Life Jackets

[Crow Horse]

1 hour ago, JayMac89 said:

So I got into kayak fishing last September. Fell in love and quickly upgraded my yak and yada yada yada. 

 

I never wore a PFD. I fish small lakes with no gas motors allowed. Im a lifelong surfer, surfing year round in NY (that means surfing during blizzards, nor'easters, water in the upper 30s). Iv dealt with 10-15 ft swells. Im not saying i don't have to wear a PFD. Just painting the picture of why i didn't and felt comfortable without one. 

 

Fast forward, i made the decision to wear one. And got a NRS chinook. Only wore it two or three times. I really don't notice it. The foam feels bulky, but it hasn't gotten in my way yet. I thought I'd hate it and it would take getting used to. Not the case. I actually enjoy it. I like the pockets. Very comfortable. It's my understanding that they were made with kayak fishing in mind (could be wrong). But i think it'd work well on a boat as well. 

A wise choice, both in the choice of PFD and wearing it.

[FishTax]

I have a Magellan kayak fishing foam vest.

 

Pros: I'll definitely float with it on

The pockets are convenient for a few items I need handy. Dive knife, line cutter, phone, etc.

Warm on a cool day, blocks wind

 

Cons

Hot on a warm day

It occasionally gets in the way fishing, in a minor way and only occasionally.

 

I pretty much always have it on, except when in a very shallow cove taking a break to eat or something. I may eventually look into a new foam one with different pocket layout or more convenient padding. I'd consider inflatable I think but I don't trust myself to maintain it. One of the best parts of kayak is no maintenance, I like to keep things simple when possible..

[Functional]

Mustang HIT for me. As mentioned in the hot months down south here I'll be putting myself more at risk of heat exhaustion wearing a foam one than falling over and the unlikely event the HIT doesnt go off. The HIT I know I'll wear all the time so overall its safest for me. 

[JayMac89]

22 hours ago, Crow Horse said:

A wise choice, both in the choice of PFD and wearing it.

I do agree. But the real takeaway is this. If that thing wasn't comfortable, i wouldn't wear it. I'd find somthing else and go without in the meantime, especially considering my comfort level in water. Not saying that's the right thing to do, or smart, just being honest. But the thing is that comfortable and convenient that i actually WANT to wear it. Which when it comes to PFDs is a huge deal. How many people answered this post with "the best PFD is the one you'll wear". Well the chinook goes beyond "yeah i can tolerate it" and goes straight to "i want to wear it".

 

 

[gim]

Yesterday on a popular Twin Cities area lake, when I was heading back in preparing to leave near the public access at 3:30pm, I counted 27 boats with various amounts of people in them, and exactly NONE of the people in these boats were wearing PFDs.  Not a single person.  Some of these boats were on plane, some were in the minimum wake zone.

 

The water temps are around 55-56 degrees right now.

 

Many of these boats were recreational boats, but a few were definitely fishing boats too.

 

Just thought I'd report what my current findings are out there.  There is almost no voluntary compliance.  They don't have to be worn, so they aren't.  They only have to be "accessible" here, which basically means in the boat.

[MN Fisher]

41 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Not a single person.  Some of these boats were on plane, some were in the minimum wake zone.

Any bets as to when the first fatality will be reported on Tonka?

 

I'm shooting for Memorial Weekend

 

Ya, I know...pretty morose thinking, but considering the idiots that cruise Tonka, highly apropos.

[Functional]

53 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Yesterday on a popular Twin Cities area lake, when I was heading back in preparing to leave near the public access at 3:30pm, I counted 27 boats with various amounts of people in them, and exactly NONE of the people in these boats were wearing PFDs.  Not a single person.  Some of these boats were on plane, some were in the minimum wake zone.

 

The water temps are around 55-56 degrees right now.

 

Many of these boats were recreational boats, but a few were definitely fishing boats too.

 

Just thought I'd report what my current findings are out there.  There is almost no voluntary compliance.  They don't have to be worn, so they aren't.  They only have to be "accessible" here, which basically means in the boat.

 

If I see anyone on my home lake wearing a PFD at any point in time its a rare event. I think its myself and 1 older gentleman I see every so often. Narrow lake, blind corners, random shallow spots and the buoys dont stay put I'm shocked there havent been more accidents. 

 

On another note the marker buoys dont even matter. I was following a pontoon boat  and it ran STRAIGHT over the buoy, dead smack in the center of the bow. Driver kept going as if nothing happened. No idea where the buoy went, it never surfaced again. 

[gim]

14 minutes ago, Functional said:

On another note the marker buoys dont even matter. I was following a pontoon boat  and it ran STRAIGHT over the buoy, dead smack in the center of the bow. Driver kept going as if nothing happened. No idea where the buoy went, it never surfaced again. 

 

LOL that tells you right there how much people are paying attention.  You'd really have to be on another planet to run right over a buoy.

[Functional]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

LOL that tells you right there how much people are paying attention.  You'd really have to be on another planet to run right over a buoy.

 

It wasnt even a short stubby one. It was one of those tall ones saying "slow" or "no skiing" something like that. I couldnt tell you because they had JUST replaced it and this guy clears it out. Neighbor is responsible for those buoys and he said his boss just gave up and said leave nothing out. 

[Crow Horse]

For those who have heat issues in hot weather when wearing a PFD, a cooling towel helps tremendously. I keep it overnight in the fridge soaking in water and when I leave for a fishing trip it goes right into the cooler. It really is refreshing.

[A-Jay]

46 minutes ago, Functional said:

On another note the marker buoys dont even matter. I was following a pontoon boat  and it ran STRAIGHT over the buoy, dead smack in the center of the bow. Driver kept going as if nothing happened. No idea where the buoy went, it never surfaced again. 

 

31 minutes ago, gimruis said:

LOL that tells you right there how much people are paying attention.  You'd really have to be on another planet to run right over a buoy.

I can personally speak as to many of vessel operators on ALL size vessels 

on the rivers, bays, inshore and offshore water between Maine and South Carolina

over a period of almost 3 decades.

And IME the above incident is tame compared to the complete insanity that 

takes place on a daily basis. This does include recreational AND Professional operators.

Folks who do this for a living; including, guides, Pilot boat operators, Ship Captains and even Captain Stubbing. 

People seem to go completely outside of their minds on the water.

Stay safe and keep your head on a swivel. 

A-Jay

[gim]

12 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

People seem to go completely outside of their minds on the water.

 

I thought about this when I was cruising across the bay yesterday at about 25 mph.  Every watercraft I saw, I thought "that boat can't be trusted."

 

This particular lake is a bit of a circus come summer time when the water warms up.  I won't be out there.  Luckily the lakes I fish from here until the end of the season are not nearly as busy.  Part of that is by design when I go too.

[Tennessee Boy]

Now that I'm retired I mostly stay off my local lake during the Summer on the weekend.  It's not too bad from twilight till about 10:00AM when it's all fishermen.  About 10:00AM the pleasure boaters come out and it's gets a little scary.   By 2:00PM the pleasure boaters become drunk pleasure boaters and it gets crazy.  

[gim]

22 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Now that I'm retired I mostly stay off my local lake during the Summer on the weekend.  It's not too bad from twilight till about 10:00AM when it's all fishermen.  About 10:00AM the pleasure boaters come out and it's gets a little scary.   By 2:00PM the pleasure boaters become drunk pleasure boaters and it gets crazy.  

 

That's here too.  But it hasn't begun yet because the water is still too cold.  By early June (depending on how warm it gets), people start recreating "in" the water - usually when it reaches about 70 degrees.

 

A rainy or even a cloudy day will keep a lot of boats off the water in the summer time.  That's when I'm out there.

[Functional]

@A-Jay oh I believe it. I was coast guard auxiliary for a few years on the Hudson River. Plenty of boaters I was shocked are alive and there are 2 flotilla boats I decided to never step foot on again. I can't imagine what you've seen lol. 

 

There were quite a few good ones to who just wanted to and appreciated being informed on the proper safety equipment to have on board. 

 

I did a lot of vessel safety inspections after finding out the majority of the approved "captains" were more of a danger than the public. 

 

Had one bring out her own light and blow horn pulling people over on the water.... something we have NO authority to do. She was certifiable....

[padlin]

I thought of this last week when I was out, the 4 people I saw while out were in solo yaks, exactly none had pfd’s on. Not that they care but the rule in MA is pfd’s Sep 15 thru May 15.

[TnRiver46]

I’ve ran over a buoy in a no wake zone……… I was driving a tiller with my 6’10” buddy sitting up in the front. We were 18 yrs old and I thought we were just bumping over a log until it popped up in the prop wash 😂 

[gim]

3 adults and 6 kids were in canoes/kayaks here over the weekend on the Cannon River when they all flipped and went in the river due to swift moving water and debris.  Luckily, all 9 individuals were recovered without serious injury.  The rivers are high here right now due to recent heavy rains and the water temps aren't very warm yet.

 

I have to imagine the outcome would have been much different if these individuals weren't wearing their PFDs.  This is a real life example of how they can work even in extreme river situations.

[Dangerfield]

I had a Salus Regatta Sailing Vest for a couple of years, it was great for paddling but not so great for storage. I upgraded to the NRS Chinook this past year and it's fantastic, the high back foam is really comfortable against my seat, plenty of pockets and a good sized phone pocket with a zipper. Like others have said, I don't feel it when I have it on, and it pairs nicely with the Champion Bibs.

[Redlinerobert]

I ordered new Mustang PFD's through Western Marine over the holiday weekend.  They were 44% off!  

[ButchA]

This past weekend (Father's Day sales) I picked up a really nice mesh dedicated fishing PFD from Cabela's.  Very nice, very comfortable, numerous pockets and even rubber fishing lure storage (w/protection from getting jabbed).  I now wear it whenever I go kayaking, as I filled the compartments with assorted fishing lures that I made (and they work!).

 

If you look at my Avatar, you'll see my Cayman 124 Sit-on fishing kayak, and a yellow/black PFD behind me in the bungee storage area.  That belonged to my (late) brother-in-law.  I adjusted the straps, etc.. so it would fit me, but still... It's a common Type III waterskiing PFD and not a fishing PFD.

 

[gim]

6 minutes ago, ButchA said:

Very nice, very comfortable, numerous pockets and even rubber fishing lure storage (w/protection from getting jabbed).  I now wear it whenever I go kayaking, as I filled the compartments with assorted fishing lures that I made (and they work!).

 

The best PFD is the one you're willing to wear, especially in a kayak.  I have one very similar to that with the mesh shoulders that I wear in my boat when I'm using the main motor.

 

The topic of PFDs is a bit of a controversial one.  I'm not sure if you read through this thread before you posted or not.  I see way more people on the water not wearing one than wearing one.  Just 2 days ago I saw 2 paddle boarders go by without one.  Not only is that illegal here, its very unsafe.  But as many people like to say "watch your own bobber."

[ButchA]

Understood.

 

I see that here too in Virginia, along the James River.  I have mentioned a few times that it is almost the same as up in NY, PA, etc... with the famous Susquehanna River.  3 feet deep.... 4 feet deep....  I have seen many people (like myself - before) not wearing a PFD but yet still have one onboard.  Paddleboarders wear one, which is good to see.

[CDMTJager]

NEVER been a guy that luck had a habit of visiting often. Not once but TWICE I have come as close to drowning as is physically humanly possible and managed to survive. Both times I survived was almost entirely due to the fact I was in absolutely awesome shape and could swim like Michael Phelps. Neither time was I wearing a PFD. I am not betting on the third time I end up in a bad situation in the water my luck will hold out.

I will not now go in a boat without wearing a PFD. I won't even go swimming in deep water without wearing a PFD and neither will ANY of my kids EVER. After MUCH research I bought a NRS Chinooks for all in my family. 

I have tested it enough times to know it will float me face up and keep me afloat very well.

On a unhappy note are a SCUBA diver who has done 100s of dives in lake Michigan off numerous friends boats on several wrecks. One such dive on the material service wreck I couldn't make it due to working that weekend. My friend who then owned a 42' Viking sport fisherman was looking to drop anchor on the wreck while 4 divers were suiting up, including his sister. His sister's BF was not a diver went along for the trip and was sitting on the transom with his feet on the swim platform.

One guy saw him fall off the boat into the water, no one thought much of it, until his GF my friends sister screamed "HE CAN'T SWIM" one guy instantly threw him a life ring and it landed less than a foot from him but he was so busy panicking he made no effort to reach it, two guys went in after him less than one minuet after his GF announced he couldn't swim, but before anyone could reach him he disappeared beneath the water and drowned.

As it turned out he was THE ONLY person EVER to have set foot on my friends boat that was #1 NOT a SCUBA diver and #2 Could not swim. Nothing worse than a 100% preventable death.

My friend never again took that boat out and sold it very soon after that. 

If you can not swim and go out on a boat, unless its a Ocean Liner do everyone a favor and wear a PFD.