posted 05-16-2003 09:17 AM ET (US)        

That being said my questions are:

What is the price point that would get you to buy 2 or 4 for the boat? For me they become very attractive at $100 or less.

What are anyone's thoughts on the two major manufacturers, SOSpenders and Mustang? SOSpenders it would seem was first to the mass market and has more varieties. Mustang is a legendary name in safety and their prices seem a little lower.

Also are there any concerns with the auto inflating models from a storage or accidental inflation standpoint?

posted 05-16-2003 10:03 AM ET (US)            

Stearns makes one that is CG approved with a retail price around $100.00.

Quality wise I like Mustang products.

posted 05-16-2003 11:04 AM ET (US)            

Inflatables have a trigger that punctures the CO2 canister. Unlike the manuals, the trigger in the automatics is held back by a little canister of some hardened powder, so that when the powder is solubilized (i.e. gets wet), the trigger is released and the vest inflates. So, you must be VERY careful if you wash them or wear them repeatedly in the rain. With repeated exposure to splash, rain, etc., this powder gradually washes away, and then you have inflation.

Every time you have inflation, you have to buy a $10-$15 rearming kit.

posted 05-16-2003 01:21 PM ET (US)            

Sospenders makes offshore(35 lb. of buoyancy) and near shore vests(25 lb. of buoyancy). The offshore are blue and the near shore are green. I have purchased the near shore vests for less than $60 dollars each, on sale. We have both types, we don't get on a boat without them. It's great to get on a boat with other people and put one on, people start looking around like they are naked!

posted 05-16-2003 04:50 PM ET (US)            

If I am correct many of the new vests are type III or type V and do not need to be worn in order to be counted as a valid PFD.

Is this correct?

My thoughts are to go with a manual inflating model only because I have enough maintenence related items to worry about and not enough time as it is to worry about replacing the bobbins.

posted 05-16-2003 05:55 PM ET (US)            

Most of my time in the boat is alone or with one other person. I never leave the dock without it on, and they are so comfortable I forget I'm wearing it (to the point of actually leaving the boat, going into a men's room and not realizing why I was getting funny looks until I looked it the mirror).

Even though I know the most dangerous thing anyone can do on a boat is to not wear a PFD, I hated wearing the old ones so much that I would only put them on when it was really rough and I thought I had a chance of going over -- which put me in squarely in the high risk category.

Statistically if you die on or near your boat, you will likely have made the same dumb decision, and we'll find your body (if we do) without a PFD.

posted 05-17-2003 08:34 AM ET (US)            

I believe you are right that type III and inflatable type V pfd's count as inventory of required pfd's even if not worn.

Also, the auto inflate vests are more money but if you spend any time alone on your boat get, at least one, auto inflate for yourself. Replacing the bobbin is pretty simple. Buy a three pack and keep them in a sealed container.

GeneNJ,

posted 05-17-2003 08:50 AM ET (US)            

Incidently, the FL Natural Resources guys (at least those around Apalachicola) don't count these as a valid PFD stowed on board. I believe they're wrong about that, but I was too far away from home to argue the point.

posted 05-17-2003 03:25 PM ET (US)            

They must be WORN to count as part of your pfd inventory requirements. The will not count if stowed, and the inspector should also check your bobbin to see if its green and also make sure your co-2 is not punctured.

As for auto -v- manual inflation pfds, if I am gunna be thrown off my vessel, I dont think that I would be strong/coherent enough to blow into a tube. What good are the manuals if your knocked out?

posted 05-17-2003 08:04 PM ET (US)            

Another strange thing, a PWC gets a registration number, and its required to have flares. On the other side of the manual, it says all vessels over 16 feet need flares, jetskis are smaller, whats up?.

posted 05-17-2003 08:15 PM ET (US)            

Here is what the WM cat has:

"....According to the Coast Guard, The Type I, II and III PFDs must be readily accessible and wearable by the intended user, while Type IV PFDs must be immediately available. Type V hybrid PFDs(not inflatables) must be worn to be counted in the vessels PFD inventory.

Finally, remember that state boating laws may be more stringent..."

posted 05-19-2003 09:31 AM ET (US)            

My follow up question is this:

What price would the inflatables need to be for you to buy enough for everyone that can fit on your boat? (assume that they count towards your PFD inventory for inspection purposes).

posted 05-19-2003 05:51 PM ET (US)            

Recreational inflatable type V pfd approved only when worn.
Adult-universal
user weight more than 80 lbs
USCG Approved for use only on recreational boats by persons atleast 16
Not for use on pwc, white water paddling, waterskiing, knee boarding or similar towed uses.

posted 05-19-2003 08:36 PM ET (US)            

How can you pull a rip cord if you are unconcious?

I have the Mustangs Automatics and I don't leave Port without mine on.

posted 05-19-2003 09:16 PM ET (US)            

In looking at some other info on inflatable PFD's it appears some can be counted as your PFD inventory, even if not worn, while others must be worn to count. It depends on which inflator and what gr co2 cylinder.

Seems to me the whole purpose of having an inflatable PFD is, one will wear it.

posted 05-20-2003 08:13 AM ET (US)            

Rules are constantly being updated and modified.. I guess check and comply with the documentation at hand and also on the PFD.

The type 5 mustang inflatable I wear has the type 2 performance. I am very comfortable wearing it here in Florida. Its kindof like a seatbelt in your car, you just feel safer!
Lets all agree that the best PFD is the one that is worn.

For yall up north, check out the mustang website. "www.mustangsurvival.com"
They have some great cold weather gear.

Respectively submitted,

posted 05-21-2003 11:25 PM ET (US)            

Since the 16 footers ride so wet when offshore, I figured that would be a good option. With the harness, they were about $220 each (list), but I got them for about $160 each. Expensive, but I didn't think that was a good place to be cheap. I fish alone most of the time, and run out 15-20 miles, and I wanted good reliability. I also bought a submersible handheld, intending to wear it whenever alone offshore, but the clip doesn't secure the radio, so I haven't figured that one out yet.

There was a recall later in the year, and the entire line of Hammer activated vests were taken off the market. I hated to send them back, since I really liked them. The recall was supposed to be due to improper installation of the activating mechanism in one production run, and initially the company said that they were just going to replace all of the activators. Instead, they recalled them all and paid back the purchase price, along with $50 coupons for replacement vests.

posted 06-04-2003 12:21 PM ET (US)            

When I started this post I had already decided to get inflatable pfds, but was wondering both which ones to get and if there was some magic price point that would make people buy 6 of them. I never figured out the answer to the second question, but I have decided to go with the West marine Sentinel vests that have the water pressure activated inflation system. They are currently on sale at West Marine and I figure they are worth it if I avoid 1 accidental inflation. The little pellets in the other auto inflate vests worried me.

posted 06-04-2003 09:52 PM ET (US)            

The auto units are usually Type V. They have to be worn to count.

I have use the auto units for 10 years offshore sailboat racing. Here are some tips:

If you remove the disk 'fuse' from the auto ones, they operate properly as a manual unit.

DO NOT STORE THEM IN AN ENCLOSED AREA ARMED AS AUTOMATIC. You can't believe the power these have when inflated. Humidity will get to the fuse eventually, especially if you keep them in an enclosed area (bow comparment of a whaler would come to mind). If they trip, you will probably do some serious damage to either the life jacket or to the whaler and probably to both.

i recommend the auto ones. I like the ones with a harness just because they seem more substantial. get one and then wear it. i do religiously always imagining what would happen if i got thrown off the boat underway.

Buy an extra rearming kit then jump in the water and see how it works. Then rearm it.

posted 06-05-2003 09:13 AM ET (US)            

From what I was able to learn the pellet type will not usually go off from spray, buy the pellet will slowly degrade and soften (I am sure the spray will speed up this process). With regular use the pellets should be replaced periodically. I am sure that I would forget to do this, so I went with the water pressure activated ones. The sales literature says they need service only every 2 years or so, and have a indicator to tell if they are ready or not.