Are you tired of your rusty old life jacket? (If your life jacket is actually rusty, you may have bigger problems.) Do you wish it were designed better? Now's your chance to make your voice heard. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and the Personal Flotation Device Manufacturers Association wants you houseboaters to join all the water-lovers out there who are voting on their favorite new design in this year's “Innovation in Life Jacket Design Competition.” This little action on your part will help lifejackets evolve to become more comfortable, safe, and even better-looking, so go to either the BoatUS website or their Facebook page and cast your vote this very minute! If you're busy this very minute (hmm unlikely, since you're reading this), you do have until July 8th to cast your opinion. But keep in mind, voters are encouraged to vote once a day—and someone out there might not have as stylish of taste as you do.

Nearly 250 designs were submitted from such varied locales as New Zealand and Mongolia before being whittled down to the 14 finalists. 

BoatUS Foundation Outreach Manager Alanna Keating says, “The judges want to know what the boating public is looking for in a new life jacket design or style, and your vote will also factor into the final overall score."

The competition was conceived as a way to rethink a design that has been around for nearly 100 years by incorporating new technology and design innovations. The prizes for winning are $10,000 for first prize, $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. Check out more at www.BoatUS.org/design.