I realize this topic has been beaten to death on the open forum. However, I have a specific question about PFDs, and I find the individuals that participate on this forum to be knowledgeable and helpful. Hence, I would like your opinion on PFD for a growing teenage boy.

My 14-year-old son has outgrown his last two PFDs and I need to get him into a new one ASAP. His big complaint is that the Magic Marine PFD would ride-up on him under his armpits. While I think most of his problem is that he is a teenage boy with an attitude, I am still interested if y’all would recommend a PFD that is comfortable and that does not ride up and squeeze in the armpits. He is approximately 5 foot 11 inches tall (180 cm) and 140 lbs (63 kg).

The town we live in does not have a kayak shop or a sailboat shop (just powerboat shops with your generic PFDs). I will have to travel to Austin to look at PFDs and I want to know what to look for once I get there.

Many thanks
Bob
F16 wannabe (if my wife lets me sell the Inter 18)

Something along these lines?
http://store.catsailor.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jsepjorrq

Actually I would be interested to know if anyone here uses one of these - coincidentally I tried one on in a local store (Hedlund Marine) this last weekend. I just wasn't sure about the shoulder stap material. Compared with the trusty Hutchwilco I use back home it seemed a bit flimsy.

Mark.

A lot of people use the Lotus Designs and the Stohlquists. They have straps at the bottom of them, if adjusted properly should keep the PFD from riding up.

http://www.stohlquist.com/
Lotus PFD's