How to Test Your PFD: Life Jacket Inspection & Fitting

January 29, 2025

Wearing a life jacket is one of the most important elements of boating safety. But in Canada, there is no law that will force you to wear a life jacket while on a boat or near the water.

Transport Canada only stipulates that:

All boaters must have a life jacket nearby, within easy reach.
For each person on a boat, there must be an appropriately-fitting, approved life jacket or PFD on board.

So, is it enough to just toss a couple of old life jackets in the back of your boat and get out on the water?

Of course not.

A life jacket will only protect you from drowning if it is in good working condition and it fits properly. It also has to be the right type for whatever activity you are doing, and approved for use by an infant, child or adult, respectively.

How to check if your PFD is in good working condition

A life jacket in poor condition will not necessarily keep you afloat. Ask the following questions to decide whether your life jacket is in good enough shape to do its job:

Does it show any rips, tears or visible damage? If yes, discard it.
Are any of the straps or clips broken or damaged? If yes, discard the jacket.
Does it look squashed, or has the stuffing become brittle or flattened? If yes, discard it.

Inspect the tag

Is it missing a tag showing it is an approved model? There are three types of approved life jackets: SOLAS, standard, and small vessel life jackets. Each of these will have a tag indicating that it has been approved for use in Canada by one of the following organisations:

You also need to verify whether your life jacket is appropriate for your chosen boating activity or water sport. Note that inflatable PFDs are not approved for towing activities like water skiing and tubing.

If your life jacket is in good shape, move on to the next step: figuring out if it fits properly.

Is my life jacket too small? Check the buoyancy

It’s pretty easy to tell if your life jacket is too small.

Just ask:

Is it too tight?
Am I older than the maximum age indicated on the tag?
Do I weigh more than the maximum weight indicated on the tag?

A life jacket that is too small will not have the appropriate buoyancy to keep you afloat. In other words, it will be completely useless.

Is my life jacket too big?

It can be harder to tell if your life jacket is too big. You might put it on as if it were a regular vest or jacket and think ‘this is OK’. But wait! A life jacket is not like other clothing. If it is too big, it will not keep you afloat.

How is a life jacket supposed to fit? It should not ride higher than the ears or mouth of the person wearing it when they are in the water.

To check if your life jacket is too big, do the following:

Try it on and do up all the straps. If you can’t get it to fit snugly, it is too big. This is important for wearers of all ages.

How to test the buoyancy of your PFD

Still not sure? Put your life jacket on correctly and get into shallow, calm water.

Bring your knees up to your chest so that you are floating.

If the life jacket stays snug around your chest, and does not ride up around your mouth or ears, it fits.

Now try swimming. Do your lungs have enough room to expand as you breathe? Does the life jacket stay snug even as you move your arms and twist in the water? If yes, it fits.

How to take care of your life jacket

Once you find a properly-fitting life jacket, it’s a good idea to maintain it properly so that it will keep you safe as long as possible.

Remember that if you experience a physical change such as weight loss or gain, or if you grow (as in the case of children) you may need to check the size again, and adjust accordingly.

Here are a few tips for taking care of your life jacket:

Never use a PFD for a cushion on a boat, or a fender. Only use a life jacket for its intended use as a piece of boating safety equipment.
To wash your PFD’ use mild soap and running water, and do it by hand. Never use a machine or dry clean the PFD, and avoid the use of strong detergents
Air-dry your life jacket after use or after cleaning. Place it in a well-ventilated space with no direct sunlight. Never attempt to speed up the drying process by putting it near a heater.

Learn more about boating safety from Drive A Boat Canada

Boating accidents happen quickly. While it may not be required by law, it is always recommended that everyone in a boat wear an approved, properly-fitted life jacket at all times and in all conditions.

It is a good practice to check your boating safety equipment every time you prepare to go boating. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe on the water by being vigilant.

Canadian law does require that the driver of a boat on Canadian waters hold an approved PCOC (Pleasure Craft Operator Card).You can learn everything you need to know from Drive A Boat Canada and take online boating exam with unlimited free retries! Get your Canadian boating license today!