Anybody who knows the cost difference between USCG approval and CE approval?

OK.... Why can't we do this with the life jacket fubar..

My favorite democratic institution... 10 guys with sticks providing instant justice on the sand at the Life jacket protest hearing. Somebody will get schooled!

There has to be a better way then flouting the rules....or is it just one more slippery slope to navigate.

Hey, I never said WHO!

Right you are

Curious...I seem to recall the Zhik logo on these. It is a pull-over type...no zip/buckles and no pockets and at the time ('07), there were no other black/grey color schemes around I can think of. Perhaps it was purchased in outside USA?



So, if the US pfd makers are following these regs, how can they stay in business against the imports?

"So, if the US pfd makers are following these regs, how can they stay in business against the imports?"

By ignoring the sailors and planning the bulk of your sales to the jet-ski, bass boat, kayak, and pleasure boat market.

But are they not bound by the same federal laws? Or are they just ignoring it?

What is your role in Zhik btw? Just curious, nothing more.

My 6 month old Zhik life jacket (not USCG approved) has tons more flotation than my 12 year old Omega (USCG approved). I guess I should put the Omega back on for races, even though I'd be better off with the Zhik and better flotation.

Zhik life jackets are on a lot of boats in the SE US nowadays.....

I have a Zhik life jacket and I agree that it is much more bouyant than other USCG approved jackets I've owned...I'm sure that there are other specifications that the USCG tests but would be really shocked if the Zhik vest didn't exceed them all. Let me offer up this option...the reg says:



So if I wear my Zhik jacket and have one of those $12 throwable boat cushions in my trampoline pocket or strapped to the underside of the trampoline somewhere - am I covered? The throwable is USCG approved and it is a lifesaving device.

That's the bummer, Tom - it isn't about who's got a better or safer product, but who has paid a gob of cash to the USCG for the label.

I think the Prescription states it is a type I, II or III PFD.

The thowable is a type IV and you are supposed to carry it anyway if you are 16 feet plus.

So... you need it and one of those cheap orange PFD's for every person on the boat. (Got that idea from a Finn guy on SA. I guess if you stuff em in the hulls and you are street legal.

What did the F18's do.... They had this throwable requirement in their class rules at one time as well?

So, don't these requirements get wave if the boat is visiting the USA for a brief time? Kinda like the local boat registration requirements with stickers & numbers.

Thus in a big event, non-USA teams could wear better equipement, not carry throwables and not have to put reg. numbers on their bows. Kinda tilts the competitive advantage, no?

I think Jake has something here. How about carrying a Mae West in the hull while wearing the Zhik? Maybe I can find a throwable that would fold enough to fit into the 6" hatch as well.

You're thinking about the paddle requirement (and the compass).

Mark,

Your question about "throwable cushions" in the HCA-NA only effects the H17, TheMightyHobie18, Tigers and H20 and not the H16 which is the large majority of the HCA-NA. And there is I believe a little clause in the rule .... something about "being readily accessible" .... so I can not roll up my throwable and stuff it down in my TheMightyHobie18's hulls through the hullport, or lash it semi-permenately to the underside of the tramp either. I've carried a throwable in all distance races and a large percentage of "buoy races" I've competed in ... I haven't protested anyone since I do not want to win a race that way. Therefore, I have a large tramp pack installed on both my TheMightyHobie18 and P19 to keep a throwable in and collapseble paddle also.

FYI: In 25yrs of racing beach cats I only used the throwable once .... when coming upon a dis-masted NACRA 5.8(?) in the middle of the Lowwer Chesapeake Bay during a Down the Bay Race, we attached our spare Handheld VHF in a waterproof bag (to the throwable) and tossed it to a very well know sailor on this forum so they could contact the Coast Guard and arrange to be rescued.

So I can not honestly say a throwable is totally useless on a beach cat .... but you can go a loooo...ong time before you use it ....

So Matt, I usually do have a "throwable" on-board ...

HarryMurphey

This is exactly what we did at the US Olympic Trials so we could wear our Mustos. BTW that same year the US male 470 Trials winner was protested for wearing a Musto and not having a USCG legal vest onboard (received a warning).

We were warned prior to the trails by the then President of USYRU to cover our butts while a judge actually suggested the remedy.

The other US PFD manufacturers do not have to meet any different standard. It's just the design of a PFD for fishing, kayaking, skiing, etc. is significantly different than one whose purpose is competitive sailing. Unfortunately the competitive sailing market is very small in the US, whereas the same market is fairly large in Europe, Australia, and Asia. It just doesn't make economic sense to spend $200,000+ to have the Zhik PFD USCG approved in the US. If I sold one to every competitive sailor in the US, I still don't think I could recoup my investment.

Meanwhile, I think our only solution is to carry "Mae West" version around in our hulls...

I am the North American Marketing and Distribution manager for Zhik. I've made no secret of that I have a vested interest in this matter.

I see this in the all the bigger regattas, it just doesnt look like the life jackets that we use in the US, its much thinner. Maybe its a Zhik, dont know, but it looks comfy, but is it legal, and safe?
http://www.a-catworlds.net/media/photo_full.cfm?pid=62383&seid=1133

and this
http://www.layline.com/product/12450/661

Why is it called a mae west?

What about those inflatable pfd's



You could stuff a couple of these in your hull and be good to go I assume. Stupid waste of money though.