Life vest sizes. How big do they make them?

[68ragtop]

I have a good friend who is looking to buy a ski & not sure if he will be able to find a life vest that will fit.
He's a big guy 6'5" & 450lbs The problem is his size is up top. He has a hard time finding shirts that fit. Feel
bad for him, found a GTX that he likes, but not sure how to get him legal & safe.

Any ideas?

 

[Strizzo]

Standard vests that adjust go from like m-xxl, and then you can get larger, might have to spend $$$ for a neoprene from a dealer or try amazon.

 

[68ragtop]

Price shouldn't be much of a problem. He is used to paying 2-3 times what average sized humans pay.

Thanks for the info.

 

[LouDoo]

I did a quick google search and came up with this, it looks like 5XL, 62-68" is as large as they go. You know 450lbs. is close to the weight limit on a 3 person ski. Nothing against your friend but maybe he should be looking at jet boats.

http://www.wateroutfitters.com/Size...ze-charts-obrien-life-jackets,default,pg.html

Lou

 

[Dr Honda]

Well.... I have a few bigger guys in my fam. Not just "around"... but big in general. I have found a couple 3x vests. (sport style) I got them at a smokin' good price, because they were at the local shop for so long. But... I doubt you will find anything more than a XL in a normal local shop. With that said... a regular XL normally goes to a 52" chest. I will have to go check... but I think the 3x goes pas a 65" chest.


With that said... he will have to be careful. At 450 lbs... his 3 seater is now really only a single seater. (and some gear) I will have to check, but most 3 seaters are under 500 lbs capacity.


****EDIT****


I just checked Overtons. They carry 3x, and it goes to a 70" chest. So... unless he's only 5 foot tall... I'm sure that's plenty big enough.


http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...le-Nylon-Vest&i=16473&aID=600H1C&merchID=4006

 

[68ragtop]

Thanks for the efforts!

I was trying to see what determined the weight load. seems all 2 seaters are 350lbs & 3 seaters are closer to 500 lbs.
He has dealt with these obstacles his whole life. Even had a company make him a custom snowmobile helmet.

 

[Dr Honda]

..........You know 450lbs. is close to the weight limit on a 3 person ski. Nothing against your friend but maybe he should be looking at jet boats.


Lou

With that thought.... if he wants to be able to carry a passenger once in a while... and stick with a ski.... he should be looking for a 4 seater.

1) Polaris Genesis. (The smallest of the 4 seaters)

2) Yamaha SUV

3) Seadoo LRV.



Her's my Genesis. It's really a great ski. Yes, it's big... but it works well in the rough water because of it. Also... it has a 650~690 Lb capacity.

 

[68ragtop]

Well.... I have a few bigger guys in my fam. Not just "around"... but big in general. I have found a couple 3x vests. (sport style) I got them at a smokin' good price, because they were at the local shop for so long. But... I doubt you will find anything more than a XL in a normal local shop. With that said... a regular XL normally goes to a 52" chest. I will have to go check... but I think the 3x goes pas a 65" chest.

With that said... he will have to be careful. At 450 lbs... his 3 seater is now really only a single seater. (and some gear) I will have to check, but most 3 seaters are under 500 lbs capacity.


****EDIT****


I just checked Overtons. They carry 3x, and it goes to a 70" chest. So... unless he's only 5 foot tall... I'm sure that's plenty big enough.


http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...le-Nylon-Vest&i=16473&aID=600H1C&merchID=4006

I was doing a little research & your right, seems most 3 seaters are at just under 500lbs. He would never carry a passenger. Do they physically sink over the rating, or is it a safety thing? Like you said above, this guy is just a really big guy & is proportionate for his build. The kind of guy you don't want really mad at you. He is as strong as an ox.

I will check overtons, sound like the biggest chest size so far.

 

[Dr Honda]

Generally... no... they won't just sink. But, they will become VERY unstable. If he falls off... it may be VERY hard for him to get back on. (even on a 3 seater)


The normal rule is... you can ACTUALLY carry one less person than the rating. (with a normal sized adult) So... a 3 seater, is really a stable ride for 2 adults. For some reason... the people who made PWC think that the weight of a normal rider is 120 to 160 Lbs.

On my Genesis... I've never put 4 people on it... but with 2 adults (+200 Lbs each) and a 14 year old (over 100 Lbs) it was still comfortable to ride. Realistically... on that trip (taking a friend's kid out tubing) we had 600 Lbs on board.

 

[68ragtop]

Generally... no... they won't just sink. But, they will become VERY unstable. If he falls off... it may be VERY hard for him to get back on. (even on a 3 seater)


The normal rule is... you can ACTUALLY carry one less person than the rating. So... a 3 seater, is really a stable ride for 2 adults.

On my Genesis... I've never put 4 people on it... but with 2 adults (+200 Lbs each) and a 14 year old (over 100 Lbs) it was still comfortable to ride. Realistically... on that trip (taking a friend's kid out tubing) we had 600 Lbs on board.

Thats a really good point. I never thought about trying to get back on it in the water. Being so top heavy, I am sure that would happen at some point. 500Lbs on the back of the ski would be a challenge. probably on any ski....

I would love to see a picture of one those polaris ski's with four people on it. Gotta look like a school bus

 

[Dr Honda]

As Lou was saying... nothing against your buddy... but when people get that size... they are less "Flexible"... and it may be hard for him to re-mount regardless the capacity of the ski. (hard time balancing, and hard time lifting he weight out of the water)


Here's a pic with 3 people. As you can see... there is still room for one more. But... in comparison to the LRV and SUV...it's small.

That's my buddy and fam. They are thin... but tall. So...He's +200... and I would imagine his wife is 160 ish. (she's almost 6') So... in that pic... it has at least 450 Lbs on it.