Pfd Rearming - How Often Do You Do It?

[Felix77]

All,

 

Just curious how often you rearm your PFD.  Obviously reaching out to those who use an inflatable PFD with a rearming kit.  

[quanjig]

Had mine go off in the back of my Tahoe on a hot humid day! Have yet to get the rearming kit.....

[F14A-B]

When I was on board Aircraft Carriers, we would test them a lot! Every couple weeks, but I understand the cost factor, but is it not a couple of common co2 cartridges ?

[Goose52]

Every three years:  Auto-Inflate Pfd - Periodic Re-Arming

 

Fired off the PFD to see it work:

 

 

Installed the new kit:

 

[F14A-B]

That's interesting... But I would check out life saving equipment more often than once in three years... However, that is just my opinion.

[Goose52]

That's interesting... But I would check out life saving equipment more often than once in three years... However, that is just my opinion.

If you want to spend the bucks, you could re-arm as often as you like...but the manufacturer's recommendation is every three years. There is no practical way to "check out" the pressure in the cartridge or the condition of the bobbin other than the red/green color indicator on the inflator unit which you should look at each time you don the PFD. At the beginning of each season, it's also recomemended that you unpack the vest, manually inflate, and check that the unit will hold air.

 

Edit - see Glen's linked video below - there IS a way to check out the bobbin. Guess I need to re-read my instruction manual !

[F14A-B]

Goose, what's the cost to re-arm that vest?

[gobig]

I dont use these type of vests. Every time someone bites the dust out here its with one of these style jackets. To undependable in my opinion. 

[K_Mac]

I dont use these type of vests. Every time someone bites the dust out here its with one of these style jackets. To undependable in my opinion. 

 

I wear a belt type manual device religiously. I have never heard of anyone wearing an inflatable device that drowned while fishing. My attitude is if I test my belt every few years and it fails to save me my time was just up...  I have been on Kentucky Lake when it was really rough and put on a standard vest and cinched it down tight, so I guess I may not be 100% confident in my inflatable in some situations. 

[Felix77]

If you want to spend the bucks, you could re-arm as often as you like...but the manufacturer's recommendation is every three years. There is no practical way to "check out" the pressure in the cartridge or the condition of the bobbin other than the red/green color indicator on the inflator unit which you should look at each time you don the PFD. At the beginning of each season, it's also recommended that you unpack the vest, manually inflate, and check that the unit will hold air.

 

Very sound advice.   Especially the manual check of the life vest.  Never considered that ... Thanks!

[Glenn]

Actually, there is a way to check the condition of the unit to see whether or not it needs re-arming.  Here's a video that shows how to do it, how to re-arm it, and to test the vest to ensure it's working properly:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/maintain-inflatable-vest.html

 

Of course BassResource has information on this.

[Felix77]

Sure did ... just didn't find it.  Thank you Glenn.

[Felix77]

For the record I don't have a Mustang.  I have an BassPro Shop model made by Onyx and these instructions still worked.