Innovative lifejacket design competition

“We all have the mindset of what a life jacket looks like—and that’s what we need to be challenging,” says Joe Waters, Underwriters Laboratories. His employer, along with the Boat U.S. Foundation and the Personal Floatation Device Manufacturers Association, offers a $5,000 prize to the individual who can build a better lifejacket. A similar competition five years ago yielded several innovative designs now being used by recreational boaters and the U.S. Coast Guard. There are no rules regarding design or materials, and entries will be judged on level of comfort, reliability, affordability and innovation. Float your best life jacket design to the Innovations in Life Jacket Design Competition by February 1, 2011.