Spinlock Deckvest VITO Hammar 170N Lifejacket – Offshore Sailing Harness

The Spinlock Deckvest VITO Hammar 170N Lifejacket is a premium automatic inflatable offshore lifejacket and integrated safety harness designed for serious sailors, offshore racing crews and cruising yachts.

Developed for demanding sailing environments, the Deckvest VITO combines 170N buoyancy, Hammar hydrostatic automatic inflation, an integrated ISO-approved deck harness, sprayhood and advanced visibility lighting in a comfortable, low-profile design.

Unlike conventional automatic lifejackets that can activate simply from contact with water, the Hammar hydrostatic inflation system is designed to activate when submerged, making the VITO particularly suited to wet offshore sailing conditions where spray and waves are common.

For New Zealand sailors looking for a high-performance offshore inflatable lifejacket, the Spinlock Deckvest VITO provides an impressive combination of comfort, mobility, visibility and personal safety.

Key Features

• 170N buoyancy
• Hammar hydrostatic automatic inflation system
• Designed specifically for offshore sailing
• Integrated deck safety harness
• Durable ripstop outer fabric
• Structured fit for comfort and easy donning
• Coarse and fine adjustment for different clothing layers
• Structured sprayhood fitted
• Pylon™ 360° lifejacket light fitted
• Lume-On™ bladder illumination lights fitted
• 40mm leg strap with integrated stowage
• Soft-loop safety tether attachment
• Side-opening Deckvest design
• Compact profile for freedom of movement
• Suitable for offshore racing and cruising
• ISO 12402-3 lifejacket approval
• ISO 12401 deck harness approval

Specifications

Brand: Spinlock
Model: Deckvest VITO Hammar
Model Number: DW-VT/H170
Product Type: Automatic inflatable lifejacket with integrated harness
Buoyancy: 170N
Inflation System: Hammar hydrostatic automatic
Lifejacket Standard: ISO 12402-3
Harness Standard: ISO 12401
Fit: Adult
Chest Size: Adjustable adult fit
Application: Offshore sailing, yacht racing and cruising
Sprayhood: Included
Lifejacket Light: Pylon™ 360 fitted
Bladder Lights: Lume-On™ fitted
Leg Strap: 40mm with stowage
Outer Material: Durable ripstop fabric

Hammar Hydrostatic Automatic Inflation

One of the standout features of the Spinlock Deckvest VITO is its Hammar hydrostatic automatic inflation system.

Hydrostatic activation is particularly useful for offshore sailors because the system is designed to activate through water pressure when submerged rather than simply reacting to spray or surface moisture.

This makes the VITO particularly well suited to demanding New Zealand sailing conditions where crew can regularly be exposed to rain, spray and water across the deck.

If the wearer enters the water and becomes sufficiently submerged, the system automatically activates the inflatable bladder.

Manual activation is also available when required.

170N Buoyancy for Offshore Sailing

The Deckvest VITO provides 170N of buoyancy, giving it substantially more flotation than a typical dinghy or paddlesports buoyancy aid.

Its inflatable bladder is designed to provide effective flotation and support once deployed while allowing the lifejacket to remain relatively compact during normal sailing.

This combination makes the VITO particularly suitable for sailors who need to wear their lifejacket continuously during long passages, offshore races or challenging conditions.

Integrated Deck Safety Harness

The VITO is more than an inflatable lifejacket.

It also incorporates an ISO 12401-approved deck safety harness, allowing the wearer to connect an appropriate sailing safety tether directly to the lifejacket harness.

This is particularly important when sailing:

• Offshore
• At night
• Short-handed
• Single-handed
• In rough conditions
• On the foredeck
• During offshore yacht racing
• When working outside the cockpit

The integrated harness eliminates the need to wear a separate safety harness underneath the lifejacket.

Designed for Offshore Sailing

Spinlock developed the Deckvest VITO specifically for offshore sailing rather than general recreational boating.

Its structured construction is designed to sit securely around the body while allowing the wearer to move freely around the yacht.

Adjustment allows the fit to be fine-tuned depending on the clothing being worn, making it easier to accommodate everything from lightweight sailing gear through to offshore wet-weather clothing.

The low-profile configuration also helps minimise bulk around the neck and upper body during extended periods of wear.

Pylon™ 360 Lifejacket Light

The VITO comes equipped with Spinlock's Pylon™ lifejacket light.

When deployed, the elevated light helps improve the visibility of a person in the water, particularly in darkness and difficult sea conditions.

For offshore sailors, where locating a crew member overboard can become extremely difficult even in moderate seas, increased visibility can be critically important.

Lume-On™ Bladder Illumination

The VITO also includes Spinlock Lume-On™ bladder illumination lights.

These use the inflated bladder as an additional illuminated area, helping make the wearer more visible in darkness.

Combined with the Pylon lifejacket light and high-visibility inflated bladder, the system is designed to improve the chances of locating a person in the water during a nighttime man-overboard situation.

Integrated Sprayhood

A structured sprayhood is fitted as standard.

Once the lifejacket has inflated, the sprayhood can be positioned over the wearer's head to help protect the face from waves and airborne spray.

This is particularly valuable in offshore conditions where repeated spray and breaking waves can make breathing more difficult for a person in the water.

Comfortable for Extended Wear

Offshore sailors can spend many hours continuously wearing a lifejacket, so comfort is an important consideration.

The Deckvest VITO uses a structured fit and adjustable design to help distribute the lifejacket securely around the body without unnecessarily restricting movement.

The fit can also be adjusted as clothing layers change, making it suitable for New Zealand sailors moving between warmer daytime conditions and heavier nighttime or foul-weather gear.

Ideal For

The Spinlock Deckvest VITO Hammar is particularly well suited to:

• Offshore yacht racing
• Coastal yacht racing
• Offshore cruising
• Bluewater sailing
• Short-handed sailing
• Single-handed sailing
• Overnight passages
• Delivery crews
• Performance sailing
• Sailors regularly working on deck
• Serious recreational yachting

VITO vs Standard Automatic Inflatable Lifejackets

The Deckvest VITO is designed for a different level of use from a basic recreational inflatable lifejacket.

A conventional automatic lifejacket may be perfectly suitable for general boating, but offshore sailors often require additional features.

The VITO combines:

Hydrostatic activation – Hammar inflation designed for demanding wet environments.

Integrated harness – Allows connection to an appropriate sailing safety tether.

170N buoyancy – Designed for offshore lifejacket performance.

Sprayhood – Additional protection once in the water.

Pylon light – Improved nighttime visibility.

Lume-On lights – Illuminates the inflated bladder.

Offshore-oriented fit – Designed for extended wear and active movement around a yacht.

These features make the Deckvest VITO particularly suitable for sailors who regularly venture beyond sheltered waters.

Lifejacket Maintenance

As with all inflatable lifejackets, the Spinlock Deckvest VITO should be regularly inspected and maintained.

Before heading offshore, check the lifejacket for signs of damage and ensure the inflation system, cylinder, lights, bladder and harness components are in serviceable condition.

Always follow Spinlock's recommended inspection, servicing and rearming procedures.

An inflatable lifejacket is an important piece of personal safety equipment, and regular maintenance helps ensure it is ready to operate when required.