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Author Topic:   Why Life Jackets Are Orange

conch posted 12-29-2010 01:44 PM ET (US)
Years ago I remember life preservers being a white canvas color and filled with cork blocks.
A book now written about Tere Duperrault titled ALONE Orphaned on the Ocean reveals the reason for the change.I had the opportunity to interview Tere over a decade ago and found her to be very brave woman in the light of the tragic incident which befell her family.
And if you wish to read more about the darker side of the Florida Keys I suggest Turning The Tide and also Mid Ocean where a 17 Whaler helps save the day. Mid Ocean has now been relisted as a novel ( maybe it was too close to the truth)
Alone ISBN: 978-0-9820009-7-7
Turning The Tide ISBN: 0-525-24998-2
Mid Ocean ISBN: 0-615305-73-3
Happy winter reading
Chuck
Binkster posted 12-29-2010 09:46 PM ET (US)
Why are life preservers orange? I`ll take a stab at it. My guess is that orange would be easier to spot in the water than say turquoise or light blue-green.
<"((>{
jimh posted 12-30-2010 12:39 AM ET (US)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_orange
Jeff posted 12-30-2010 04:13 AM ET (US)
Interesting to note, orange is the complementary color to blue in the spectrum. This means the light waves work against each other providing the harshest contrast between the two hues. So, IE there is no color that would stand out greater in a sea of blue than orange.
Jefecinco posted 12-30-2010 08:31 AM ET (US)
The color is often referred to as "Signal Orange" in the Army. Perhaps because orange is the primary color of the Signal Corps or because orange was used to help visibility of signal flags when that was the primary means of signaling between elements of the Army.
Butch
conch posted 12-30-2010 09:45 AM ET (US)
The white or canvas colored life jackets of years ago were very difficult to spot in rough seas among the white caps and surf.
After testimony and hearings in Miami into the sinking of the Bluebelle and the murder of Tere Duperraults family at sea in 1961 , the difficulty of her rescue lead to the universal adoption of the now familiar orange.
Chuck
Binkster posted 12-30-2010 10:48 AM ET (US)
I have been actively boating since 1952, and I don`t remember life jackets of any sort on outboard powered boats or any small boat back in the `50`s. I have a vague memory of cork or kapok filled life jackets on an uncles cabin cruiser back in that time frame, but can`t recall the color. I don`t remember them being an important issue, and the thinking back in that time was just learn to swim. I would guess commercial boats had to have them on board.
<"((>{
Matt F posted 12-30-2010 10:56 AM ET (US)
Aren't many of the high end inflatables yellow when activated (Mustang/Revere/Etc)? Meaning the air bladder is yellow regardless of the nylon cover?
conch posted 12-30-2010 11:15 AM ET (US)
I definitly remember the life jackets on the New York ferries of the 1950's being a white or canvas color, and also the retangular cork rafts wrapped in white canvas with webbed bottoms.
I'm not sure how some of the present day jackets can be other colors but I have seen them. Maybe it is a commercial rule? The Bluebelle was a 60 foot charter sailboat out of Fort Lauderdale.
Chuck
gnr posted 12-30-2010 12:18 PM ET (US)
I just bought a flotation jacket in camo. Usually wear my hunter orange touque if it is cold enought to be wearing the float coat.
Great deal by the way. Had a coupon coded for 50% off.
http://www.onyxoutdoor.com/product/0/7501MX4/_/Realtree_Max-4%26%238482%3B_Camouflage_Flotation_Jacket
gnr posted 12-30-2010 12:19 PM ET (US)
http://www.onyxoutdoor.com/product/0/7501MX4/_/ Realtree_Max-4%26%238482%3B_Camouflage_Flotation_Jacket
Sorry. Forgot I was on an old school discussion forum.
:-)

Tohsgib posted 12-30-2010 02:11 PM ET (US)
I know back in WW2 they were blue. Not a very "bright" idea. They have been orange all my life.
conch posted 12-30-2010 03:20 PM ET (US)
Camo life jacket?
Sounds like a great addition to my Hostile Waters ditch bag, along with black nighttime flares and my Ultra Enigma mayday encoder ring,wrapped in water soluble charts.
I do fish pretty close to Cuban territory.
Chuck
jtms posted 01-02-2011 12:03 PM ET (US)
Interesting that orange compliments blue. I never thought of it that way. I guess they use orange because it is not a natural color. I can't imagine any orange objects out at sea. Amazing that they made white life jackets back in the day. Not very smart.
PeteB88 posted 01-02-2011 01:50 PM ET (US)
The answer is pretty obvious isn't it?
contender posted 01-02-2011 03:28 PM ET (US)
Binkster : were not the early (50's-60's) life jackets for racing red and white? And I seem to remember the old square cushions where red, white, and blue in color. The coast guard would check the two straps on each side to make sure they were not rotten.
Conch: Cal Sal Bank Cubans Waters, at least they think it belongs to them...
jtms: Orange and Blue = Florida Gators
I agree with Pete...It's a no brainier
bill705 posted 01-02-2011 04:50 PM ET (US)
The Mae West's in the early fifties were yellow as were the life rafts.
Bill
Binkster posted 01-03-2011 07:16 AM ET (US)
contender, yes, I think racing life jackets were red back in the day. Current ones are either orange or yellow, as are cut suits and helmets. the whole setup can set you back about a grand, http://www.lifelinejackets.com/race_jackets.cfm
They are not Coast Guard approved, although the jackets are reinforced with Kevlar plates, and the cut suits are made of Kevlar, to give you protection from impact from collisions.
<"((>{
RMS posted 01-06-2011 08:18 AM ET (US)
In the early 70's, life 'jackets' were not required for water skiing in NJ. We used what we called life belts, which were typically white in color. Bob
Hoosier posted 01-11-2011 09:36 AM ET (US)
Has anyone been to a large outdoor store, like Cabelas and Bass Pro, lately? They have Type III life jackets in every color but orange.
pglein posted 01-19-2011 11:57 AM ET (US)
White is the same color as whitecaps, which are usually quite prevalent in conditions that lead to a boat capsizing or sinking, or a person falling overoard.
CharlieP123 posted 01-19-2011 12:23 PM ET (US)
A camo lifejacket doesn't seem to make much sense... you'd blend in with the ocean! White is out because if there's any white caps you'd be impossible to spot from the air. Orange is the most opposite color from blue possible, so sticks out the most.

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Author	Topic: Why Life Jackets Are Orange
conch	posted 12-29-2010 01:44 PM ET (US) Years ago I remember life preservers being a white canvas color and filled with cork blocks. A book now written about Tere Duperrault titled ALONE Orphaned on the Ocean reveals the reason for the change.I had the opportunity to interview Tere over a decade ago and found her to be very brave woman in the light of the tragic incident which befell her family. And if you wish to read more about the darker side of the Florida Keys I suggest Turning The Tide and also Mid Ocean where a 17 Whaler helps save the day. Mid Ocean has now been relisted as a novel ( maybe it was too close to the truth) Alone ISBN: 978-0-9820009-7-7 Turning The Tide ISBN: 0-525-24998-2 Mid Ocean ISBN: 0-615305-73-3 Happy winter reading Chuck
Binkster	posted 12-29-2010 09:46 PM ET (US) Why are life preservers orange? I`ll take a stab at it. My guess is that orange would be easier to spot in the water than say turquoise or light blue-green. <"((>{
jimh	posted 12-30-2010 12:39 AM ET (US) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_orange
Jeff	posted 12-30-2010 04:13 AM ET (US) Interesting to note, orange is the complementary color to blue in the spectrum. This means the light waves work against each other providing the harshest contrast between the two hues. So, IE there is no color that would stand out greater in a sea of blue than orange.
Jefecinco	posted 12-30-2010 08:31 AM ET (US) The color is often referred to as "Signal Orange" in the Army. Perhaps because orange is the primary color of the Signal Corps or because orange was used to help visibility of signal flags when that was the primary means of signaling between elements of the Army. Butch
conch	posted 12-30-2010 09:45 AM ET (US) The white or canvas colored life jackets of years ago were very difficult to spot in rough seas among the white caps and surf. After testimony and hearings in Miami into the sinking of the Bluebelle and the murder of Tere Duperraults family at sea in 1961 , the difficulty of her rescue lead to the universal adoption of the now familiar orange. Chuck
Binkster	posted 12-30-2010 10:48 AM ET (US) I have been actively boating since 1952, and I don`t remember life jackets of any sort on outboard powered boats or any small boat back in the `50`s. I have a vague memory of cork or kapok filled life jackets on an uncles cabin cruiser back in that time frame, but can`t recall the color. I don`t remember them being an important issue, and the thinking back in that time was just learn to swim. I would guess commercial boats had to have them on board. <"((>{
Matt F	posted 12-30-2010 10:56 AM ET (US) Aren't many of the high end inflatables yellow when activated (Mustang/Revere/Etc)? Meaning the air bladder is yellow regardless of the nylon cover?
conch	posted 12-30-2010 11:15 AM ET (US) I definitly remember the life jackets on the New York ferries of the 1950's being a white or canvas color, and also the retangular cork rafts wrapped in white canvas with webbed bottoms. I'm not sure how some of the present day jackets can be other colors but I have seen them. Maybe it is a commercial rule? The Bluebelle was a 60 foot charter sailboat out of Fort Lauderdale. Chuck
gnr	posted 12-30-2010 12:18 PM ET (US) I just bought a flotation jacket in camo. Usually wear my hunter orange touque if it is cold enought to be wearing the float coat. Great deal by the way. Had a coupon coded for 50% off. http://www.onyxoutdoor.com/product/0/7501MX4/_/Realtree_Max-4%26%238482%3B_Camouflage_Flotation_Jacket
gnr	posted 12-30-2010 12:19 PM ET (US) http://www.onyxoutdoor.com/product/0/7501MX4/_/ Realtree_Max-4%26%238482%3B_Camouflage_Flotation_Jacket Sorry. Forgot I was on an old school discussion forum. :-)
Tohsgib	posted 12-30-2010 02:11 PM ET (US) I know back in WW2 they were blue. Not a very "bright" idea. They have been orange all my life.
conch	posted 12-30-2010 03:20 PM ET (US) Camo life jacket? Sounds like a great addition to my Hostile Waters ditch bag, along with black nighttime flares and my Ultra Enigma mayday encoder ring,wrapped in water soluble charts. I do fish pretty close to Cuban territory. Chuck
jtms	posted 01-02-2011 12:03 PM ET (US) Interesting that orange compliments blue. I never thought of it that way. I guess they use orange because it is not a natural color. I can't imagine any orange objects out at sea. Amazing that they made white life jackets back in the day. Not very smart.
PeteB88	posted 01-02-2011 01:50 PM ET (US) The answer is pretty obvious isn't it?
contender	posted 01-02-2011 03:28 PM ET (US) Binkster : were not the early (50's-60's) life jackets for racing red and white? And I seem to remember the old square cushions where red, white, and blue in color. The coast guard would check the two straps on each side to make sure they were not rotten. Conch: Cal Sal Bank Cubans Waters, at least they think it belongs to them... jtms: Orange and Blue = Florida Gators I agree with Pete...It's a no brainier
bill705	posted 01-02-2011 04:50 PM ET (US) The Mae West's in the early fifties were yellow as were the life rafts. Bill
Binkster	posted 01-03-2011 07:16 AM ET (US) contender, yes, I think racing life jackets were red back in the day. Current ones are either orange or yellow, as are cut suits and helmets. the whole setup can set you back about a grand, http://www.lifelinejackets.com/race_jackets.cfm They are not Coast Guard approved, although the jackets are reinforced with Kevlar plates, and the cut suits are made of Kevlar, to give you protection from impact from collisions. <"((>{
RMS	posted 01-06-2011 08:18 AM ET (US) In the early 70's, life 'jackets' were not required for water skiing in NJ. We used what we called life belts, which were typically white in color. Bob
Hoosier	posted 01-11-2011 09:36 AM ET (US) Has anyone been to a large outdoor store, like Cabelas and Bass Pro, lately? They have Type III life jackets in every color but orange.
pglein	posted 01-19-2011 11:57 AM ET (US) White is the same color as whitecaps, which are usually quite prevalent in conditions that lead to a boat capsizing or sinking, or a person falling overoard.
CharlieP123	posted 01-19-2011 12:23 PM ET (US) A camo lifejacket doesn't seem to make much sense... you'd blend in with the ocean! White is out because if there's any white caps you'd be impossible to spot from the air. Orange is the most opposite color from blue possible, so sticks out the most.