Self/auto inflating life jackets

[h20hunter]

Who wears them full time on the boat? Brand or style pro/con? Specific reviews on brand?

[Tracker0721]

I’m just gonna tag this. I’d like one for kayaking and such.

[Bango skank]

Everybody at my job wears them.  My company issues to them for free.  I dont wear one, i use a non inflating work vest.  The way i see it, its one less thing that can malfunction.  Theres always the possibility of a failure in the inflatable pfds.  Also, if they are inflated, you have to have them repacked.  I have seen a guy set his in a small puddle on a barge on accident and it went off.  Another guy got his pull cord hung up on a lashing chain and inflated.  To me theyre just not worth the hassle or the possibility of failure.  With a standard work vest i know for a fact it will float me if i go overboard.  Theres a (small) chance that the inflatable wont.

[h20hunter]

Roger.  Good input.  On my local lake, during summer months I admit I don't plan on wearing it full time. In the sound, i plan 9n wearing a pfd full time in my new boat.

[7mmfan]

I wear one full time in my driftboat. I have a Cabelas brand one, not sure on specific model. It is very slim, out of the way, hardly even know it's there. I'm with you though, in the summer, I don't wear it full time. My wife doesn't like tan lines...   

[MADMAX]

I wear one, hardly know its there

[ilopezz]

We currently use this exact model while we’re out fishing on our boat and also fishing from our kayaks. No complaints here. They’re minimal and comfy and won’t inflate in rain

Initially, we were using, I think their auto MIT 100. Also minimal and comfy, easy on the pockets—but it will inflate in the rain

I always recommend auto inflation in case you hit your head, lose consciousness. However, if you’re absolutely sure you won’t be out during rain, their auto MIT 100 will do just fine.



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[Stein]

I had one but went back to a regular one.  I always wondered if it would work, didn’t want to figure out how to inspect or replace parts and it wasn’t that comfortable.


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[Blacklab]

I have mustang. Auto/cord rumor has it that you need a lifejacket to go with inflateables. 

[7mmfan]

I have mustang. Auto/cord rumor has it that you need a lifejacket to go with inflateables. 

Inflatables only count as a PFD if they are worn, whereas a standard lifejacket counts by just being on board the vessel.

[Jellymon]

Pro tip #7. Don’t store an inflatable life jacket in a compartment that tends to collect water. We got to the lake and the door to the compartment in the boat was wide open and filled with a yellow inflatable.

[Blacklab]

Ah that’s the rub. Makes sense now ty 😉🥃

[jagermiester]

I don’t always wear a life jacket but when I do it’s a self inflator from west marine. Super comfortable and a decent price

[deerlick]

I have the mustang manual inflatable. Very comfy to wear and make everyone on my boat wear them. If you read the wording in the mustang inflatables they are legal worn or not as long as it is for recreational use not commercial. Got a warning for not wearing it  recently and politely asked the warden to read the vest and he decided i was right on not having to wear it to meet requirements.i also have a couple from another brand that are worded differently and have to be warn to be legal.

[Bofire]

I have to be honest I think ego is involved. I wear a manual vest when I am alone in my boat. I only fish lakes (14 foot deep V boat.) but when others are with me I tend to not wear it!! LOL I do keep several in the boat.
Carl

[h20hunter]

As I get older.....heck I'm only 42.....less ego. I'm a swimmer, always have been . Pool workouts still average 3k yards....but that's a pool. Not the sound. Looking to up my personal responsibilty.

[Moonlite hunter]

Don't stuff one and to a soft-sided tackle box on your pontoon boat it will rip the seams out when it gets wet and goes off. That's one way to test it 🤯

[7mmfan]

I've had a couple moderately close calls while wading rivers, but its having a family and a lot more to lose now than 10 years ago that makes me wear it. I've also pulled multiple guys from the river in dire straights because they weren't wearing PFD's and 2 guys that weren't that lucky... that makes me wear them too.

[lokidog]

So, for those using manual inflators, what happens when you bonk your head on the way over the side?

I had one I used for a few years, then decided to try it out with the manual pull and low and behold, nothing happened....  Be sure to keep up on whatever servicing they need.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Who wears them full time on the boat? Brand or style pro/con? Specific reviews on brand?

H20 do you ever come out to Neah Bay? I have I think 6 different styles of them at my place. I am certified to teach cold water survival courses for commercial fishermen.

My favorite are the mustang work vests that are made of PVC. They are easy to clean and hold up to abuse. If you are unconscious these also will turn you face up in the water.

These count as a type 2 if you are wearing it on board your boat. If it's not worn it counts as a type 5. In short, you have to wear it or coast guard/wdfw may give you a ticket if it's the only jacket onboard.

https://www.mustangsurvival.com/en_US/products/activity/commercial-industrial/hit-inflatable-work-vest-auto-hydrostatic-62533135543.html

[h20hunter]

Not often but Mustang keeps coming to the top. A few friends locally also use them exclusively.

[MADMAX]

I bought the west marine on sale I think for like $79

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--inshore-automatic-manual-inflatable-life-jacket--17991415?recordNum=1


very similar mechanism to the old flight deck vest I wore in the Navy

[boneaddict]

I've been contemplating something for float tubing.   Though I've cataloged many many hours without anything, float tubing with my wife this last summer has made me think I should get one for her and myself.  No idea where to start.

[JKEEN33]

I bought my dad and myself a couple of the Cabelas auto inflate ones a couple years ago. I usually don’t wear one, but when it gets nasty out at Neah Bay, it’s nice to be able to put one of these on and still be able to fish. Out of curiosity, I have set mine off to see how they work. Worked great and repacking is as simple as re-folding and putting back in the Velcro closed pocket. Instructions say to replace the co2 canister annually I believe. That’s where I was surprised at the cost. Vest was around 75.00 on sale I think, but the replacement cartridges were 35.00-40.00 if I remember correctly. They are a lot more comfortable to fish in than a regular vest, which I could never get myself to wear while fishing.

[Kc_Kracker]

I’m just gonna tag this. I’d like one for kayaking and such.

i would not suggest for kyaking because if they get very wet they inflate i left mine out to get rained on and POOF