Auto PFD deployed in boat

Question for you guys that use the automatic life jackets. I have one that is about 6 years old, re-charged it a year and a half ago and today I found it deployed in my front compartment of my boat. I have used it maybe twice in the last month and not gotten wet, been in rain etc. The compartment was open not closed.

Any idea on what would have caused this? It wasn’t the string being pulled either.

The only thing I can think of would be I had a windshield replaced in my garage next to it and maybe they set something wet in the boat while they were working? Although I don’t think this would be it either since they need to be submerged and not just wet on the outside?

yeah i had a time where it rained pretty good unexpectedly and it set off 2 of my 3 in the deck compartment. a number of years ago, just a bit of moisture set one off. so I keep them in airtight bags in there now

I personally never leave mine in the boat. Worst case it sits for a couple days in the cab of my truck. Too much of a chance of humidity or dew causing the button to dissolve.

tight_lines wrote:

I found it deployed in my front compartment of my boat.

In the compartment< is the problem. Water or moisture collects in the hull and on warm days (more so in a garage and even more so if the boat is covered) and dissolves the “pill”.

Once you rearm it, keep it in your house like you would most anything that your life may depend on and it will be there when you need it to be.

As long as it’s discharged, blow it up manually and leave it over night. If it’s still fully inflated you’re good to go. If not, send it in for repair or destroy it.

I guess I was just surprised as it was in a dry boat and in the garage and not stored below deck. I have never had an issue before. Love it and wear it every time im in the boat (especially if I’m alone!) but frustrating that it costs $20 every time it goes off or needs to be replaced.

Mine normally gets set on the captains chair or sits beside me in the vehicle. I often get halfway home before I realize I still have it on.

hnd wrote:

yeah i had a time where it rained pretty good unexpectedly and it set off 2 of my 3 in the deck compartment. a number of years ago, just a bit of moisture set one off. so I keep them in airtight bags in there now

These inflatables are designed to stay dry in the rain IF THEY are being worn. Once they are horizontal, water will enter where it shouldn’t be going unless you go in the drink.

Air/Water tight bags should work, but I’m more for taking them in the house.

Over winter, I’ll take out the CO2 container. Then in the spring, after the manual blow up test, I can check the bobbin or pill/button, then install the CO2.

Tight Lines, I can see that being frustrating.

Since about 2006, I’ve had 3 inflatables. I’ve had two that deployed unintentionally but was my fault non the less.

I changed the pills in two, but didn’t have a 3rd pill. Once I got one, I would of had to take them apart to check the dates and said, I’ll do that later. On July 4th the FW didn’t jump or scream, her eyes just got really BIG when it went off. Then I knew which one I hadn’t changed.

The second one wasn’t used over winter and when I sold it to the Scratcher, I was going to arm it for him. I didn’t see the sight glass was red, and when I screwed in the CO2, it went off.

Although I do keep 2 extra arming kits and one 3 pack of “pills” handy, I’ve always taken the inflatables into the camper or if I was going out the next day, it the truck.

I don’t think I’m lucky.

tight_lines wrote:

$20 every time it goes off or needs to be replaced.

PS last time I looked 3 bobbins ran $10. The CO only needs to be replace if it discharges.

Thanks for all the responses BK.

I was under the assumption that after 2-4 years (i forget what the manual says) that you needed to replace the cartridge and the bobbin. Which is the reason that I didn’t just order 2 at a time when I replaced it the first time!

I will have to order an extra cartridge and bobbins then!

tight_lines wrote:

Although I don’t think this would be it either since they need to be submerged and not just wet on the outside?

You indicate you have the style which needs to be submerged to inflate automatically.
That style of PFD does NOT use a “pill” or “dissolving bobbin”.

Hydrostatic pressure inflation is a type of automatic inflation whereby a hydrostatic pressure valve is only triggered when the PFD is immersed in a particular depth of water (the depth needed to activate the valve usually varies by manufacturer).

tight_lines wrote:

they need to be submerged

If your PFD needs to be submerged and it triggered without submersion, then you have a malfunction.

Bottom line is you first need to determine which style you have;
(A) submerge to trigger
(B) dissolving bobbin to trigger

If you’re going to seal them in bags and leave them in the boat I’d add some desiccants to the bag. Opening and closing those bags in different humidity levels may cause condensation in the bag that cannot escape. The first place condensation will form is on that metal CO2 cartridge.

By law, the instruction are permanently attached to all inflatables.

Not to derail the thread but is it law in some states that an inflatable PFD has to be worn to satisfy the requirement of 1 PFD per person?

Bless you guys that have the patience for these. Way too high-maintenance for me. Find a semi-comfortable old school life jacket and use and abuse it. Just about to throw my $200 inflatable in the trash.

mxskeeter wrote:

Not to derail the thread but is it law in some states that an inflatable PFD has to be worn to satisfy the requirement of 1 PFD per person?

The requirement comes down to the type USCG certification. SOME do not have to be worn. Specifically, the Onyx A-24 does not have to be worn to comply with USCG regulations. Maybe some states may have more restrictive laws but I believe most go with USCG requirements.

It will say on the vest if it must be worn.

lindyrig79 wrote:

Bless you guys that have the patience for these. Way too high-maintenance for me. Find a semi-comfortable old school life jacket and use and abuse it. Just about to throw my $200 inflatable in the trash.

I could never wear an old school life jacket! I leave my auto pfd in my bow storage compartment all the time. Finally had it go off this spring after 6 seasons. $20 and it’s repacked and ready to go again. The hastle of repacking it, even if it was annually would be way less than the hastle of a regular life jacket. Jmho.

I wear an inflatable pfd when it is warm out. I wear an old school(foam) early spring and fall when heavier warmer clothes are needed. When it is really cold I can wear a regular life jacket under my ice fishing float suit.

lindyrig79 wrote:

Bless you guys that have the patience for these. Way too high-maintenance for me. Find a semi-comfortable old school life jacket and use and abuse it. Just about to throw my $200 inflatable in the trash.

I’ll give you $50 for it 😉

mxskeeter wrote:

Not to derail the thread but is it law in some states that an inflatable PFD has to be worn to satisfy the requirement of 1 PFD per person?

Saw a You-Tube video a while back of some kids fishing in MN, CO’s pulled up to check their licenses, and they had the Oynx AM-24 laying in the bottom of the boat. Not a word from the CO’s on it. I was also under the impression that it had to be worn. I always wear mine, so I guess it will never be an issue.

Paul D wrote:

I was also under the impression that it had to be worn.

MN/WI has it written in their boating rules that inflatables need to be worn. The USCG says to follow the directions on the PFD. Same with age requirements.

As I mentioned someplace before, inflatables aren’t for everyone. It’s hard to use them as a boat cushion.

Treat them like they will save your life and they are comfortable and easy to use.

From the 2021 MN boating guide.

Inflatable Life Jackets are U.S. Coast Guard approved for boaters
16 years and older. Inflatables
have the advantage of being comfortable and easy to wear.
Once inflated, the flotation is equal to or greater than traditional life jackets.
Inflatables do have some disadvantages:
• Must be inflated to provide
flotation.
• Do not provide as much
cold water protection.
18

• Require regular maintenance and rearming after inflation.

Some inflatable life jackets are required to be worn in order to be counted as one of your U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable flotation devices — check the label for indication. Inflatables are not approved for use on personal watercraft or while water- skiing or similar sports. Always read the label for intended use and follow any restrictions.
Before purchasing, make sure that “U.S. Coast Guard Approved” is visible somewhere on the package or on the device itself.

https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/boatwater/boatingguide.pdf

I couldn’t find the year the wording was changed for MN. Either way “check the label for indication.” still applies.

WI is still a must wear to be counted. Page 10.
WI Boating Regs

I was surprised to see that WI doesn’t have a law for the age of boater that have to wear a PFD. I list that Federal Law says 14 years old and younger… MN is 13 years. Normally a MN or WI water patrol doesn’t enforce federal regs unless it’s serious.

BTW Most…some inflatables can be changed from auto inflate to manual inflate only.

If your the lucky guy that hits your head on the way into the water, that would kind of suck when it didn’t inflate on its own. But it is an option.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

BTW Most…some inflatables can be changed from auto inflate to manual inflate only.

If your the lucky guy that hits your head on the way into the water, that would kind of suck when it didn’t inflate on its own. But it is an option.

Is this what the “A/M” means on the Onyx A/M models? I only own the Automatic versions which can be inflated manually but I’m not aware of being able to turn off the automatic mode.

biggill wrote:

I only own the Automatic versions which can be inflated manually but I’m not aware of being able to turn off the automatic mode.

Ditto