This study evaluated life jackets and rescue equipment for boaters with disabilities through surveys, pool testing, and open water testing with over 100 tests. Key findings include: 1) Many life jackets worked well but some caused ride-up or discomfort and 2) Higher buoyancy life jackets kept testers' heads higher in the water and were more stable in waves. Recommendations focus on improved sizing, straps, and colors to aid retrieval and visibility for adaptive boaters.

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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