5 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Mustangs are always for the ladies. 

There are so many ways I could take that in a VERY wrong direction.

 

I'll abstain.

Last body found.

https://www.kwtx.com/content/news/Body-found-in-search-for-man-who-drowned-in-area-lake-505377741.html?fbclid=IwAR2iTaCWFbPPjQs9AFqLLgdrB5OnSj7jyDpNJ6uFXiZiAzDkqD3GtGlrBaw

On 1/26/2019 at 5:26 PM, dodgeguy said:

I always wear one. Never take it off.

You don't even take it off to go to bed??

1 minute ago, EGbassing said:

You don't even take it off to go to bed??

LOL!!!

http://rheareview.com/crews-search-for-missing-kayaker-in-polk-county/

 

Not sure what happened yet but they found his boat and life jacket. Wear the PFD until you get to the truck!

On 1/29/2019 at 10:45 PM, NorthernBasser said:

I always wear my Mustang auto PFD (boat, not kayak). I often wonder if it'll actually deploy if I ever fall in. 

 

Try spilling gasoline on it at 3 AM in the morning at the gas station. That's a sound that will wake you up in the morning.

12 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

 

Try spilling gasoline on it at 3 AM in the morning at the gas station. That's a sound that will wake you up in the morning.

That made it inflate?? I thought it had to be submerged for it to inflate. Maybe the older ones just had to get wet? That's hilarious either way. 

4 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

That made it inflate?? I thought it had to be submerged for it to inflate. Maybe the older ones just had to get wet? That's hilarious either way. 

Self inflating vests have a bobbin with a material that dissolves in liquid to deploy.

the white portion in the photo below is what dissolves.

the bobbin is usually protected from rain, but will deploy if it gets wet.

It has to be rearmed when it goes off.

It costs anywhere from $20.00 to $40.00 for the rearming kit. Depending on the vest.

 

@fishballer06: I also don’t recommend reaching into knee-deep water to retrieve a dropped chatterbait.  Very embarrassing!  On the other hand it DOES give one confidence in the operation of the PFD.

My wife sat on hers and off it went! I thought she had too much beans the night before. LOL!!

1 hour ago, Russ E said:

Self inflating vests have a bobbin with a material that dissolves in liquid to deploy.

the white portion in the photo below is what dissolves.

the bobbin is usually protected from rain, but will deploy if it gets wet.

It has to be rearmed when it goes off.

It costs anywhere from $20.00 to $40.00 for the rearming kit. Depending on the vest.

 

This is what I've read for the Mustang Elite.

 

Hydrostatic Inflator Technology will automatically inflate under water pressure, not inadvertently in rain, spray or humidity

 

Hydrostatic auto-inflator - Activated by water pressure, the Hammar Hydrostatic Inflator Technology will automatically inflate when submerged

 

Maybe different brands react differently? I really don't know. 

4 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

This is what I've read for the Mustang Elite.

 

Hydrostatic Inflator Technology will automatically inflate under water pressure, not inadvertently in rain, spray or humidity

 

Hydrostatic auto-inflator - Activated by water pressure, the Hammar Hydrostatic Inflator Technology will automatically inflate when submerged

 

Maybe different brands react differently? I really don't know. 

They are supposed to take a small amount of water pressure to dissolve the tablet. They are usually designed to go off in 4 inches of water.  Over time the bobbin gets weathered. that is why it should be replaced every three years.

5 minutes ago, Russ E said:

They are usually designed to go off in 4 inches of water.

Finally - the answer to a question I posted earlier. I was wondering how deep you had to go for the auto-release to activate.

 

Wouldn't help much if it took 4 feet of water pressure to do it - if you're knocked unconscious, you could take in a lungful or two of water before it got you back to the surface.

24 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Finally - the answer to a question I posted earlier. I was wondering how deep you had to go for the auto-release to activate.

 

Wouldn't help much if it took 4 feet of water pressure to do it - if you're knocked unconscious, you could take in a lungful or two of water before it got you back to the surface.

I have thrown outdated bobbins in a glass of water to test them. the tablet dissolves almost immediately.

1 minute ago, Russ E said:

I have thrown outdated bobbins in a glass of water to test them. the tablet dissolves almost immediately.

This gives me reassurance that auto-inflate vests are safe. Next Christmas I may use some of my present-money to purchase one.

Just now, MN Fisher said:

This gives me reassurance that auto-inflate vests are safe. Next Christmas I may use some of my present-money to purchase one.

I have used them for around 10 years. Fell out of the boat once. It went off immediately.

I had a bad habit of not wearing a vest before I started using the self inflating.

Now I always have one on if I am in the boat.

Cabelas have type II self inflating on sale for $79.99 in the stores. not sure if the sale is online.

Just now, Russ E said:

Cabelas have type II self inflating on sale for $79.99 in the stores. not sure if the sale is online.

Out of money this year.

I've got a auto inflate. I have a fishing platform boat. The reason is that after trying on a bunch even the slighter kayak vests none seemed comfortable. With the auto inflate I forget I have it on. I can even wear it under a rain parker (don't try it under a zip up coat, imagine it going off under that?) Mine is the type that inflates by water pressure of 6" or more.

The wife doesn't worry too much when I swear that I'll wear it. And I do, all the time.

 

I hope it works and I hope I never have to find out.

On 2/5/2019 at 7:28 PM, EGbassing said:

You don't even take it off to go to bed??

Must have a water bed. ?

I will admit I don't wear one 90% of the time while on my boat fishing, when the weather gets bad or it gets 

choppy out is when I put one on.

 

 

 

 

Fished a creek Thursday. No big water or high speed boats running. I saw 8 people in kayaks during the day. None of them had PFD on.

Out by myself fishing I wear my inflatable 100% of the time. Spent years as a lifeguard and swim like a fish unless I hit my head on the way into the water. I fish all weather conditions and it get pretty exciting at times in my 14 footer.