1. Life Jacket & Rescue Study
for
Boaters with Adaptive Needs
Conducted by:
C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic & Regatta
Partnering Organizations:
American Canoe Association, USRowing, US Sailing
Study Grant Funded by:
Bonnell Cove Foundation

2. Purpose of Study
• Test & evaluate life jackets
• Identify desirable performance
considerations
• Share findings with manufacturers to
improve
 design (fit, adjustment, comfort, usability)
 performance
• Test retrieval rescue equipment
 backboard, life jacket lift, parbuckle net, sit-in net
2The Clagett

3. Phase 1 – Survey Monkey
• Responders Profile
o West coast, midwest, east coast, Canada, France, UK
o 62% male; 38% female
o 13% 19-30 years, 46% 31-50 years, 39% 51 years +
o 93% could swim; 7% could not swim
• Watersports Participation
o 30% one watersport
o 35% two watersports
o 35 three or more watersports
o 74% kayak, 48% swim, 44% sail, 32% canoe,
19% SUP, 10% row
3The Clagett

4. Phase 1 – Survey Monkey
• Life Jacket Information
o Types of life jackets
75% USCG approved
92% non-inflatables
26% inflatable
8% only inflatables
15% both non-inflatable & inflatable
7% used crotch straps
o 64% fallen in water wearing life jacket
o 67% quickly floated face-up
o 26% took effort to turn face-up
o 7% unable to turn face-up
o 22% rescued wearing life jacket
4The Clagett

5. Phase 1 – Survey Monkey
• Problems (frequently mentioned)
o Ride-up
o Neck chafing
o Choking
o Fit problems with pear-shaped, women, short people
o Too bulky
• Suggestions for Improvement
o Design & fit
o Straps – cinching, shoulder
o Buckles, zippers
o Head 6 inches above water for neck breathers
5The Clagett

6. Phase 2 – Pool & Open Water Testing
• Test Venues
o Newport, RI
o Lake George, NY
o St Petersburg, FL
• 104 Tests in Pool
• 92 Tests in Open Water
• 29 Life Jackets Tested
o Type I Offshore
o Type II Near-shore
o Vest-type flotation aids (incl.
two 50-Newtons vests)
o Inflatables
• 15 Testers
o 13 Adaptive Testers
o 2 Able-bodied Testers
6The Clagett

7. Adaptive Testers
• Range of Disabilities
o cerebral palsy
o Paraplegic T4/5
o Partial paraplegic T8 &
below
o MS/paraplegia T8
o Peripheral neuropathy
o Parenthesis, weak life side
o TBI, neuro muscular left side
o Born amputee all four limbs
o Bilateral above knee
amputee
o Above knee left amputee
o Below knee right amputee
o Below elbow right amputee
The Clagett 7

8. Life Jacket Performance Factors
Performance
Fit
&
Comfort
Flotation
Level
Static
Stability
Dynamic
Stability
Face-
Down
Rotation
Life
Jacket
Lift
Feeling
Safe
Visibility
in Water
8The Clagett

9. Fit & Comfort
• Putting on Life Jacket &
Fit Adjustment
o 22% testers problems putting on 41%
of life jackets
o 23% had difficulty tightening straps for
good fit
o 3% could not get straps tight enough
for good fit
o Problems & suggestions: zippers,
straps, buckles
• Ride-Up
o Comfort affected (neck chafing,
choking, back of head ride-up)
o Flotation level of tester affected
o Factors: pear-shape, fit, effectiveness
of straps, use of leg/crotch straps
The Clagett 9

10. Ride-Up Data
The Clagett 10
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
%ofYesResponses
When you were in the water, did the PFD rise up on your body?
Type I Type II Type III Inflatable Vest Belt Pack 50 N

11. Ride-Up Data
The Clagett 11
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
CM (7) CR (19) SS (13) TS (23) CW (23) SL (6) SM (4) MD (14) AA (10) WE (13) KH (13) RH (7) BK (16) LS (12) RT (15)
%ofYesResponses
When you were in the water, did the PFD rise up on your body?

12. Flotation Level
• Performance Factors
o Buoyancy of life jacket
(e.g., 50N, 70N, 120N)
o Ride-up
o Muscle mass vs. fat
mass
o Life jacket design
12The Clagett
50 N (11 lbs.)
120N (26.3 lbs.)

13. Flotation Level – Open Water
The Clagett 13
50 N (11 lbs.) Wave Action 70 N (15.5 lbs.) Wave Action

14. Flotation Level Comparison
50 Newton (11 lbs.) Life Jacket 115 Newton (25 lbs.) Life Jackets
The Clagett 14
At Chin
35%
At
Shoulders
43%
1-3" Below
Shoulders
22%
At
Chin
5%
At
Shoulders
38%
1-3" Below
Shoulders
33%
4+“ Below
Shoulders
24%

15. Static Stability
• Stability in Pool
o 85% testers face up or
vertical
o 14% testers face down
o 1% sideways
• Stability in Open Water
o 83% testers face up or
vertical
o 17% testers face down
15The Clagett

16. Dynamic Stability
• Stability in Pool
o 98% testers face up or
vertical
o 2% testers face down
• Stability in Open Water
o 96% testers face up or
vertical
o 4% testers face down
16The Clagett

17. Face-Down Rotation
• Rotation in Pool &
Open Water
o 5 % Unable to turn
o 16 % Head turn
o 65 % Head & arms
o 5 % Torso turn
o 9 % Life jacket turn
17The Clagett
5 %
16 %
65 %

18. Life Jacket Lift
• Quick PIW retrieval
method
• Low freeboard &
stable boats (power,
sail)
• PIW weight & lifter
strength
• Shoulder straps design
18The Clagett

19. Feeling Safe in Water
The Clagett 19
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
%ofYesResponses
Did you feel safe in the water wearing the PFD?
Type I Type II Type III Inflatable Vest Belt Pack 50 N

20. Visibility in Water
• Fatal accidents
o Powerboat operators
o Low flotation in water
o Black tops & straps
• Recommendations
o Bright colored tops &
straps
o Reflective strips,
florescent on tops &
straps
The Clagett 20

21. Overall Take-Aways
• Many existing life jackets suitable for
adaptive boaters with minor improvements
• Importance of model selection & proper fit
• Leg/crotch straps
• Need for more awareness & education about
selection, fit, maintenance
• “Try before you buy” – in the water
• Life jacket certification – include adaptive
boaters in testing
The Clagett 21