Hmmm. I've never had a problem swimming with my life vest (Magic Marine). It fits snugly, and doesn't ride up.

If you're used to swimming with your head out of the water (like surf swimming or open water triathaletes), it's relatively straightforward, although it takes more effort than if you just had a bathing suit on (more drag). The spray pants I wear probably cause the most drag...

The photo with the rasher over your life vest should also keep it from riding up if it (the life vest) fits properly.

How about a short piece of spectra to tie it to your harness (which has leg straps)? I'd use a quick release knot if for some reason you have to ditch the harness..

I posted the same question earlier this year. Someone recommended a Stohlquist for my son. My son spends as much time on the sailboat as he does jumping off of it with his teenage friends (either they are swimming or holding onto the dolphin striker as the other sails the Wave). He constantly complained about the Magic Marine PFD riding up as he swam. Now, he has a Stohlquist Wedge-E and absolutely loves it. It was worth the $79.00 to me so he would stop complaining (then again, he is a teenager and complaining is something they do no matter what the parent does).

Bob

Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008, rule 43.1 (b) states (in part): "A hiking or trapeze harness shall
have positive buoyancy...".


Rule 43.1 also limits the weight of a trapeze harness and precludes the wearing of weights.

Perhaps the problem is just the location of the flotation. If the harness makers moved the padding to the front of the harness, instead of the back, then we wouldn't tend to roll over. It might also get the guys some more attention at the beach...

Eric (Isotope 42)

i have absolutely 0 problems swimming with either my extrasport or my lotus on.

My only complaint about the life jackets is that the pockets are pretty useless as far as being able to carry anything of size like a VHF or a radio or EPIRB. I have so much stuff dangling off my life jacket thats just strapped to it.

I sewed a crotch strap onto my Magic Marine and it makes a big difference in the water where it counts. What I can’t understand is why somebody doesn’t design a PFD that will help and not hinder swimming or boat recovery? Shouldn’t that be a prerequisite along with on surface comfort and fashion?

Come up with your own life jacket design and maybe you will win $5,000. The information is at http://www.boatus.com/Foundation/lifejacketdesign/