Inflatable PFD

On 12/10/2019 at 12:42 PM, A-Jay said:

Something that is not mentioned in this case or any of the few I've seen, is in regards to how (or even IF) the equipment was maintained.  Few products will perform properly if not checked routinely and kept in serviceable working order.

For all we know - both may have been previously expended. 

I also believe that adding the make & model of the faulty Life Jackets would have been an important nugget of information for an interested reader.  However that is mysteriously or conveniently omitted.

And while I can respect the skills & experience of any & all 'professional' anglers'.

I have a bit of experience running boats myself, I find it interesting that the man's boat just mysteriously flipped over, out of nowhere, and with out excessive speed ?

I'd put this one in the 'we may not have the whole story here' category. 

Otherwise - Ranger boats could have a rather significant hull design flaw that no one else knows about or has ever experienced.  

All of which might not add much validity to this 4 year old story.

Risk is a tricky deal ~

 

A-Jay

As for the Marshall:

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The force threw his marshall, 2014 Forrest Wood Cup co-angler Champion Brian New—who had just suffered a broken collarbone weeks ago while becoming pinned underneath a car while changing its oil—into Cox, sending both individuals into the 52-degree water.

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This does not happen to people who practice Safety First. There's virtually no way a car can pin you while changing the oil if you lift and support it correctly, mainly ramps and not bricks and 2x4s. So ya, I too question their maintenance practices, though the PFDs may have been brand new for all I know, so not judging.

But I am not 100% confident in an auto-inflate either and I do not own one because of that. And I don't want to be required to maintain a life vest either. I want to own one but like I said, I don't trust it with my life. I wear a life vest.