life vests

[Log Catcher]

Glad you came out okay. 

I have been considering buy inflatable PFDs. I don't like the fact they won't put a D ring on them to hook the kill switch to. I always wear my standard PFD when the outboard motor is running but they are too hot to wear while fishing. Seems like changing from one to another would be a lot of trouble. I will figure something out someday.

10 hours ago, Bankc said:

I really wish they'd make professional anglers wear PFD's the whole

We have local hunting and fishing show here. A lot of times the host is only wearing an inflatable pack on his belt.

 

[txchaser]

Getting the Mustang Elite HIT helped me a lot. Texas is pretty hot for a lot of the year, and it is light enough that I don't really notice I have it on.

 

And, really important to me is that it is a Type II/V, which gives you a decent shot for rolling over on your back... which is the thing I'm most worried about anyway, is getting knocked out. And something like double the buoyancy of most life jackets. Scout swimmer school got me really comfy in the water, but there are so many things that can go wrong.

 

I'd wear something else underway at speed though, it's not really made for that. 

 

IMO every televised event should require at least an auto-vest be worn. It doesn't get in the way, and it sets a good example. 

 

More buoyant - check

More likely to roll me over - check

Not hot - check

Price - well, it sucks. But it is cheap insurance.

[VolFan]

I always encourage people to flip their yak and/or trust fall backwards out of a boat to get an idea of what going in feels like. It’s not jumping into the pool in a swimsuit, and even good swimmers in good conditions tire fast when wearing any amount of clothes. Add wind and/or cold or choppy water and bad gets catastrophic real quick

[Crankin4Bass]

I have a family friend who insisted he didn't need to wear a PFD.  He fell out of a canoe and got trapped in milfoil and drowned. The divers had a tough time finding his body. 

 

Lots of comfortable PFD options out there. Please wear one.

[Bluebasser86]

I use to just keep mine out when on the boat, thinking I was a good swimmer so I'd be fine if I ended up in the water. 2 years ago, a mutual friend of my wife and I, an avid outdoorsman who I'm sure probably thought the same way I did, ended up in the water and drown. Now I help organize his memorial tournament each year and fish with one of his 2 boys. I can still hear the pain in their voices when they talk about him. My wife and 2 boys asked me to never make them go through that, so I wear mine 100% of the time I'm on the water now, by myself or not. If you don't wear it for yourself, wear it for someone who cares about you so they don't have to read about you on the news.

https://www.kake.com/story/40726396/boater-who-disappeared-at-marion-reservoir-found-dead

[MN Fisher]

Now if we can just convince a certain vid-maker prominent here to wear his PFD all the time...set an example.

[huZZah]

I’ve never understood why anyone that has dental insurance flat won’t wear their PFD. Especially with the options nowadays that are so simple and comfortable. 

[David 7]

I have a nice, serviceable paddle vest that’s about 12 years old but my wife who grew up around boats her whole life (Long Island) thinks I should replace it due to the age. Probably will replace it in the spring. Think I’ll get one more good summer and fall out of it.

 

No matter what though, I won’t go on the water without a PFD. In NYS it’s the law, and more importantly, it’s crazy not to. I’m a volunteer FF and we train in water rescue as there is a popular lake in our district; you risk not only yourself but others as well when you go out without one. 

[David 7]

On 6/21/2021 at 6:16 PM, Jonas Staggs said:

So I decided to share my own stupidity with everyone, in the hopes that it may save a life if theres anyone else out there who may be as hard headed or have the same thought process as me. 

 

1) if you kayak, its not a question of if you will  flip. its a question of WHEN. keep that in mind.

 

I didnt like wearing my life vest because it was uncomfortable and got in the way of me fishing. No worries, ill just attach it to my kayak, and if I flip, ill just grab it and put it on and everything will be fine. No worries. I wouldnt doubt theres people out there that may have or had this same idea. What I did not take into consideration is if there is a current, the possiblity of my kayak being swept under, or swept away from me, and me not being able to get to my kayak to get my life vest. I shudder at the thought of the times I ocean kayak fished, and strong currents, rough waters, that I most likely would have died. Also if a idiot boater or jetski runs you over and knocks you out. Your not grabbing your life vest. This also makes me view the draw string life vests as inadequate. You wont pull that string if your KOd.

 

On cinco de mayo I flipped my kayak at lake perris in deep water, but relatively calm water. I wasnt wearing my life vest and it was attached to my kayak. I was more concerned about losing my things and was attempting to fix the kayak myself. I quickly tired out, said F my stuff and grabbed my life vest out of the kayak. It was very difficult to put it on, not as I had planned if this incident happened. I managed to get it on, but not correctly which made float weird and caused more struggle to put it on correctly. I eventually got it on right, and all was well as far as not drowning. I called for help and some boaters nearby came and helped me. They told me they could barely here me.

 

A few things I learned from this incident besides always earing your life vest, is that you should keep your valuables such as phone, keys, wallet on you. And having a fog horn or at least a whistle as well. 

 

I learned my lesson the hard way but it was a needed lesson and luckily I made it through. Its now got me to the point of wanting to wear a life vest when jetty fishing. Slip on a rock and get KO'd and you can drown in a inch of water. 

 

Prior to this I severely underestimated the dangers of the water.  

Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Think the valuable lessons we can all learn from this are always wear a PFD, type 1, 3 or 5 (and not inflatable) and wear a whistle. Good stuff.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, David 7 said:

Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Think the valuable lessons we can all learn from this are always wear a PFD, type 1, 3 or 5 (and not inflatable) and wear a whistle. Good stuff.

That type II is a good one as well. Not necessarily comfy but will keep your head up 

[gm4511]

Whatever PFD folks choose, make sure it'll float you in an upright position.  It's not uncommon to lose consiousness in an overboard event and your face needs to be out of the water for you to survive.  USCG pfd types l and ll are the only recreational types that will do this.   

 

 

On 6/22/2021 at 12:20 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I didn't read it as condescending. I'm sure it's the same mentality that I share of wanting to protect people, even if it's from themselves at times, and a frustration when those attempts fail. 

 

I've also made the mistake of being young and invincible, so I can understand how the mistake was made. 

 

@Jonas Staggs you got lucky this time man, I'm sure you'll learn from it though. I flipped my last kayak in cold water in early March a few years ago. I'm a good swimmer and had my lifejacket on. The high 40/low 50 degree water still instantly took my breath away and it almost felt as though I blacked out for a second, breathing was the only thing I could think about until I caught my breath and got myself going. Had I not had my lifejacket on, I'm not positive what the outcome would have been as the cold water was quickly stiffening my joints and taking away my dexterity. 

 

I'd gone to an inflatable vest but recent rough rides had me second guessing even that decision. One of my Father's day gifts was a standard fishing lifejacket that I can wear and not worry about if it will inflate or not if it's needed. It's not quite as comfortable as the inflatable, but I'll sacrifice a little comfort for the piece of mind knowing that I'll float if I end up in the water. I'm also trying to get into the habit of having my whistle that I normally keep attached to the kayak, attached to my vest instead. 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Body-Glove-Adult-Fishing-Vest-Size-L-XL-Green/998905647?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=184&&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=aud-1025716567856:pla-51320962143&wl5=9023835&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=998905647&veh=sem&gclid=CjwKCAjw8cCGBhB6EiwAgORey_OhFxJdlIIjI4ToGHAJT1zwumTHW9_jPqmxqlSlXjnjhX5R9DPexBoCcrEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Nice looking fishing vest, but I couldn't find where it's USCG approved?  

[Bluebasser86]

10 minutes ago, gm4511 said:

Nice looking fishing vest, but I couldn't find where it's USCG approved?  

It's on the label inside the vest. 

[Goldstar225]

I did not regard A-Jays post as condescending.  I took it as a sincere request on how he could structure his appeals to reach and affect a wider audience. 

 

Jonas, glad you made it off the water OK. 

[Guitarfish]

When I was a young man I swam almost daily and would challenge myself to see how many times in a row I could swim the length of our pool underwater on one breath.  I was as close to a fish as I will ever be.  I was absolutely a great swimmer and had no fear.

 

Forward just a couple of years and I found myself on an outing at a lake with my girlfriends travelling softball team.  There was a floating platform probably 75 yards out that I went for.  Halfway I cramped one leg so bad that I couldn't use it.  I was fighting to stay at the surface in a full panic.  I gulped some air and then a voice in my head said 'float'.  That little voice saved me.  I made it to the platform but it took me a long time to talk myself into going back.  That feeling never left me.

 

Forward 30 more years, (and I won't bore you with repeating the story),  I found a guy while I was fishing a local lake.  Unknown to me he had been missing for 3 or four days and they had suspended the search.  He had been at a company outing.  An employee brought his tin boat w/o enough life vests. Then proceeded to overload it and they sank 1/2 way across the lake.  He sank and didn't surface until I pulled him to shore.  I will never forget him either.  It upset me writing about him again.

 

I am the biggest puss you ever saw when it comes to water now.  I won't go near it until I am a guaranteed floater.  Not even the dock.  And you will get a serious talking to if you think you are taking that vest off in my boat.   

 

Thanks for sharing Jonas.

[desmobob]

When I was young, I practically lived in the water all summer.  I had YMCA Bronze Star and Advanced Open Water SCUBA certifications and was snorkeling when I wasn't SCUBA diving.  It is very easy to think to myself, "I'm a strong swimmer."

 

But the fact is, I'm 60 years old now and can't remember the last time I swam more than ten yards!  I think nearly everyone overestimates their swimming ability.  And most have probably never tried swimming with clothes on or in water that wasn't a comfortable temperature.

 

I'm happy to report that after a lifetime of only wearing a PFD in a canoe or kayak, I'm finding it not at all inconvenient to wear one in my bass boat and while fishing!  After a couple of trips, it becomes second nature to put it on (and to attach my outboard's kill switch lanyard to my belt loop).