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Course Outline

Type V life jacket with legacy label

Courtesy of the U.S. Boat Foundation

Traditional labels identified the life jacket’s type: I, II, III, or V.

Type V: Special Use Devices

  • Minimum buoyancy: 15.5 to 22 pounds for adult size
  • Designed for certain activities and/or special uses, such as having a built-in harness or being an inflatable life jacket that can be changed from automatic firing to manual only
  • Will carry specific instructions and warnings; often requires that the device must be worn to comply with special instructions
  • May include inflatable or hybrid options
  • Unit 2 of 4
  • Topic 1 of 1
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