Life Jacket vs Helmet

[daveee]

HI
I'm a new guy trying to get set to race 25SSH.
I have a perfectly good LifeLine racing life jacket used in sit down boats.
I just tried it on while kneeling down in my new hydro. Surprise!!! I can't lift my head up to see properly because my neck hits the high collar, and I'm not even wearing a helmet.
Can I assume that this jacket isn't suitable or adaptable?
I am intending to use some sort of donut / support collar as well.
What can I do to solve this problem?

Thanks, #56 CBF

[Andrew 4CE]

Hey Dave!

I'll shoot you an email... but there is a few racers within about 30 minutes of you who would be glad to help you out likely. They all have gear you could try on and compare to what you have.

[Bill Huson]

Jackets for kneel down boats (and lay down) have an extended tailpiece to cover your backside. I think the theory goes that if your engine grenades the tailpiece will prevent flying engine bits from damaging your hairy butt and/or Tramp Stamp tattoo. Kneeler jackets also have a neck thingy like when you turn a shirt collar up - this is an skid collar which is supposed to prevent helmet bucketing water when you slide over the water after being ejected from your ride. As for added neck collars, good idea. You may have to employ shoulder rotation to scan the action around you, but you'll get used to that deal fast.

[daveee]

Thanks Bill and Andrew.
My Lifeline does have the anti-bucketing collar but the nylon reinforcing in the back seems to be the problem.
I'll have to see how a proper jacket deals with this issue.
Take care.

[daveee]

No Go

I tried a proper OB jacket and it works fine.
Looks like I am in the market for a USED L-XL jacket and L sleeves. My Lifeline is white with red shoulder straps. If we carefully paint the white to Orange, will that pass muster in the T-850 class?
Thanks
Dave