before fixing a tear, you need to know you have one. Here are some tips for finding PFD tears.
- Large Tears: The Personal Flotation Device may have noticeable tears visible from a distance in the outer fabric. Examine if your PFD has a tear in the outer fabric, and determine whether the torn PFD can be fixed or if a new PFD is required.
- Oil Spills: Your personal floatation devices become less buoyant if an oil spill occurs. It’s beneficial to plan how and when to replace damaged equipment as soon as you know there are oil spills. If not, your PFD can fail when you need it most.
- Webbing Missing: If the PFD webbing is ripped or missing, make it a priority to replace it.
- Broken Hardware: If the PFD hardware is broken, it means your PFD is ruined and not in a serviceable condition, so you need a new PFD as soon as possible, especially if you have insecure straps.
- Rotten Material: Rotten material shows a possibility of wear and tear on your device.
Before storing your PFD, rinse and dry it if you used it in salt water. If your life jacket is covered in sand or other dirt, this can affect the material and hardware
Should a Child’s PFD Be Loose?
The essential principle for fitting children is the same as for adults: the PFD should be secure but not too tight.
“Comfortably snug” is a term used by the Coast Guard. If the life jacket doesn’t fit tightly, it’s too big. If it doesn’t fit snugly, then it’s too large or too small, and you will need to get a USCG-approved kids’ life jacket.
How to Prevent More Tears In a PFD
You must make sure that a similar circumstance won’t arise again in the future after having to replace your PFD, or you need to fix a tear a second time.
Here are some safety measures you should take to guarantee its longevity.
- Avoid being in direct sunlight: Direct sunlight is a big reason why PFDs get damaged. UV radiation degrades and lowers the PFD’s quality, making it more susceptible to damage and wear and tear.
- Hanging the PFD: Most people keep their PFD in an enclosed space or on a shelf. This shouldn’t be the case, though. Hanging is the ideal time to keep your PFD on. Keeping it higher can make the device safer and extend its useful life.
- Storage of the PFD in a Vented Area: Storing your personal flotation device in a ventilated area is another technique to prevent tearing. The personal floatation device won’t rot the hardware or other components if kept in a well-ventilated space.
Different Types of Life Jackets
Type I:
Use when cruising, racing, and fishing offshore.
Best for rough, remote water where rescue may be slow. Turns most unconscious swimmers in the right direction.
The best protection, but thick and uncomfortable. Extra foam and fabric keep your head above water and help retain body heat.
The public can’t buy Coast Guard-approved Type I inflatable PFDs, so there’s no need to discover tears or protect this personal floatation device from UV rays. (Read What Safety Precaution Should You Take When Hunting From A Boat)
Type II:
Day sailing, fishing, and cruising. Light craft-friendly.
Decent for protected, near-shore inland water with good rescue prospects. Unsuitable for rough-water survival.
Turns several unconscious swimmers face-up. Poor in stormy water requires treading water to keep afloat. It is best to change them rather than fix a tear with a patching job or if there is missing webbing when used at sea.
Type III:
Activities that require supervision include sailing competitions, dinghy races, water skiing, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and when operating personal watercraft.
Strong for protected inland water close to the shore when getting help immediately.
Type IV:
A Type IV is made to be tossed to a victim who has fallen overboard or to increase the buoyancy of someone who has fallen overboard.
It should not be worn. The minimum buoyancy for a ring buoy is 16.5 pounds or 18 pounds for a boat cushion.
You see these hang on a boat or around a swimming pool. As they are not intended to be worn, they are most likely to remain in good condition and not need a repair, but you will replace them.
