Does it matter if I buy a life jacket that is not approved? I am loking at a Quicksilver comp vest.?

Question

I want the Quicksilver 2008 Ignite Boxed.

Answer 1

I suggest that you buy an approved vest because there is a better chance that it will save you. Look at other vests because there are always cool life jackets.

Answer 2

Depends on what you want to use it for.  If you want to put it in a boat to use as your main / sole pfd, then it must meet coast guard standards.   The vest you're referring to isn't Coast Guard approved because it doesn't supply adequate flotation for a rescue situation.  It'd be helpful in wakeboarding as an added measure of safety, but it isn't enough to make a boat legal.   If you're just using it while wakeboarding, and will have another pfd on the boat, then you're probably fine.

Check with your own state's rules & regulations to see if the rules of your location are more strict than the federal laws.

Check out the rules below:

Answer 3

It depends on what you are using it for.  Most wakeboarding vests aren't approved...mine isn't.  

If you are using it for boating or jet skiing I would say for sure get one that is approved.

The reason some aren't approved is because they are used for sports the require high attention...such as water skiing and wakeboarding...people should constantly be paying attention to you.