Spinlock Deckware Series is an innovative range of personal sailing equipment for performance sailing.

Since its launch the Deckvest has revolutionized the Lifejacket harnesses market. It has raised the quality of performance that people expect from their lifejackets, changed perceptions and made them more attractive to wear.

We identified that the area of Personal Protection and in particular, lifejackets, was a sector which had seen little product development for many years. The products were relatively unattractive, uncomfortable, pushed down from a commercial market, shouted safety and didn’t encourage people to own or use them

As well identifying that the design could be significantly improved, we also set to design and manufacture a piece of personal safety equipment that would encourage sailors to own their own, want to wear it and not rely on what is on board and provided by someone else.

For the past 2 years all new lifejackets designed and manufactured outside the USA must meet ISO12402, the new standard for lifejackets. One benefit of the ISO12402 Standard is the more rigorous materials testing, ensuring that the materials used in the manufacturing process are fit for use in the harsh marine environment and suitable as a piece of life saving equipment.

One of the main criticisms of lifejackets is poor fit and adjustment, uncomfortable to wear and interfering with one’s activity. With the Deckvest we looked outside of the industry for design ideas. In particular we looked to the outdoor industry and back pack design to introduce a more ergonomic shape to the lifejacket with materials giving a clear structure, being easy to put on, simple to adjust and more comfortable to wear for long periods than your standard lifejacket.

Most importantly was fit and adjustment, everytime you change a layer of clothing or come up from below deck the simple, easy adjustment ensures a close secure fit everytime, without having to find buckles and adjustments which are around the back and hard to use.

The Deckvest fits high on the chest and is centered into the middle of the body. This provides improved freedom of movement for arms and upper body when moving around the boat, helming and trimming the sails etc.

Again, using technology from the backpack industry, the Deckvest is designed to fit on the shoulders to take the weight of the product, and with adjustment taking the yolk away from the back of the neck, the Deckvest reduces fatigue when worn over long periods.

When buying a lifejacket there are many options available: do you go for just lifejacket, include a harness, thigh straps, is it manual or automatic inflation, does it have spray hood and light?

Spinlock thinks that all of these options are essential, and as a result should not be choices but should be incorporated into every lifejacket.

A harness, if used with a safety line, keeps you onboard, which is far better than being in the water. With the Deckvest we use a soft loop for the harness attachment, taken from the mountaineering industry. It is kinder to the boat, gelcoat and varnish work, easy to find and kind to hands. 

All Deckvest automatically inflate when immersed in water, with the option of manual conversion should you wish. If you were to fall in, the DV automatically inflates, bursting the zip which travels the whole way around the jacket.

Supplied by Krisitn Furniss | Harken Australia

10 Best Ways to Prevent Man Overboard from Spinlock in conjunction with the release of Deckvest. "There are no circumstances when you are better off in the water than out of it..." Essentials of Sea Survival, F. Golden & M. Tipton 2002