Printable View
Thinking about buying an inflatable PFD...never used one.
Do you like the auto (blows up when it hits the water) or manual (yank a cord) type?
I've heard that the auto models can sometimes blow in the rain or damp, which is a negative.
With the manual kind, if you go overboard and knock yourself out, you aren't able to pull the ripcord...drowning is kind of a negative.
I'm leaning auto.
?
[QUOTE=MrSplitshot;532845]Thinking about buying an inflatable PFD...never used one.
Do you like the auto (blows up when it hits the water) or manual (yank a cord) type?
I've heard that the auto models can sometimes blow in the rain or damp, which is a negative.
With the manual kind, if you go overboard and knock yourself out, you aren't able to pull the ripcord...drowning is kind of a negative.
I'm leaning auto.
?[/QUOTE]
If you go auto, spend the BUCKS and get a good auto. The cheapo versions are not "hydrostatic". When they get wet from rain or humidity, you're replacing the mechanism.
I have the cheapo model, and disabled the auto fire components because I got tired of replacing the mechanism.
ALSO, they don't qualify as a pfd unless you're wearing them. I would have gotten a ticket a couple weekends ago, if I could not produce other PFD's because we were not wearing the inflatables........Fortunately, I keep 2 adult sized PFD's under the seats.
Later,
Geo
I also first purchased the pull type but like you I got to really thinking about hitting my head,etc and not being able to pull the cord.
Went ahead and bought the auto-inflate and feel much safer.
As Geo posted, they have to be worn to count as a PFD but isn't that the reason to buy the auto?
I wear my auto religiously while on the water. Light weight and you really don't notice you are wearing it.
I've been in a few rain storms with it and it didn't inflate in error. Something about hydrostatic pressure to prevent that.
Isn't your life worth $100.00 or whatever they cost now??
Take a look at this thread.
[url]http://www.fishin.com/forums2/showthread.php/97981-What-price-do-you-place-on-your-life/page2[/url]
Consider the Mustang HIT. it won't inflate accidentally. Dave Stewart recents it. What more can I say.
They are pricey. Last summer the best price I could find was at a2o in Clarksville Indiana.
I wear my life jacket religiously. But if I were to buy an auto inflate type I'd got with the HIT type. Cost of the life jacket vs cost of losing my life is an easy win for life.
[QUOTE=peter;532857]Take a look at this thread.
[URL]http://www.fishin.com/forums2/showthread.php/97981-What-price-do-you-place-on-your-life/page2[/URL]
Consider the Mustang HIT. it won't inflate accidentally. Dave Stewart recents it. What more can I say.
They are pricey. Last summer the best price I could find was at a2o in Clarksville Indiana.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Tyme2fish;532853]I also first purchased the pull type but like you I got to really thinking about hitting my head,etc and not being able to pull the cord.
Went ahead and bought the auto-inflate and feel much safer.
As Geo posted, they have to be worn to count as a PFD but isn't that the reason to buy the auto?
I wear my auto religiously while on the water. Light weight and you really don't notice you are wearing it.
I've been in a few rain storms with it and it didn't inflate in error. Something about hydrostatic pressure to prevent that.
Isn't your life worth $100.00 or whatever they cost now??[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't want you to ask my wife if my life is worth $100.00 as my son sent her flowers for Mother's Day and since I forgot it I crossed his name out on the card and added mine.