Life Jackets

[Northern Kentucky Fisherman]

I’m an older guy mid 70’s and my partner is in his 80’s . This year I have decided that it’s mandatory to wear a PFD all the time on my boat . I have thought about the inflatable auto/mechanical vests but don’t like the fact pertaining to the gas cylinder change . I see these guys in kayaks with vests and wonder .. what more comfortable and economical between the two . Do any of you good folks have any recommendations? Thanks . Northern Kentucky Fisherman

[looking45]

Get a Mustang hydrostatic vest. No CO2 cartridge. It inflates by water pressure. No chance of it going off in the rain or humidity. A little pricey but consider what you’re using it for

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, looking45 said:

Get a Mustang hydrostatic vest. No CO2 cartridge.

It most certainly does have a CO2 cartridge - it's just the trigger that differs...pressure instead of wetness.

[looking45]

My mistake, thanks for the correction 

[Bird]

I use an Onyx M-24, the M stands for manual operation and wear it year around.

I got the wife the MA-24 ( manual / auto )

And keep hers on auto.

I can't fish with the old school puffed up vests. 😃

[DennyB]

I felt the same way a couple years ago. I got one of the Mustang survival vests and now I wear it from the time I get in the boat until I get out. It's very comfortable. Sometimes I forget I'm wearing it at the end of the day. I like that it activates by water pressure and not by a little dissolvable pill. They're kind of expensive, but for something that might save your life while your fishing I decided it was a small price to pay.

[mcipinkie]

Get the best inflatable that will fit in your budget.  Put it on when you get in the boat, take it off when you get out.

 

If you can't afford the high dollar Mustangs, get you an A/M24 from BPS.  On sale at the spring fling for $60.  It will save your butt better than wearing nothing if you hit the water.

 

None of them are any good in the rod locker.

[GRiver]

I got a BPS auto/ manual vest, I wear it all the time….well at least while I’m in the boat. They are inexpensive compare to the hydrostatic models. I’ve worn my in lite rain and it hasn’t went off, has a window to see if it’s charged and ready. The rearm kits, if needed, aren’t that much ether. They are very comfortable, like @DennyB I forget I’m wearing it.

[Capt Steve]

I had two of the Bass Pro Shops AM24 vests. They were comfortable but both of them self inflated even though they were inside my dry storage instead my carport. 
After the second time I didn't want to mess with them anymore. I returned it the second time and got store credit. I put up the extra money and bought a Mustang Elite. Ad mentioned earlier they won't inflate just by getting wet. They supposedly won't inflate until they are submerged 4 inches under water. 
so far it's working great but yes it's pricey. 
the AM24 is ok as long as you don't get it wet and keep it inside your house when not using it 

[Alex from GA]

I wear an AM24 when I get out of the truck until I'm back in the truck.  

[padlin]

What do you mean by the “gas cylinder change”? Do you plan on falling in the water all the time?

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, looking45 said:

Get a Mustang hydrostatic vest. No CO2 cartridge. It inflates by water pressure. No chance of it going off in the rain or humidity. A little pricey but consider what you’re using it for

I saw Scott Martin jump into lake st Clair after his cell phone wearing that and it didn’t inflate. Seems to me

that foam works better and costs less 

[gim]

8 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Seems to me

that foam works better and costs less 

Whether it works better, I don't know.  I still use a normal foam one though.  The shoulders are mesh so its not so bulky and hot.

 

I noticed they are 20% off during Cabela's/BPS Spring Sale so I might even buy another one too.

[flyfisher]

I went to an a/m inflatable and never looked back.  I have driven home with it on because I forgot I was wearing it.  Only time I wear my traditional style is when it is below freezing air temperature or on a river trip and I think I may be using it but even then, I still often don't and have a recharge kit in my dry bag.  I do not have one of the hydrostatic models but when I replace the one I have, I absolutely will.

 

The comfort level isn't even comparable to me between the two styles.  I fish from a kayak and primarily fly fish as well.

[padlin]

FWIW, I use both, canoe/kayak short foam job when it’s cold or raining, HIT inflatable when it’s too warm for the other. I actually prefer the foam as it adds paddling for the wooden seat back. Neither one bothers me, comfort wise. Don’t know if there’s a difference in what’s needed boat vs canoe. Maybe one of the big class 5 jobs if you have a couple of those big Suzuki’s pushing you around.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I saw Scott Martin jump into lake st Clair after his cell phone wearing that and it didn’t inflate.  

Really hard for me to take this guy seriously in any respect.

I'm willing to bet the gas in that life vest was expended or even missing altogether.

btw did he have one of those special floating phones ?

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

Must have cause he got it out of the lake somehow 

 

the gas never goes bad in styrofoam tho 

12 hours ago, gimruis said:

Whether it works better, I don't know.  I still use a normal foam one though.  The shoulders are mesh so its not so bulky and hot.

 

I noticed they are 20% off during Cabela's/BPS Spring Sale so I might even buy another one too.

Thats good to know, we have like 50 at the rental shop I work at and they take some abuse. My boss was lamenting the recent price increase, I’ll let him know about the sale 

[Bankc]

13 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I saw Scott Martin jump into lake st Clair after his cell phone wearing that and it didn’t inflate. Seems to me

that foam works better and costs less 

Yeah, there's a good argument to be had here.  If your life is truly worth an expensive inflatable, then would it also not be even more worth the discomfort of a cheaper foam PFD that will work 100% of the time, and doesn't rely on multiple points of complication that could each fail?  

 

But that's just a argument, not my argument.  After all, if you're not willing to wear a foam PFD, then it doesn't do you any good. 

 

I'm thinking about getting a BPS AM24 during the spring sale to wear on those hot summer days where if I fall in, I'm probably going to have no problem getting back into the kayak unassisted.  And I'll keep my current Onyx foam PFD for those cold days, where the extra warmth is nice, and I don't want to take any chance on a PFD failure if I hit the water.  In near freezing water temperatures, your body can go into shock instantly.  So you're a lot more likely to need a PFD in cold water.  

[TnRiver46]

This is one instance where broke people like me can stay afloat 

[cyclops2]

I only use foam USCG rated. I have lived forever ?   86      😀

[swhit140]

I would go with a regular life jacket and not a auto inflation type. You have the cost of replacing the cylinder/bobbin servicing your auto inflation type and there is always a possibility it might not work. I would trust a regular life jacket and there are many choices of life jackets now that are more comfortable.

[padlin]

If it makes any difference, the inflatables, at least mine, comes with a manual inflator just in case. If one can access it while trying to tread water remains to be seen.

[Leeboy]

I use both. One while running and the other while fishing. An older gentleman recently drowned on Chickamauga Lake when he fell overboard. He wasn't alone, not wearing PFD. Full details not released. Maybe suffered heart attack. 

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, padlin said:

If it makes any difference, the inflatables, at least mine, comes with a manual inflator just in case. If one can access it while trying to tread water remains to be seen.

I believe @Bluebasser86 is usually sporting one of those, seems like a good feature 

[Glenn]

I kinda go overboard (pun intended), but seriously, I could make a long post, or you can watch this. It's an eye-opener...