I'd like to draw attention to the importance of servicing life jackets as the boating season for many ends and with those long chilly nights, what better time to sit down and go through some safety checks and maintenance. My life jacket is a fully automatic one, something many other people will have and I'd suggest if you don't own one to consider buying one.  The life jacket I own does not have a crotch strap - in hindsight I should have got one that does, the reason being should I ev