Know the Types and Labels for Your Activity: Type IV
Courtesy of the U.S. Boat Foundation
Traditional labels identified the life jacket’s type: I, II, III, or V. Traditional labels on throwable devices identified them as Type IV.
Type IV: Throwable Devices
- Minimum buoyancy: 16.5 pounds for ring buoy, 18 pounds for boat cushion, and 22 pounds for inflatable throwables
- Not worn; must be visible and available to be thrown from a vessel to someone in the water
- Examples include ring buoys, buoyant cushions, and inflatable throwables