"...here appeared to be a man wearing his inflatable life jacket backwards."

I don't believe they had life jackets. They were holding onto flotation pillows. There were also at least two children on board, one a baby, so they could have been the 'lumps' under the men's coats.

All the PFDs that I've worn had flotation materials all around, so it wouldn't matter, except the zippers are hard to fasten when they're in back.

Sue