Life Jackets?

I'm not as young and invincible as I used to be. I hardly, if ever wear my live jacket. I know I should, but ya know how it goes...

Nothing wrong with the life-jackets in my boat. I'm sure they will work great, if I was wearing one. The problem with my lifejackets is comfort. They aren't comfortable to wear. My main concern is getting knocked unconscious while getting tossed from the boat. I don't have a problem swimming. I boat swim in the lake all summer, and have a pool when not on the lake.

My main concern with self-inflators is wearing one during early spring and late fall over/under my winter coat.

Can i wear a self-inflator under my winter coat?
What type of self inflator will open if I'm unconscious and unable to pull the cord?
What are the downsides to self-inflators?

I read somewhere not to wear them under a coat because it will compress your chest and make it hard to breathe.

I wouldn’t wear one under a coat. A type 1 is the only PFD that will in all likelihood turn you over if your face down and unconscious. No other type PFD will do that. But type 1 PFD is big and bulky. I wear a Mustang hydrostatic PFD. It will not go off if you get caught in the rain. It has to go under water for it to inflate…and trust me it will inflate. Cons…I don’t have any cons….except maybe price. If you don’t get an hydrostatic inflatable it is subject to go off in the rain…or if you leave it in a storage compartment on your boat on a hot humid day it is subject to inflate.

Regards


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I have the automatic one. I usually only wear it driving but I've heard of guys having medical issues and falling out. I think about this happening more now days so I might wear it all the time.

Great advice on the inflatable.

I wear mine the entire time I am in the boat. Dumb stuff happens at the ramp you know. POW….whack your head and over you go.

I envision trolling along on a some fine day, catching fish, and falling out of the boat. I could just hear what I would say to myself as I watched the trolling motor take the boat away. If I was neck deep, doggy paddling, well it might be pretty comfortable to wear then. Hmmmmmm……

Definitely wear an inflatable outside you jacket. They make float coats as well for winter boating. Supposed to increase cold water survival. I have looked into them but have not bought one yet

Don’t be a macho man. Buy one that works for you and wear it!! Stuff happens….
Bob

I second the don't wear it under any clothing and as far as comfort goes , some of them you never realize your wearing until you are back on dry land .
i think the ones we wear i like are "onyx" brand ?

My son has a cold weather suit with the inflatable built into the jacket. Can't remember the brand.

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I know Bass Pro has the bibs with floatation. Not sure if it inflates or what kind of flotation it has.

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Don't wear it under your coat! I would advise you to get one and wear it WHENEVER you are in the boat! If you have a medical emergency, you might die when you are in the water but at least your body would be on the surface! They WORK! I don't feel like telling the story of my best friend and his experience.

For the hydrostatic inflators, is it normally priced at almost $200?

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Originally Posted by Lund

For the hydrostatic inflators, is it normally priced at almost $200?

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Usually around 275-300.

Regards


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Not to contradict anyone here but I do wear mine under a BPS 100MPH fishing parka. I use Mustangs, the neck section I place against my neck with the parka collar under it so if it inflates I still get the proper lift placement. The Velcro lets loose very easily during inflation. I do not zip my parka up tight either and there is lots of room above the drawstring for inflation. I have had it inflate by surprise twice now. It happens so fast it spooked me both times. Both times my system was just old. I wear it all day, everyday I'm on the water, lot's of mileage on mine. Having worked in the North Sea you had to do survival training in the water and in a helicopter body inside a pool. The survival suits are a bit bulky so wearing my Mustang under my parka seems natural to me.

I made my son wear a life jacket whenever he was in the boat. He once ask me why does he have to wear one and I don't. I have worn one ever since. It goes when I launch the boat and it comes off when the boat is loaded on the trailer. For winter fishing you want a suit that floats. I have seen two men be recovered from drowning. It's a seen I never ever want to see again.

I won’t go on the water without one and encourage everyone to do the same. Things go south real fast and a fall with a head blow can lead to tragedy quickly.

I have two and one is always worn when on the water. A regular one and last year bought an auto inflatable one. I wear the auto inflatable one during summer and the regular one in winter now. I trust the regular one more plus it’s added warmth. :ThumbsUp

Wearing a PFD is mandatory any time you're in a kayak in N.C.. I've been wearing one so long, I just don't feel right without one. Haven't needed one yet, but I'd sure hate to need it & not have it on.

Jim

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Originally Posted by Yak Fish

Wearing a PFD is mandatory any time you're in a kayak in N.C.. I've been wearing one so long, I just don't feel right without one. Haven't needed one yet, but I'd sure hate to need it & not have it on.

Jim

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I don’t think it’s mandatory here but I never get in my yak without one. Lots of places I fish are no more than 3 ft but it’s still on. I never even realize I have it on since I got used to it.


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A week ago out here on the Little Red River a boats motor failed coming though Cow Shoals on 2 generators…..the river was rolling. The boat hit either a rock or tree…..flipped…dumping the 3 individuals in the river. All of them had on inflatables. I watched as they went rolling by. Those PFD’s saved their life no doubt. It was hot but 48 degree water will get to you. Two days ago saw a boat go by with a woman holding a tiny infant….no PFD. My host here called them out on it. Their reply was they had a PFD in the boat. Things happen quick on the water.


RegardsAttachment 437620Attachment 437621


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Originally Posted by SuperDave336

I have two and one is always worn when on the water. A regular one and last year bought an auto inflatable one. I wear the auto inflatable one during summer and the regular one in winter now. I trust the regular one more plus it’s added warmth. :ThumbsUp

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I really like this idea. Too be honest, last October I put on my life jacket while fishing in the rain. It was a cold wet rain. The life-jacket was a nice warm addition. It really cut the wind. Not that the wind was penetrating my coat. But it took the wind off the body.

Being in the Marine Corp and stationed in Adak Alaska. I've done my share of cold water survival training. I'm confident of my abilities, they have been tested, 40 plus years ago. I'm not as invincible as I used to be.

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

..... 40 plus years ago. I'm not as invincible as I used to be.

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My experience with cold water is farther back than that : stationed in South Korea 1969, I swam/body surfed in the Sea of Japan. Water temps are around 45deg all year long, and the air temp was in the 90's that day. Getting in was a "shocking" experience, to be sure. Wouldn't want to even attempt getting in 60deg water nowadays ... not sure the old ticker would appreciate the shock. nonono

One of our favorite white bass spawning fisheries is a creek that runs right thru the middle of a major city. This creek has very steep banks and you have to repel yourself up and down with a rope to get to some spots. This creek is known to have very slippery banks during the spring white bass run due to the spring rains. Us old timers know too wear football/soccer cleats and tie yourself off when going down those step banks. Well a newbie who could not swim fell in and drowned fishing the creek. It was sight I will never ever forget. A life vest would have saved his life.

The guy I helped that flipped his kayak had a pfd in his kayak. Did him absolutely no good as it was floating away before he even struggled up to the surface. Unless worn there is no guarantee they will even be close by if something goes wrong, and it can go wrong fast.

A good paddle sports cut life jacket is a must in a kayak. Some of them are a little pricey but the comfort and features are worth it. I like a bright colored vest and bright colored blades on the paddle. I want to be seen

By myself or in winter it stays on 100% of the time & the only time mine comes off period is if fishing with a buddy in the heat of summer with the trolling motor in the water & we're actively fishing.

Had the float coat and pants from Stearns. They work. Only had one problem with them. Was putting out decoys one December and had just the coat on over my waders. Foot got snagged on a sunken root system and did a face plant in 39 degree water. Float coat and waders kept me a float but had a hard time trying to force my legs down to touch bottom. Seemed like a long time that I was in the water but probably was less than a couple minutes. Since than I carry a walking stick when wading out.
Use the coat and pants when ice fishing. In the boat inflatable and bright yellow.

I got an inflatable and wear it the entire time I'm in the boat. I'm still a pretty strong swimmer and comfortable in the water, but accidents can happen very fast and it's worth the price of wearing a vest. And if you are in cold water, you will definitely need the help a vest provides. A cold water shock to the body can lock you up.

I tell anyone who will listen about my inflatables. I have two, one an auto-inflatable for when I am in a power boat and a pull-cord for kayaks and canoes. The first time I used one I had been working on my Jon, and ran down the road to the closest ramp on Kentucky Lake to test it. I put it on and tested the boat. Finished and loaded the boat on the trailer. I headed back home. It was not until I backed the boat into the garage that I realized I still had the inflatable on. I've gotten caught in a hard down-pour and never had it go off unintentionally. I did step off the dock to see how it felt. It went off almost immediately. I won't go out on the water without one.