Experience with inflatable life jackets

[fshnfool]

Anyone have recommendations or feedback for either the inflatable vest or belt packs. I am thinking of buying a few.

[barrell]

We have been selling the self inflate to kayakers since they were invented about 9 or 10 years ago. I always ask a person "If you fall in the water would you laugh or freak out?" Those that answer freak out should stick with a conventional life jacket. The belt is just a pillow around your belly. The suspender types inflate into the classic horseshoe around your neck.

[JoePhotographer]

If you're talking about keeping them on board your boat, the inflatables are not counted as pfd's unless they're being worn at the time, so you would not be in compliance of coast guard regs unless they were being worn or if you also had the conventionals aboard. That being said, I have an automatic hydrostatic inflatable. I like it because I can be assured it will inflate even if I were knocked unconscious and fell overboard, but it won't inflate just by being splashed. There are cheaper auto/manual inflatables but the pill that gets dissolved can also be accidentally wet by storage moisture or splashes. In cold weather, I use the mustang float coat and bibs or the work coveralls, as those provide more freedom of movement as well as warmth.

[paulyfish]

Yes we should all wear a pfd of some kind all the time, but the reality is, most dont. I spent many years doing bass tournaments and if your motor was on and you weren’t wearing one, you were disqualified. Great rule and easy to follow and adapt to our saltwater use. The kill switch is connected to the jacket. Put it on, zipper or snap it up, turn the key and go.
The suspender type are a great answer to encourage us all to wear one. It does come down to $$ as usual. You really do get what you pay for. The belt type is better than nothing, but I haven’t even considered buying that at all.
The hydro models are the way to go if you can afford it. Overall, be sure to inspect the part that touches your neck. Make sure its fleece or something comfortable with no seams. This is a big factor with the cheaper ones.
I wear one of the pill types at times, especially when running hard and fast, boating alone or during colder water times and would encourage others to wear one as well. See you tube under Cold Water boot camp. It will change you forever.
Definetly less bulky than a regular PFD, but when they inflate, they will hold your head and face out of the water if you are not able to. Unless you are wearing a type 1, that will never happen with the type 3's that most carry and sometimes wear.
You have to baby them somewhat, as excessive moisture or steam or heat will melt the pill and set it off and inflate it. That means not storing them in the console locker overnight like I did and they went off and then I had to pay for the parts to re arm them. Now I take them indoors and hang them up after I come home. Yet another thing to do when I am shot.

Funny but true: I know a cautious couple that boat together on a flat bottom skiff with a strong motor. The boat can really move out. They wear these religiously. One day the husband (he usually runs the boat) made a sharp turn at high speed and fell out! His suspender pfd never inflated. Upon checking, turns out that it was unarmed and he had been wearing it like that for a couple of seasons! I know, total stupid putz move, but it could have killed him if his wife didnt drive the boat back and fetch him up. This is one case where the saying if you “dont wear it, it won’t work” doesn’t apply.
You have to read and follow the directions. If unarmed, these things are useless. I would think that something is always better than nothing when the sh*t hits the fan, but with these, you need to check them every single time you put them on.
When I am guiding my kayak ecotours I am asked all the time about these (like Barrell)... I dont think a kayak is a good application for these suspenders at all. Just get a normal PFD and live in it. I hear the most questions and issues with this from heavy set people in hot weather. Sure they can be hot, but its your life. Personally, I wear a mesh backed fishing type most of the time and its really comfortable, but definetly for backwater/flatwater use.
I wear a full type pfd for kayaking big water.
For suspender type, save up $250 and invest in the Hydrostatic model.

[workinpr0gress]

If inflatable is the route you're gonna go, I'd go auto-inflate. You don't want to get knocked out and thrown over face down in the water.

[fmTuna]

I have an auto inflatable that gets worn occasionally... when I am solo and it is a little snotty.

Before you jump in and "buy a few" you should know that each recharge kit (bobbin & CO2) cost about $40.... which is a big "after purchase" expense.

[barrell]

We sell recharge kits for $8. That would be for Stearns vests. Yes some companys realy rip you off when you need a cylinder. I always install the cylinder at the time of purchase for the customer and I always use pipe thread tape to prevent corosion from seizing the threads.

[fmTuna]

We sell recharge kits for $8. That would be for Stearns vests. Yes some companys realy rip you off when you need a cylinder. I always install the cylinder at the time of purchase for the customer and I always use pipe thread tape to prevent corosion from seizing the threads.

Yep... have a stearns...

Will your kit work on my inflatable?

[barrell]

Tell me what size it is. It usualy rated in grams. Now I dont sell the self inflate vests because a kayaker wouldnt want that type. There may be another part included in the self inflate kit. Inflatable vests are type 5 and are not designed to hold your head above water if you are unconsious. So self inflate makes no sense to me.

[Chris Gatley]

I have been using the Onyx brand. Onyx are the folks that originally developed all of the Stearns products prior to selling off the popular brand. The Onyx versions are light, don't get in your way and re-pack easily if discharged.

[AJ168]

The belief that the automatic vests that use the tablet are easy to accidentally set off doesn't seem to be true. My company issues them to all field personnel, and in the last year, only one went off accidentally. The guy was literally soaked head to toe while wearing it, and a few seconds later it popped. I've taken waves over the gunwales, and have been splashed by equipment and mine hasn't popped yet.

[fmTuna]

Tell me what size it is. It usualy rated in grams. Now I dont sell the self inflate vests because a kayaker wouldnt want that type. There may be another part included in the self inflate kit. Inflatable vests are type 5 and are not designed to hold your head above water if you are unconsious. So self inflate makes no sense to me.

it's on the boat....which hopefully I will have back from the yard by today or tomorrow and shoot you an email... thx!

[DRIFTER1]

Picked up one from Cabelas a few yrs ago. I'm out alone with my dog a lot and he is always under my feet and I was afraid that some day he will knock me overbd. When that water is cold you may not make it back on board.

[Re-Bait]

Find a life preserver that's comfortable, and wear it . ESPECIALLY if you boat solo. Mine is so comfy I often find myself getting into car still wearing it!

As you leave the dock ask yourself "When would there be a better time to put on my life preserver, now...or after I fall overboard".