Fat Sailor

I am a two x kind of guy looking for a life jacket that can work for me, saving my life when needed but not hindering me from handling my Sunfish?

Mixed issues...

The most comfortable to wear is going to be a self inflating.
Since with a Sunfish you expect to get dunked, that probably isn't a good plan.

I use a water ski vest.
Then it becomes a case of going to the sporting goods store and finding one that fits and feels comfortable but is relatively thin.
the thin vest will not be as good as a life jacket because you are trading off flotation foam for comfort and convenience. also these tend to float you face down. So if you are using that solution you'll want to not be out where no one else is around to see you get in trouble.

These little boats are more fun when you are sailing with others anyway, so probably you will have others around.

Its not as easy to get hit hard enough with a sunfish boom to knock yourself out as it is with larger sailboats so its a reasonable compromise. Definitely better than not wearing any type of flotation device.

The inflatable vest requires that you pull the pin to save your life? So if I am knocked out it is not so good?

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this product? Float Tech Jacket

There's 3 kinds of inflatable.

Manual inflate (you blow it up like a balloon)
Not much use unless you inflate it before you get in trouble.

Manual activated CO2 (you pull the pin)
Not seen often.
You could tie a string to the baot and if you fall off that pulls the pin.... but this is hard to find and its easy to accidentally pull the pin.
Appx $12 to replace the CO2 cyl

Auto activated CO2 (it gets wet enough and it inflates, often also has a pull pin)
Appx $25 to replace the CO2 and "pill" that detects it being too wet and activates it

The CO2 types usually also have the manual inflation tube

George Hart said:

The inflatable vest requires that you pull the pin to save your life? So if I am knocked out it is not so good?

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this product? Float Tech Jacket

Click to expand...

That's a very expensive one. Never seen one on a Sunfisher.

Just go to a store and try their selection:
REI
Sports Authority
West Marine
Walmart

Choosing one on-line is tricky because proper sizing is crucial.
And you really don't want one that self-inflates!

Yep...

The Sunfish is a boat where you expect to fall off and turn it over a few times every time you go sailing.
You'd go broke quick replacing CO2 cylinders and the "pills" with an auto-inflated PFD

Flipping the boat is half the fun...

If part of the problem is that the mainsheet is catching on your current life vest, you could also try a mainsheet hanger. Intensity Sails sell them for little money and they work pretty well.

Intensity Mainsheet Hanger for Sunfish

I get the impression that most do not ware jackets and keep them in there cockpit? I was hoping for some other full figured sailors out there to give me idea how they deal with such a safety item. I am as stated fat and my problem is I'm not 60 anymore and in a ski jacket when I set on the deck the jacket rides up around my head, I feel like a Turtle. My Wife suggest a ski belt but I think she is just wanting the body back for identification. I would like to think I have some plan to keep my head out of the water if knocked out. But also something that I can ware comfortably. I been around boating all my life but as stated my life is coming to an end and I don't move like I use to. Luckily I don't think I will be on the open seas but mostly just lake and river day sailing. But I will be by myself and don't want to take any risk that I don't think I cant deal with. Thanks for any incite!!!!

I would say that most people sailing a Sunfish wear their life jacket. Trying to put on a life jacket after you've capsize would be pretty hard and as far as I'm concerned a bad idea.

The life jackets listed on this site might be what you're looking for.

Best Life Jackets for Sailing | LifeJacketAdvisor.com

I use a "kayak" style jacket. Less bulk up near neck. Good arm freedom and movement.

Astral Buoyancy V-Eight Life Jacket looks like what I am looking for. Do you know if there is a retail store where I can try them on????

I'm not sure where you're located now but REI and Austin Canoe and Kayak seem to carry it.

check out www.nrsweb.com - they have kayak pfds.

I wouldn't get on a sailboat under 20 ft without a life jacket on... ever. Not even tied to the pier.
And generally I would wear one on anything (sail, paddle or power) under 40 ft.

I don't wear a life jacket but I probably should. I keep mine in the cockpit because I have to have one on board by law.
Most of the times I take the boat out it's a fairly organized race so we have crash boats. If I'm out by myself, I'll wear a manual inflatable.
Maybe I'm not being careful enough but I haven't capsized one of these boats since I was 14. I'm over 60 now.

Don't know if it is a requirement in regattas but most Sunfish sailors wear life jackets. In the 2006 Worlds in Charleston at the start, a person had a heart attack and fell off the boat face down. Several people jumped in to try to save the person.