Super User WIGuide Posted April 30, 2015 Super User Posted April 30, 2015 After using inflatable life vests for over a year now, I've always been curious as to what to expect when they inflate. My dad got some in a boat purchase that were expired, so we decided to pull the cord before we put in the new rearming kit. I figured if I were curious, there might be others as well so I shot a short little video of it. 1 Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted April 30, 2015 Super User Posted April 30, 2015 Nice vid ! I fired my PFD manually (just like your video) before I re-armed it - just to see what happened. Next time I re-arm, I think I'm going to jump in the lake with the PFD on to REALLY check the auto-inflate feature.... 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted April 30, 2015 Super User Posted April 30, 2015 Nice vid ! I fired my PFD manually (just like your video) before I re-armed it - just to see what happened. Next time I re-arm, I think I'm going to jump in the lake with the PFD on to REALLY check the auto-inflate feature.... I think you'll find out that you won't be in the water long before it inflates. And when it does, your trip to the surface will be surprising quick . . . A-Jay 2 Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted April 30, 2015 Super User Posted April 30, 2015 Nice work.. You gotta know whether they are going to fire, being around this technology way before it was available to civilians, I test my bladders a lot.. The CO2 cartridges are quite reliable, bladders can & do become damaged. With a manual/top off inflation device a person can test the bladder as much as they want.. Or just pull & inflate, I wouldn't oppose that either, lol Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted May 1, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 1, 2015 Nice vid ! I fired my PFD manually (just like your video) before I re-armed it - just to see what happened. Next time I re-arm, I think I'm going to jump in the lake with the PFD on to REALLY check the auto-inflate feature.... He's got one other one that is expired and we probably will do the lake test with that one. Water temps are still in the high 40's to maybe mid 50's here though so we decided to pass on that test...for now haha. Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted May 1, 2015 Super User Posted May 1, 2015 He's got one other one that is expired and we probably will do the lake test with that one. Water temps are still in the high 40's to maybe mid 50's here though so we decided to pass on that test...for now haha. Water temp here is already up to the mid-60s here and I wouldn't want to do that test in my water either ! 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted May 1, 2015 Super User Posted May 1, 2015 It's way more fun to test the auto inflate feature. 2 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted May 1, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 1, 2015 It's way more fun to test the auto inflate feature. No doubt, we'll be doing that one once it warms up! Quote
Super User J Francho Posted May 1, 2015 Super User Posted May 1, 2015 That 3 second delay feels like a lifetime when your waiting for it to go off. Quote
hoosierbass07 Posted May 1, 2015 Posted May 1, 2015 What is a good low cost auto-inflate for a kayak fisherman? 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted May 1, 2015 Super User Posted May 1, 2015 Field & Stream just had them on sale. Picked up a Stearns AI for $77. Normally they are around $130. My mustang HIT was more than $250 a few years ago. Manual inflate are around $50. Quote
desmobob Posted May 1, 2015 Posted May 1, 2015 I just bought a new Mustang M.I.T. 100 Auto about a month ago for $130. I can hardly wait for the arming kit to expire so I can try out the auto-inflate function! Tight lines, Bob Quote
Super User Way2slow Posted May 2, 2015 Super User Posted May 2, 2015 The biggest laugh I had was watching my granddaughter. Back when she was about 9 or 10, she was not that good of a swimmer and all her cousins were in the deep end of the pool. She jumped out of the pool, went to the boat shed and got her a life vest out of the boat. She got her auto inflate because that's what I always made her wear when in the boat, but she never really knew how it worked. She just thought it was a thin, lightweight life jacket. Well, she snaps it on, goes running and jumps into the deep end, It inflated quicker than a cars airbag and scared the total crap out of her. She's screaming and hollering and I'm laughing my butt off. It was worth every penny of that arming kit just to see that one. 2 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted May 5, 2015 Author Super User Posted May 5, 2015 What is a good low cost auto-inflate for a kayak fisherman? I'm not sure how well low cost and auto mix, but BPS has one of their auto inflate vests on sale for $100 right now. Otherwise I've heard good things about the Mustang MIT auto vests although I haven't tried one on to know how comfortable they are. The Onyx vests get pretty good reviews as well. Quote
livemusic Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 Field & Stream just had them on sale. Picked up a Stearns AI for $77. Normally they are around $130. My mustang HIT was more than $250 a few years ago. Manual inflate are around $50. Field & Stream, the magazine? I wonder if it's still available. And where do you buy manual inflate for $50? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted May 5, 2015 Super User Posted May 5, 2015 No, it's a store. Look for a manual belt inflate. Last ones I saw were in West Marine, also a store. Quote
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