Was pondering on getting a inflatable PFD. Was wondering opinions of the people who own them
Thanks for any advice
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Was pondering on getting a inflatable PFD. Was wondering opinions of the people who own them
Thanks for any advice
Kinda wanted on too, more so to save space in the boat. Found out that in MS unless you have it on it doesn't count. So unless I was gonna wear it all day it would not save any storage space because a regular would have to be in the boat.
Well that blows.....Kinda defeats the purpose of saving space as you mentionedQuote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
Yep, quit looking at em when I found that out
Got the auto and love it,thought you only had to have it on if under power.
Thats what I thought, but remember this issue coming to light on another thread several months backQuote:
Originally Posted by jimfish
You can take it off when not running if your boat is over 16 ft. in length but you better have a regular life jacket in the boat because the automatic pfd only counts when you have it on.Quote:
Originally Posted by jimfish
I looked in the state laws for Ms and I cant find where it says that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
I remember Wannabe getting caught in a storm and a broke down boat at a tourney. He got so wet from the rain that they went off on him
I can't find that on their website either but it is in the printed rule book that I got at WalMart.....Mississippi Outdoor Digest.Quote:
Originally Posted by clfarms1
did the state adopt the c.o.e. regs ? the wear at all times in a boat under 16 ft. , makes the inflatable a good choice . the cost of testing is the only draw back .
It's a COE rule that was put in for the Big 4 COE lakes in North MS. I don't think that MDWFP or the state had anything to do with it. There has not been a boat related drowning in the COE lakes since the rule was put in.Quote:
Originally Posted by clfarms1
Ask Mr Green Jeans
I have both in the boat so it doesn't matter to me...I have three regular life jackets and two prds and one throwable....never have more than three people in the boat so I am good with whatever rule they want to use.
Pretty sure that only applies to the belt type. The normal over your shoulder inflatable pfd is the same as any standard pfd.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
I have one and like it.
Do you keep the normal life jackets in your boat as well?Quote:
Originally Posted by feelay
Have both but the inflatable is a class II just like the regular ones. The belts are class III and don't count unless worn.
Make sure you know the facts before you buy an inflatable. They are high maintenance. Please do the manual inflation to make sure you do not have a hole in them. We have about 25 here at work and we seem to have one or two not hold air each time we test them.
Following are the legal requirements for using an inflatable:
- The PFD must be USCG approved, as indicated by a label on the PFD. (Some early models were not approved and may still be in circulation, although most units manufactured presently are approved.)
- The PFD must be the appropriate size for the user.
- The PFD must have a full cylinder and the firing mechanism must have a green status indicator showing that the device is armed and ready for.
- The PFD must be in good condition, including the inflating device, the air bladder, the oral inflation tube, and the manual inflation lanyard.
- The PFD must actually be worn to meet the USCG carriage requirement for having one PFD onboard per person—unlike inherently buoyant lifejackets, which are not required to be worn at all times (except by children) but which must be readily accessible.
- Inflatable PFDs do not meet the requirement for users under age 16 (because they may not be mature enough to understand how to use the manual inflation mechanism if the automatic mechanism fails).
- Inflatable PFDs are not recommended—though this is not a legal requirement—for nonswimmers (who may not be able to keep their head above water long enough to use the manual mode or the oral tube for refilling the bladder).
Good info.....ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by Perlite
•The PFD must actually be worn to meet the USCG carriage requirement for having one PFD onboard per person—unlike inherently buoyant lifejackets, which are not required to be worn at all times (except by children) but which must be readily accessible.
Well this explains it well enough.
Here is what I was told by the rangers and green jeans at Enid. The regular one is ok as long as you have it on with no other jacket in the boat. The belt and removal of the standard inflatable requires that you have a equal number of regular life jackets in the boat to meet the Corp requirements on big 4.
Have read where they have made improvements in the wafer for the self inflator. Says now they have to be fully submerged for so many seconds to cause inflation. Read a test where they checked them with mosture like in storage compartments and rain and they did not inflate. That was a major problem with the older jackets.
I have a Manual for that reason and trying to talk myself into automatic because I have figured out the manual is useless if I have a coat on over it. Falling out in winter with it on could be a disaster waiting to happen. When it gets real cold now I go back to regular jacket if by myself.
The laws are a bunch of BS... None of em are Gonna do you any good if you don't have them on... Buddy almost got a ticket for this very argument..
GW on Nader told me that NO inflatable counts if you don't have it on, he's the one that writes the ticket rite or wrong.
If its warm outside, wear the inflatable belt and have a normal jacket for when you feel like removing. When its cold just wear the normal jacket. When your on the Ms river wear the normal jacket at all times.
Fed regulationQuote:
Originally Posted by clfarms1
I have owned an inflatable vest for two years and have had no problems with it. It is a Mustang brand vest that I purchased at BPS. I have been caught in some very heavy rain and it has never self inflated. I did however fall out of the boat at Sardis last year and it auto inflated when I hit the water. The instructions say it doesn't self inflate until it is submerged in at least 3 inches of water. It is very easy to rearm. The rearm kit cost around thirty dollars. I fish by myself a lot so I am accustomed to wearing it at all times and never know I have it on.
I use the belt type of PFD and the thing is so comfortable I never consider taking it off. Often I wear to the truck when I go and get the trailer at the end of the day. I have been checked numerous times by the GW's on the lake and they never question it. They seem more concerned about my fishing license and having a throwable device in a handy location (not stored under the deck or out of sight).
You have the hydrostatic one that takes water pressure to inflate it. I do not have the hydrostatic and it contains a disk that dissolves when exposed to water and causes the jacket to inflate and these are the ones moisture with get to and cause to self inflate.Quote:
Originally Posted by spindle
I had one in a compartment inflate once. I keep it in my truck now.
I was trying to pull Scott's out of a storage compartment and pulled the wrong thing.
:yikes:yikes:yikesNo wonder he talks so squeeky!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by majflyboy
My wife made a deal with me after an aquaintance fell off his boat and drowned. He was not wearing a jacket and struck his head on something when he fell and it knocked him out)
She told me that she would never object or complain when I went fishing if I promised to wear a jacket all the time. The clincher was that if I was found to have drowned and had my PFD on she would sprinkle my ashes in Santee Cooper. If I was not wearing one, she would sprinkle them in the Mall of America. Now I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend eternity in the Mall of America.
Seriously, I bought one of the light weight mesh type regualr PFDs and I put it on when I get in the boat and take it off when I pull it out of the water. Just like a seat belt, it ain't worth a crap if you are not wearing it.