As one of this year’s Magenta Project Mentees, I’ve had the opportunity to try out a new bit of kit in the form of Mustang Survival’s EP 38 Ocean Racing Life Jacket. It immediately became my go-to.
This life jacket sits on my shoulders differently than my previous offshore life jacket. The bulk of it is centered more on the chest, making it a significantly lower profile and more comfortable fit. It doesn’t feel constricting, and when you’re wearing it for days on end offshore, that’s important.
I took my Safety at Sea course this summer and used the EP 38 for the in-water portion, giving me an opportunity to get the full experience. I’d never actually been in the water with my previous life jacket so it’s hard to compare one to one, but anecdotally, I seemed to have more freeboard than pretty much everyone in the pool who had other models, and the instructor pointed out my life jacket as an example of the latest innovation, asking me to try as hard as I could to put my face in the water. Despite my best efforts (and as a former collegiate swimmer) I could barely flip myself over due to the specially designed shape.
The built-in hood stretches to fit over the entire inflated portion to create a little breathing bubble that keeps spray out of your face. I hesitate to say this about life saving gear, but it was kind of cozy and fun to be in a protected little pod. Even without the crotch straps tightened completely, it was snug enough to keep me securely in place and didn’t ride up. (The crotch straps are built in and roll up to tuck neatly in a pocket in the back of the life jacket when not in use. A tether point is also part of the package.) One note on usability is that this life jacket goes over your head and must be tightened to fit each time. It’s slightly more cumbersome than one that clips in the front, but once it was on I found it significantly more comfortable.
The EP 38 uses a hydrostatic inflater, which activates under pressure rather than contact with moisture, so there is virtually no chance of the life jacket inflating due to wet conditions. The arming indicator is clearly visible on the front of the life jacket, which is a nice touch. I did have some difficulty getting a rearming kit, however. After my dip in the pool, I went to several marine stores, including several that had it listed as in stock on their website, and had no luck. I assume part of the stocking issue is just that it’s not a common model yet. You’ll want to order arming kits online and should plan at least a week before you plan to use the lifejacket so that it has time to arrive.
As the bow person for a program that mandates life jackets be worn at all times on deck, a comfortable, secure fit is indispensable to me, and this life jacket immediately went to the top of my list. Everyone will have their own preferences about fit and function, but if you’re shelling out for a new offshore vest, you owe it to yourself to check out this option. $385, mustangsurvival.com
NB&G
