I have 3 PFD's.  Searching for the most comfortable one.  I bought a self inflating one and it's the most comfortable.  How confident should I be that it will actually inflate if I go in the drink?  I'm 100% confident of the foam PFD's but don't have that feeling with the new one.  Thank you for any input you have!

As long as the canister is fully charged and there are no holes or rips throughout I see no reason why it shouldn’t. 
 

I’ve had mine for years and give it a quick inspection every time I put it on and then don’t think about it. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

^ What Mike said. I switched over completely to inflatables. They're more comfortable for when you wear them the entire time on the boat....which I do. They've been tested and long as you take care of them and make sure the charge is good, I wouldn't worry one bit.

Suppose you could hold it underwater and find out, it’ll cost you a re-arming kit to do so. Kind of like a parachute, you don’t really know till you actually need it.

 

i use both, the inflatable in warm weather, the foam one when it’s colder.

Those canisters aren’t cheap. At least they weren’t when I replace a couple. 
 

But when it’s a 90* plus day I definitely want and inflatable  

@Lottabass, when I’m on the boat I wear a PFD I’m confident in. I am confident with an inflatable but I wear the foam ones more often than not. It’s like fishing go with what you’re confident with  

@padlin  

"Kind of like a parachute, you don’t really know till you actually need it."

 

Yikes!  I think about all the soldiers who have jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and have depended on a parachute, and the unknown person who packed it!

Dad - USMC - in 1959

 

The parachute opened that day  

 

49 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Dad - USMC - in 1959

 

The parachute opened that day  

 

I don't just "like it", I love it!

the inflatables are awesome.  but for me it is a numbers game.  I own one, and wear it 100% if I am on a boat.  I bring my own, since I dont trust someone to maintain it like I would.  I was on a party boat recently and I had the only one on the whole time.  boat full of construction dudes so they did rib me occasionally.  but I give zero foxs what another person thinks or does. 

 

on my kayak, I wear a foam one.  I LOVE IT.  I KNOW it will float me.  100%.  a kayak, especially on the beach is a wet ride.  hahah.

 

having said that.  I fish with a stubborn dude.  he is obese.  his foam PFD, he cant get tight enough without it being uncomfy.  so he bought an inflatable.  not the HIT version.  his first beach launch, I hope to get on video.  hahah..it will inflate for sure.   he doesnt believe me.    I suggested he get a luggage repair guy to add some straps that go around his crouch, like a climbers harness..I get it.  foam ones are made to fit not everyone.  

 

google a few videos of people falling-out of a kayak and the vest doenst inflate.  there are some good ones.  one dude had to hug a pier and yell for help.  

"They've been tested and long as you take care of them and make sure the charge is good, I wouldn't worry one bit."

 

Taking care of them is the rub.  The water soluble bobbin can deteriorate in hot, wet, and even damp conditions.  This often results in premature inflation but sometimes not.  It dissolves without inflating the jacket.  Without checking or replacing regularly, your life is at risk.

 

Get a Mustang H.I.T. and as long as the condition indicator is green, no worries for five years. 

2 hours ago, Capt Ed said:

Get a Mustang H.I.T. and as long as the condition indicator is green, no worries for five years. 

This ~ Also a friendly reminder.

We can check the life jacket inflation integrity without canister discharge by using the manual oral inflation tube.  Most every inflatable jacket has one.

I test my own unit at the beginning of each season in the tackle room.

Also, when the canister needs replacement, before I do it,

I put the jacket on and fire off the manual pull feature. 

Offers another way to ensure the unit operates correctly.

These things build confidence for me.

Stay Safe.

A-Jay

^ Listen to the man who had to go rescue those who DIDN'T follow the common-sense rules of being on the water.

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

We can check the life jacket inflation integrity without canister discharge but using the manual oral inflation tube.  Most every inflatable jacket has one.

Right!  After one of mine went off , then went soft, I tested another and found it went soft, too.  Both went down so slowly that it might not have been a problem, might have been.  I bought a new Mustang.  It is probably the most comfortable of the three.  

I have faith in 100% certainty,  I have worn a Stohlquist fisherman   gaia-pvc free foam for several years without discomfort or heat issues. 
I like the canister types but I know mine will float me always, at anytime in any conditions 100% of the time.

Gotta go with confidence.

16 hours ago, Motoboss said:

I have faith in 100% certainty,  I have worn a Stohlquist fisherman   gaia-pvc free foam for several years without discomfort or heat issues. 
I like the canister types but I know mine will float me always, at anytime in any conditions 100% of the time.

Gotta go with confidence.

I ordered one.  Thank you!

I wear my inflatable anytime I'm on a dock or a boat.  Check by using the manual inflation tube and keeping the cartridge up to date.  I fell out of the boat a couple of months ago and it worked.

I got a question. Lets say you have an inflatable PDF, and you fall out of your boat. It goes off. But you weren't in a situation that would cause you to stop fishing (an emergency), you are wet, but it's hot and you'll dry, so you want to continue fishing. Or perhaps you have a chance of clothes.

 

How do you deal with having an inflated PDF now?

2 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

How do you deal with having an inflated PDF now?

Disconnect the used charge, put the PFD back into it's pouches, replace the CO2 charge with the spare you carried in a waterproof container with you.

14 hours ago, Lottabass said:

I ordered one.  Thank you!

You won’t regret it 👍🏼