Onyx A/M-24 and M-16 inflatable life jackets: Boat Ed says inflatables are generally not for children under 16

Onyx sells two inflatable life jackets, also called personal flotation devices (PFDs). Onyx’s page for the A/M-24 describes a vest that inflates automatically in water or when the wearer pulls a cord. The Safe Boating Council’s store listing for it says U.S. Coast Guard approved, for 16 years and older and over 80 pounds. The M-16 is a belt pack worn at the waist. Onyx’s page lists it as requiring secondary donning and does not explain the term, and gives no age, weight or approval wording. We read these pages on November 1, 2026.

Onyx describes the A/M-24 as inflating by water activation or pull cord and the M-16 by pull cord. Boat Ed, a boating-safety course provider, says inflatables are generally not approved for children under 16 and are not recommended for non-swimmers or weaker swimmers. It notes that a foam life jacket is always buoyant, with nothing to inflate.