What Is A PFD? A Guide To Buoyancy Aids & Life Jackets

However you’re sailing, having the right safety equipment on hand on deck is essential. From racing a dinghy to cruising along the coast with friends, the water always carries its own unique risks. It’s always better to feel overprepared than caught short and potentially put yourself in danger.

Where sailing safety equipment is concerned, a personal flotation device (PFD) is arguably one of the most important pieces of kit you can have, helping you to stay afloat if you ever do end up in the water unexpectedly. However, if you’ve ever shopped for sailing safety equipment, you might’ve noticed that there are different types of PFDs referred to, including buoyancy aids and life jackets. This can make it tricky to know what you actually need.

In this Gill guide, we’ll explain the different types of PFDs in more detail, alongside what you should be looking for when choosing one. Let’s get into it.

What Is A PFD? 

PFD stands for personal flotation device and is an umbrella term for the safety equipment designed to provide buoyancy and keep you afloat should you ever enter the water. PFDs can offer different levels of protection, depending on how they’re intended to be used. While some are designed to support you in sheltered conditions, others offer the higher levels of buoyancy required in more challenging situations.

PFDs have uses across all watersports, from paddleboarding to kayaking. For sailing specifically, they need to provide reliable flotation without restricting the movement required to operate winches and move around the deck. 

PFDs are tested against relevant standards in the ISO 12402 series. These standards cover different types of personal flotation equipment, giving you an understanding of the protection any particular device is designed to provide and whether it’s suitable for your activity. 

What’s The Difference Between A PFD, Buoyancy Aid & Life Jacket?

Despite PFDs being such an important part of staying safe by the water, they’re a piece of equipment that’s often surrounded by a bit of confusion. Much of this comes from the fact that you might often hear PFD, buoyancy aid and life jacket all used interchangeably to describe flotation equipment. 

In short, buoyancy aids and life jackets are different types of PFDs. There are a few important differences to understand which can help you work out what you need:

What Do PFD Ratings Mean?

Personal flotation devices are tested against relevant standards in the ISO 12402 series. These standards highlight each device’s buoyancy rating and its intended use. 

Buoyancy is measured in Newtons (N), indicating the force a device provides to help support you in the water. However, the number alone doesn’t tell you whether a PFD is suitable for every situation. Its design and ability to support the wearer also matter. 

It’s important to note that these ratings are a guide rather than a substitute for checking the product’s certification and instructions. A buoyancy aid and a lifejacket aren’t interchangeable, and a higher Newton rating doesn’t automatically make a device right for every activity.

What Type Of PFD Do You Need For Sailing?

Taking sailing as an example, a higher Newton rating doesn’t necessarily mean that PFD will be the best. When it comes to choosing the best PFD for sailing, the answer will hinge significantly on the type of boat you’re using and the conditions you’re likely to encounter.

For dinghy sailing and time spent inshore, a suitable 50N buoyancy aid is often the most practical choice. This will offer the practical balance of flotation and freedom of movement that you need when leaning out over the side and moving constantly around the boat.

For larger boats and offshore passages, more protection is required, and a 50N buoyancy aid may not be suitable. It’s in these conditions that you may need a lifejacket with a higher buoyancy rating that’s designed to help turn the wearer face-up in the water.

The key is always to make sure that you are wearing a PFD suitable for your sailing conditions, that fits correctly, is worn correctly, and meets the applicable safety standards. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions first, rather than assuming that one type of PFD meets every requirement.

Buoyancy Aids & PFDs At Gill

With an understanding of the right type of PFD for your requirements, it’ll be time to properly explore your options. Here at Gill, we firmly understand that sailing safety equipment needs to provide dependable flotation while allowing you to move comfortably on the water, and we have carefully designed a range of PFDs to suit a dinghy sailing environment in particular. 

Our range includes the Pursuit Buoyancy Aid and the Pursuit Synchro PFD. Both are designed to provide buoyancy while allowing freedom of movement, but they offer different fits and features to suit your preferences. When choosing between them, consider how each fits your body, how you can move in it and which features are most useful for the way you sail.

Pursuit Buoyancy Aid

Certified to ISO 12402-5 and classed as 50N, the Pursuit Buoyancy Aid offers reliable buoyancy without restricting movement. It’s perfect for freedom when dinghy sailing or taking part in other inshore activities where help is close by if you do enter the water.

Adjustable shoulder and side straps help achieve a secure fit, while the side-opening design makes it easy to put on and take off. A self-draining front pocket provides space for small essentials, and reflective detailing adds visibility on the water.

Pursuit Synchro PFD

The Pursuit Synchro PFD offers an alternative for sailors who prefer a close-fitting design with minimal bulk. Soft foam panels sit comfortably against the body, while internal silicone grippers keep the PFD in place as you move. The large front pocket features stretch mesh to provide useful storage without adding bulk.

Also classed as 50N, the standout difference of this buoyancy aid is its lower-profile design, which makes it particularly suited for high-performance environments and racing. 

Both of these buoyancy aids are designed to support active movement during a range of watersports, but neither should ever be considered as a substitute for a life jacket when the conditions call for one. 

How To Care For A PFD

Given the vital safety role that a PFD plays, it’s vital that you keep yours in good condition with regular checks and appropriate care. By identifying wear or damage before heading out on the water, you can be certain that your device will provide the right levels of protection should it be called upon.

Before each outing, we’d suggest giving your PFD a once-over for visible damage. Look for areas where the fabric might be worn, and check that the straps, buckles and zips work as they should. If you notice damage or aren’t sure whether the device remains serviceable, follow the manufacturer's advice and/or replace it before using it again. 

After each use, you should also follow the care instructions supplied with your PFD. For our Pursuit Buoyancy Aid, this includes rinsing with fresh water after use, hand washing at 30°C and allowing it to drip dry away from direct sunlight. Don’t store it while wet. Always follow the specific care instructions supplied with your chosen product. 

Find The Best PFD For You

When you’re considering the best PFD for you, the most important thing to remember is that you need to choose the right one for the environment you’re going to be in. Choosing a personal flotation device starts with understanding what you need it to do; the type of device, its approval and its intended use all matter when it comes to selecting the right safety equipment. 

You can explore the full range of Gill buoyancy aids and PFDs online today. If you have any further questions about which is right for you, please contact our expert team, who are always on hand to support you in finding the most suitable fit.