Where Is The Best Place To Store Lifejackets And PFDs?

ByMathew F Updated on

The best place to store life jackets and PFDs is on the top deck of a boat in storage bags and marine nets underneath T-tops and hardtops.

This can be in clear carry bags or boat kits and storage nets affixed to the hull, bow, or cockpit on the top deck.

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Life jackets and Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) save lives.

Federal and state laws require all sailboats, motorboats, canoes, and kayaks to store at least one US Coast Guard-approved life jacket per passenger when boating on the water.

But, storing life jackets and PFDs can present a challenge, with limited space on many vessels.

Designated storage units and available spaces found underneath boat seats also represent a good place to put PFDs as long as these areas are not locked or have any equipment covering them.

They are an essential part of overall boat safety and need to be stored where it’s easily accessible to all passengers in times of crisis.

Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Life jackets and PFDs are best stored on a boat’s top deck in storage bags or marine nets.

2️⃣ They must be easily accessible in emergencies and kept in cool, dry areas.

3️⃣ The US Coast Guard advises against storing them in locked compartments or below deck.

Where Is The Best Place To Put PFDs While You Are Out On Your Boat?

The best place to store life jackets and PFDs on a boat is where it’s easily accessible to all passengers on board.

The top deck is an ideal location, keeping PFDs easily accessible to all passengers. For larger vessels, consider distributing PFDs in multiple areas to ensure everyone can reach them quickly if needed.

When not in use, store your PFDs in cool, dry, and dark spaces to prevent mold growth and UV damage. Avoid cramming them into tight compartments or placing heavy objects on top, as this can compromise their effectiveness.

For fishing boats or vessels with limited deck space, consider using a heavy-duty storage bag designed for T-tops.

Sailboats may have additional storage options depending on their layout. Always prioritize accessibility over neatness when choosing a storage location.

Remember, the best PFD is the one you’re wearing. Encourage passengers to wear their PFDs at all times, especially in rough water.

Here are some recommended storage options:

Where-Is-The-Best-Place-To-Store-Life-Jackets-And-PFDs

Storage nets are an ideal way to create a space for life jackets and PFDs on your boat. A storage net is similar to a marine net used underneath a T-top or hard top, with the exception being that you can permanently affix it to parts of your boat via screws and hooks.

You can install storage nets in the following boat areas: 

  • Sides of the bow
  • The starboard side behind the console
  • Under gunwale caps across the inside hull area
  • Across open bow area (when there’s storage space underneath the bow of your boat) 

Most storage nets’ design allows the net to be removed without having to unscrew it by simply unhooking the hooks. 

Boats that are fitted with T-tops offer an excellent place to store life jackets. Investing in a T-top storage bag made from marine grade polyester that’s water-resistant and treated for UV is recommended, as these storage bags are easy to install.

Storing life jackets and other PFDs in the air keeps them safe from passengers’ feet and the sun and is easily accessible in an emergency.

An added bonus of using a storage bag is that life jackets are exposed to flowing air through the net, which helps prevent mildew and insect damage.

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Savvycraft T-Top Heavy Duty Marine Grade 600D Polyester PFD Storage Bag
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Boats fitted with cabin space can be used as storage space for life jackets and PFDs. Life jackets can be mounted against the cabin wall using hooks and stored under passenger seats if there’s space.

Ideally, you don’t want to keep the life jackets and PFDs in an enclosed space simply because it could be the area affected during an emergency (fire and flooding).

If your boat is fitted with seating options and space between the seat and the floor, then you are more than welcome to store life jackets and PFDs here. Central console boats are typically fitted with bow and stern seating that you can use to store life jackets.

The main thing to consider is how easy the action of removing the seat cover is and if the life jackets fit into the space without the need to contort it (force fit).

Many boat manufacturers include a specially designated life jacket and PFD space in the boat’s design.

These storage compartments are inserted where it makes the most sense in the overall boat design and can be inserted in the stern, bow, helm, or hull areas of a boat.

Using designed storage spaces is good and well, as long as they aren’t locked or difficult to open.

Passengers must be informed where life jackets and PFDs are kept before any trip on water commences.

If the captain of the vessel stores life jackets in designated storage spaces, he needs to show his passengers where they are stored and how to take them out in the fastest fashion.

A life jacket carry bag is a good storage alternative if there’s no obvious place to put PFDs.

Many companies sell life jackets and PFDs in ready-to-use carry bags for easy storage and quick use. These carry bags are often see-through and made from marine-grade nylon.

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Seachoice Life Vest Bag With 4 Adult Type II PFDs
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Sailing vessels have a couple of extra places you could consider depending on your preference.

A sailing boat’s cockpit is considered the safest external location on the vessel. Storing life jackets and PFDs in this general area is a wise idea. If your sailing boat has cockpit lockers, use them to store life jackets. 

The leaning post is a structure consisting of elevated support for the captain to use when piloting the vessel behind the helm. Leaning posts vary in design but mostly feature some form of seat.

Some leaning posts have passenger chairs or a storage cabinet at the back. Underneath any chairs with storage space or inside an unlocked storage cabinet is an excellent place to store life jackets and PFDs.

Where Is The Best Place To Store Throwable PFDs On A Boat?

A throwable PFD can be anything from a classic ring buoy, flotation cushion, or flotation collar.

When “man overboard” is shouted, these rescue devices are thrown to save the person in the water from drowning.

The best place to store throwable PFDs is somewhere on the boat that’s unobstructed, where nothing impedes a person from grabbing it and throwing it to a passenger in distress.

On center-console boats, a convenient place to store a throwable PFD is on the leaning post.

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Why Is It Important To Store Life Jackets And PFDs On A Boat?

Many recreational boaters choose not to wear a life jacket when boating, with the tendency not to wear one increasing on perfectly sunny days.

But, according to the US Coast Guard, most boating-related drownings happen on perfect boating days.

The US Coast Guard requires all recreational vessels to have a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every person on board. This includes sailboats, motorboats, kayaks, and canoes. For children under 13, wearing a life jacket is mandatory when not in a fully enclosed area.

Proper storage ensures:

Remember, most boating-related drownings occur on seemingly perfect days. In 2020, 86% of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets. By keeping your life jackets and PFDs in good condition and easily accessible, you significantly increase your chances of survival in case of an accident.

Boat size matters too. For example, California law requires:

  • Vessels under 16 feet: One life jacket per passenger
  • Vessels over 16 feet: At least one throwable flotation device in addition to life jackets

Failure to have the correct number of approved life jackets on board can result in fines. Prioritize safety by storing your life jackets and PFDs properly on your boat.

Where Is The Worst Place To Put PFDs On A Boat?

When the captain (or boat owner) of a boating vessel doesn’t demand that the passengers wear a life jacket, he still needs to inform everyone aboard where the life jackets and other PFDs are stored before setting sail.

Life jackets and PFDs are required to be stored where it’s readily accessible to all the people on the boat.

Placing these personal flotation devices in difficult-to-reach areas can be the difference between life and death when disaster strikes on the water.

According to the US Coast Guard, the following are some of the worst places to store life jackets and flotation devices:

  • Inside plastic bags
  • In its original packaging
  • Locked or closed compartments
  • In areas with gear stored on top of it
  • Anywhere below deck

You don’t want to struggle with safety gear in an emergency, as time is often limited.

When a boat is taking on water, or if a fire breaks out, there’s typically no time to go into the interior of a boat looking for life jackets, as the interior is where disasters originate.

Final Words

Life jackets and PFDs are best stored somewhere on the top deck of a boat. On sailboats, a popular section to keep these lifesavers is in the cockpit area in cockpit lockers or inside storage seating.

The best storing options for hard tops and T-top boats are in a marine net or specially made storage bags for boating safety equipment.

Storing life jackets and PFDs in designated storage compartments, under seats, and at the back of a leaning post. When storage space is limited, a life jacket carry bag should do the trick regarding storage.

Boat cabins can be used to store PFDs on mounted hooks, but it’s best not to keep all the jackets here as this area can be affected by flooding and fires first.

The best and safest place to store life jackets and PFDs on a boat while out on the sea having fun is on every passenger’s body, including the captain and crew.

Frequently Asked Questions

The trick in keeping them free from mold is to dry them thoroughly after use. If used in salt water sports, your personal flotation device needs to be rinsed with clean and fresh water. Do not use harsh chemicals to try and clean PFDs and life jackets.

Life jackets need to air-dry in a well-ventilated area, preferably out of direct sunlight, which will quickly fade the material.

If you encounter incumbent weather and you have to dry life jackets inside. You can use a fan to speed up the drying process.

A wet life jacket should be allowed to drip until it’s dry to the touch. Storing a damp life jacket in a boat or a container is a recipe for disaster. Mold thrives in damp areas.

Let a life jacket dry completely before storing it in a cool, dry, and dark place.

Always check if the interior foam has caught any water, and refrain from drying the life jacket with any external heat source, such as a hair or clothes dryer.

Written by:

Mathew F

I’m the founder and chief editor here at Sailing Savvy. I spent a decade working as a professional mariner and currently, I mix those experiences with digital publishing. Welcome, and I hope that we can be the hub you need for safe passage.