PFD's

[Skeeterprop]

I have a mustang auto inflatable. It can be used manual or automatic. Like said previous it must be worn all the time or it does not count as a life vest. I was stopped this year. It was on. However the Game Warden told me if I do not wear it all the time I must have another PFD in the boat. I really like the auto inflattable. However, dont wear it in the rain. Do not keep it in your rod locker in the summer either. The humidity in the the rod locker will cause it to go off. Been there done that. I did find a place out of florida that sells the items to recharge. $10 got me everything to re-charge it twice! Sure beats the $30 for one charge elsewhere.

I have 2 of the mustangs and fish in the rain all the time ,even running down the lake in the rain. Never had one go off. But they will go off in the storage locker if you put them up wet on a hot day. If you want one that wont go off unless submerged get a mustang with the hit feature.

[Mean Morone]

This is a very good subject. I never wore one at any time but will surely consider it now. If you have ever experience bow hooking you will no that some kind of floatation device is needed. This happened to my buddy and me a couple of months ago. We were doing at least 50 mph when we hit a big wave. When we came back down, the back end turned hard and threw my buddy out of the boat. I was saved by my rear end which caught on a rod holder(I think) as I was on my way out of the boat. It threw me to the back of the boat instead and when I opened my eyes I was looking at white water. My head was right next to the motor and I was looking at the wash behind the boat. The boat was still going fast but not as fast as we were originally going. I crawled back to the steering wheel and got control of it. My buddy was dog paddling behind the boat which was doing a big circle and was heading back toward him. He was fine except for a knot on his leg. He said that he was skidding on his head when he was thrown. If he got hit in the head, it would have been bad. I ended up with a knot on my head and a gash to go along with it. I also had a skinned up elbow and a knot on my rear end. Both rod holders on my side of the boat were gone. We were both very lucky if you believe in that sort of thing. I like to think someone was looking after us. I would prefer a PFD that you don't have to work. Just put it on and let it save your life.

[shawnrd81]

Go with the old big orange one cheap and has worked for years. Tried and true. Not confortable though

[Skeeterprop]

1

[Skeeterprop]

Mean ,what happened to your kill switch???

[LarryG]

Ah the kill switch! I keep telling myself I'm going to use it, and dont unless it gets rough, or at night. Maybe another feature would be a cuit off when the seat becomes vacant, like on some lawn mowers, of course there are guys who circumvent that also. Guess we are accidents waiting to happen!

[DJD]

Ah the kill switch! I keep telling myself I'm going to use it, and dont unless it gets rough, or at night. Maybe another feature would be a cuit off when the seat becomes vacant, like on some lawn mowers, of course there are guys who circumvent that also. Guess we are accidents waiting to happen!

Man thats a good idea on the seats. I can see that working very easily. The same old story comes to mind..."you can't fix stupid" and alot of times I'm right in that catagory!

I'm not sure about these humidity problems with these PFD's I'm starting to wonder if it's worth the hassle compared to a nice fitting vest type.

[Mean Morone]

We never claimed to be too bright. Many factors figure into doing stupid things such as striper fever or smallie addiction. So because of these things we dont take time to use things like kill switches or pfd's. You know that this was discussed on our way back to the ramp after the wreck though. We haven't taken the boat out since that happened which was back in June. We need to get over the trauma in time for the night bite.

[Trapper]

I have owned the SOSPENDERS for years. I bought my first set approximately 15 years ago. With the origional model, I had it inflate while in the garage only once and that was after wearing it all day in the rain. I have heard people telling stories of these inflating while fishing or running while in the rain, but I have never had this occur. I purchased a newer model a couple of years ago and have never had it inflate automatically. I try to remember to change out the tab and the cartrage every 2 years, if they have not inflated, just to be safe! I had a buddy fall out of the boat while wearing one and it worked perfectly. I do like the fact that they have the manual back-up just in case the auto would not work! I wear mine 100% of the time on the water, and have never had any issues!

[HURRICANEBOB]

I do the low cost high fashion thing. I go over to Walmart this time of year and by me some of them there cheapo cargo pants. Then, I hang around coustruction sites till they go home at night, and go over to their scrap piles, and pick up them little useless pieces of foam board. Well ya takes them home, cut them into 5 by 8 inch squares, and use some of that "liquid nails" stuff to glue three pieces together. And then, I makes me about 4of them, with 3 sheets each. (Usually by them I'm a couple sheets gone too). Make 2 extra, cause thems are the ones for the inside pockets in your hooded wind breaker from Tractor Supply company. Now, about them other 4. 2 goes in the lower pockets in the cargo slacks, right down there above your ankles. Thie way your feet won't drown. Then 2 more goes in them big hip pockets in the cargoes. See that way with your wallet full of all the money you save on buying a PDF, your butt won't sink from the weight of the coins. Them there last 2, like I said, goes inside your jacket in them there glove pockets.

And I stay a lot warmer wearing these here R-45 PDF floatable thingies.

CAUTION. Be darn sure the liquid nails is drill on them ones you stick in your jacket. Them fumes are intense. First time I made this mistake I ramped in at Jamestown, and ran for 4 hours before I got passed the no wake buoys. But the fishing was good in there........

Oh yeah, one more caution. Though they make your jacket look like Kevlar, they don't do a very good job stopping bullets. We tested this, and my neighbor ought be coming home in a couple more weeks. Darn glad we started testing with the .22 instead of that 30-0-6.

[DJD]

I do the low cost high fashion thing. I go over to Walmart this time of year and by me some of them there cheapo cargo pants. Then, I hang around coustruction sites till they go home at night, and go over to their scrap piles, and pick up them little useless pieces of foam board. Well ya takes them home, cut them into 5 by 8 inch squares, and use some of that "liquid nails" stuff to glue three pieces together. And then, I makes me about 4of them, with 3 sheets each. (Usually by them I'm a couple sheets gone too). Make 2 extra, cause thems are the ones for the inside pockets in your hooded wind breaker from Tractor Supply company. Now, about them other 4. 2 goes in the lower pockets in the cargo slacks, right down there above your ankles. Thie way your feet won't drown. Then 2 more goes in them big hip pockets in the cargoes. See that way with your wallet full of all the money you save on buying a PDF, your butt won't sink from the weight of the coins. Them there last 2, like I said, goes inside your jacket in them there glove pockets.

And I stay a lot warmer wearing these here R-45 PDF floatable thingies.

CAUTION. Be darn sure the liquid nails is drill on them ones you stick in your jacket. Them fumes are intense. First time I made this mistake I ramped in at Jamestown, and ran for 4 hours before I got passed the no wake buoys. But the fishing was good in there........

Oh yeah, one more caution. Though they make your jacket look like Kevlar, they don't do a very good job stopping bullets. We tested this, and my neighbor ought be coming home in a couple more weeks. Darn glad we started testing with the .22 instead of that 30-0-6.

Lol! Those PDF's will kill ya!

[Tyme2fish]

Kill switch? I just wrap the coiled lanyard just above my knee. Not obtrusive and easy to attach. I always wear my Sospenders while in the boat. Well, most of the time.

This year has had too many deaths on the Ohio river and got my attention to wear my PFD.