Design A Better Life Jacket And Win $5,000

Innovation in Life Jacket Design Competition is Calling for
"Out-of-the-Box" Entries

Current models of life jackets save lives everyday, however, a 2004
BoatU.S Foundation study found that many boaters often don't wear them
because they are uncomfortable. So what would a life jacket look and
feel like if there were no government guidelines?

To encourage innovative ideas and new technology to design a life
jacket that the majority of boaters might wear, the BoatU.S. Foundation
for Boating Safety and Clean Water and the Personal Flotation Device
Manufacturers Association (PFDMA) are sponsoring an "Innovation in Life
Jacket Design Competition," which seeks entries that embrace new
technologies and out-of-the-box thinking to solve the age-old problem
of why certain boaters won't routinely wear life jackets.

Entries are being encouraged from armchair inventors to high school
science clubs and collegiate design programs. The winning designer will
receive a $5,000 award.

"We believe that out-of-the-box thinking may lead to the next
generation of life saving devices," said BoatU.S. Foundation President
Ruth Wood. "By opening the competition to the widest audience of
professionals and amateur tinkerers, we anticipate designs that will be
creative and unconventional."

PFDMA Executive Director Bernice McArdle said, "Today's life jackets
are well designed but follow a defined and somewhat controlled set of
guidelines. Our hope is that this competition will open up the playing
field and encourage entries that will ultimately influence greater use
of life jackets among boaters."

The competition will be judged based on four criteria: wearability,
reliability, cost and innovation. "Wearability" relates to the level of
comfort. "Reliability" will take into account the chances for potential
failure, while "cost" will look at the affordability of the design.
"Innovation" will take into account originality or the employment of
new technologies.

There are no rules regarding types of materials to be used or whether
the design meets any current U.S. Coast Guard or Underwriters
Laboratory standards. However, certain entries may be submitted to the
U.S. Coast Guard to review for possible financial assistance towards
gaining full USCG approval.

Entries do not have to include a working model or prototype, as
detailed drawings will be accepted. For more information including an
entry form and contest rules, visit
http://www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/lifejacketdesign You may also
contact Ruth Wood at 703-823-9550, x3204/ or Bernice
McArdle at 312-946-6280/

Entries will be accepted from March 31, 2005 to December 15, 2005, with
the winner announced at the Miami International Boat Show in February,
2006.