Vest Speed Ratings.

[Pferox]

I have noticed mention of the 100 mph vest.
I was under the understanding that this ment the vest would be able to be useable after a 100 mph impact with the water, it has nothing to do with protecting the wearer from injury at that speed.
Am I correct in this understanding?
I am further under the understanding that any personal protection type of PFD, has to be obtained in the form of a jacket or other racing specific type of apperal.
This discussion came up at work a little while back when we started to talk about back protection while on the Airboat, in the advent of prop or engine failure.

[AB]

Mainly the 100mph vest is essentially the same as a standard vest, but comes with leg straps to keep the vest on you in the event you come out of the boat at speed and many come with some sort of impact protection built into them.  Then you have top line vests like LifeLine that have lots of impact protection built in and are designed to keep you from being seriously injured in the event you are ejected at 100+....

This is a lifeline doing what it is supposed to do...blowover at 130mph...



My Bullet vest is a 100mph vest, but feels identical to the Stearns vest I used to use.  The only difference I can tell is the leg straps and the fact that the straps across the chest are much more stout units that cinch down a lot better.  It also zips up in the front under the buckles.

[left_turn56]

I sure hope that guy clinched his cheeks when he landed!!!

[Pferox]

I've come off of an airboat kind of like that, luckily the boat didn't do the flippin thing, we were in deeper water, and I was ridin in the hull, the driver kinda freaked, I thought it was a fun ride.