Question: Auto inflate life vests

[newbiedmv]

I was down at the redneck "Toys R Us" (BPS). I got what I needed and a new coat after 30 years.

Anyway I was considering buying a auto inflate class 3 life vest as I go out alone almost always(and I've been flipped out once). They aren't cheap. They had, if I recall right, a bounacy pressure or weight that ranged from 25lbs to 80 lbs.

I weigh around 170. Do these things really flip you over and keep you up. Also how to you choose the right one. I don't want to spend $180.00 on something I'm putting my life into only to find it can only hold up a 80 lb person. At that point it's to late.

[ATA]

I never know that they have such things, I always use Airplane life jacket out of my shop and they are very cheap and very light and you certainly can trust them as they are approved to be use in Arlines by FAA?.

[GaryH]

Mustang inflatable auto / manual modes. They run around $280 and yes they will keep you afloat. 

[Jig Man]

Comfort is a consideration if you are going to have it on all day.  I’m on my third one.  I finally found one that I can stand to wear.  It is the Mustang.  It is pricey but it is also my life.

[A-Jay]

6 hours ago, ATA said:

I never know that they have such things, I always use Airplane life jacket out of my shop and they are very cheap and very light and you certainly can trust them as they are approved to be use in Arlines by FAA?.

I highly recommend having a unit approved by an agency that's on the water

rather than flying over it (mostly).

#USCG

"Very Cheap" might not be the highest priority right here. 

Stay Safe

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I highly recommend having a unit approved by an agency that's on the water

rather than flying over it (mostly)

#USCG

A-Jay

Most states require that a life-vest be USCG certified - FAA certification doesn't matter.

 

^ Listen to the retired 'Coastie' - get a good vest - trying to save a few dollars can cost you your life.

[ghost123123]

I have yet to find one that acts as a Class I life jacket, that says it will float an unconscious person face up. There are some that say they may float an unconscious person face up but they are equivalent to a Class II life jacket. One thing I have discovered is the better auto’s have the larger 38 gram cartridge that may float you face up. Sounds like bigger is better in this case. If anyone knows of a auto that is Class I,  I would love to hear about it.

[Tennessee Boy]

It’s extremely rare that my boat goes airborne so I don’t worry about following FAA regulations.   I strictly follow USCG regulations. ?

[MN Fisher]

11 hours ago, newbiedmv said:

I don't want to spend $180.00 on something I'm putting my life into only to find it can only hold up a 80 lb person.

The PFDs are rated by how much 'additional' buoyancy they provide.

 

The average person only needs about 24# of buoyancy to keep them afloat. Top of the line Class I has between 30# to 40# of buoyancy.

 

If you're built dense - like Jason Momoa or The Rock...maybe you need more, but any body fat adds to your ability to float.

 

At 6'1" and 195 - relatively fit but with a bit of a 'beer belly' - a PFD rated 25# or more is plenty sufficient for me.

[newbiedmv]

Thanks.

[TOXIC]

I don’t wear my vest when I’m standing on the front deck fishing.  I have an inflatable and I have 3 full vests.  The inflatable is used when I’m on the front deck in very rough seas.  When running, I prefer to not to have to trust my inflatable will work as designed and always wear a full vest with a neck collar.  It stays attached to my kill switch.  

[newbiedmv]

Since I go out by myself and try new places most of the time I have one on all the time. I got flipped off fishing when the trolling motor hit a log and I was in the wrong position. Slowest speed. I was just on the edge backwards to the hit.

Oh I can swim, now maybe 10 feet. 

After my alge ice slip in July it's even on loading the boat.

[ATA]

7 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I highly recommend having a unit approved by an agency that's on the water

rather than flying over it (mostly).

Touche

[schplurg]

I will not trust my life to an autoinflate PFD. I've read a lot about them and I feel safer in my old-school style vest.

 

Mine cannot be rendered useles with a simple puncture, it floats right out of the box and always will, keeps my head positioned properly, and the only way it won't work is if I do something stupid (not wear it or store it so poorly that it rots).

 

Autoinflates have additional points of failure, including being punctured before or after inflation as well as failure to inflate at all. No matter how rare this may be, it cannot happen at all with mine.

 

I'd love to wear one but like I said it's a matter of trust.

[newbiedmv]

Thanks to all. You've brought up many good points. For me it would be comfort and at least a class 2. 

They way I have things stowed it would get punctured. I have a massive stow area in the front that isn't used at all due to you have to crawl into it for stuff. Maybe some cut down milk crates and velcro will help. My neighbors 2 kids crawled in and closed to door to it

I was going to stow bumbers in it.

[newbiedmv]

Just looked all three I have are class 3.

I'll have to look over the class 2, particularly because many times I'm the only one out there(reason I have a sealed up phone, marine radio, airborne  whistle, and flares)

[gm4511]

On 9/16/2021 at 9:18 PM, newbiedmv said:

Just looked all three I have are class 3.

I'll have to look over the class 2, particularly because many times I'm the only one out there(reason I have a sealed up phone, marine radio, airborne  whistle, and flares)

Take a look at Mustang's HIT™ HYDROSTATIC INFLATABLE PFD.  Type ll rating, won't go off in rain, mist, or fog. Like you, I wear mine all the time.  

[GaryH]

When the big motor is running mustang 100mph vest hook to kill switch

When fishing mustang inflatable. 
I did listen to you AJ. ?

 

[DaubsNU1]

I fish alone most of the time...when the big motor is running, my old-school PDF is on. I have been looking in to auto-inflatable's for when I'm on the front deck and fishing...

[Junk Fisherman]

On 9/16/2021 at 12:23 PM, TOXIC said:

I don’t wear my vest when I’m standing on the front deck fishing.  I have an inflatable and I have 3 full vests.  The inflatable is used when I’m on the front deck in very rough seas.  When running, I prefer to not to have to trust my inflatable will work as designed and always wear a full vest with a neck collar.  It stays attached to my kill switch.  

 

I agree.  I wear inflatables in cold weather conditions or on rough water but I keep my vest in the drivers seat with the kill switch attached.  I know a guy that hit a submerged pipe and flew out of his boat.  His inflatable did not inflate.  Hitting the water made him gain consciousness and he survived albeit with some broken bones and heavy bruising.  He got very, very lucky.  That one hit close to home since it was on my home water.  

[desmobob]

The only complaint I have about my Mustang M.I.T. (which I wear all the time while in the boat) is that it didn't have a D-ring to attach my kill switch lanyard to.

[GRiver]

I’ve got the BPS auto 35, it a class II PDF. It’s not hydrostatic, so when it rains, it can go, POOF!!
So in bad weather ( which is when you need it most) I don’t wear.

[dickenscpa]

I have an Onyx inflatable and an NRS Raku. I have more confidence in the NRS since there's really nothing that can make it fail, but man is it uncomfortable and hot to boot in summer temps.

 

I always wear one in the Hobie while on the water but sometimes if it's hot or I don't feel like it riding up my back as I sit and fish, I'll wear the inflatable.