PFD's

[fisheater]

Ive been thinking about this lately myself.I dont like to wear them either and i dont fish alone because of this.I have an emergency action plan when im on the river just in case i or someone im with goes in.But what if you blow a fuse and the big motor wont start????happened to me friday night.Scary to think about it now.I think im going to bite the bullet and get one of those more comfortable and less restricting co2 inflatables.I enjoy breathing air not water and to think of my sons being fatherless is not acceptable.
Good topic Don and should be considered by all.

[mhall]

I've been getting better about wearing mine while the big motor is under way. However I do cheat and have been thinking about wearing one down at the river. Heck I might make ole Chuck wear one to. Wait a minute he's bigger than I am, maybe I should just suggest it instead, lol.

[21ssExtreme]

I have also been looking at the inflatable ones and I think that the Mustang with HIT is the one.

[CRANKINandYANKIN]

1 thing to remember with these is that they only count as a flotation device in the boat if you have them on. If you take it off and get checked your short a flotation device. So wear it at all times in the boat or store your old vest in a compartment to be legal.

[Grumpy]

CRANKINand YANKIN, that is not true any more. You have to check the restrictions on the PFD. Most Tpye V must be worn at all times unless you have another regular PFD on board, but the Tyoe II and Type III don't have any wear restrictions like MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.

I checked this out with KYDFW last year..

Grumpy

[CRANKINandYANKIN]

Sorry if i'm wrong. Was what I was told by a kydfw officer last year. My mistake.

[Col Forbin]

I have an inflatable one, and I love it. It has auto discharge, and a pull cord for a backup. I am looking for a "normal" one to wear during tournaments that are quicker to throw on and off. However, I fish quite a bit by myself, and I will wear the inflatable one all the time from november through may.

[Grumpy]

CRANKINandYANKIN: No need to apologize, you are right, that is what the Officers were saying early last year (and writing citations for) because they MISTAKENLY thought that ALL Infatables were required to be worn. Several of us had a discussion and when they checked with the Coast Guard, which issues the regulations, they found that the Types II and III did not have to be worn to be legal. Again, everyone needs to check their own PFD to see if there is a restriction on it.
Grumpy

[rickhise]

I recently purchased a refill kit from Cabela's for my auto inflator pfd they sold me.

when the refill arrived I look at the date on the pill it was already over a year old, and they recommend replace the pill every 4 years, called cabela's they said send it back i said no send me a replacement for your mistake and hung up...

to my surprise the brown truck delivered me a replacement today, I think that says a lot of Cabela's, I wasnt a big fan b4 but that went a long way

[DJD]

I have also been looking at the inflatable ones and I think that the Mustang with HIT is the one.

What is HIT?

[stratos185]

I fish with my youngest son and we use the Stearns sport model. Bought a pair a few years ago through BPS when they was on sale. I have the automatic model and by being careful and some luck have not had to use them. We wear them from the time we get into the boat until it is on the trailer. Recharge unit is only $14 from BPS and a good tip is to keep them away from humid areas in the boat when not in use or they will activate. The small bobbin that is used to trigger the CO2 cartridge will dissolve when exposed to humid air in a storage compartment. I keep mine in a compartment in my boat but also keep a humidity control container in the compartment that eliminates humidity. The model I have also has a extra CO2 cartridge with the mechanism to convert the life jacket to a manuel model. Also most important is that wearing this type of life jacket does not interfere with your fishing as I wear mine all day long and it never bothers me.

[21ssExtreme]

As I understand it, HIT will not inflate until their is pressure against it, like falling in.