Life jackets!?

What Jeff is trying to say is “yes, they are for walleye guys too!”

You guys got me thinkin pretty hard about a life jacket.
Was looking on Cabela’s and came across this belt type inflatable.
Anyone have any experience or comments with type?

Better than nothing!

The Type V’s with Type III performance will turn a person over if they are unable to do so themselves.

Correction: Better then the one on the back of the chair.

bigpike – I have made many many trips into the Quetico and BWCWA and would never think of going without a full PFD. I have the CO2 one for wearing in my fishing boat in the summer, but always take my full vest for canoeing. In 30+ years of trips, only flipped once, but that one time I was sure glad I had a full vest. Water was cold and with the waves, without the vest I would not be here along with a couple of others. I take the vest because of warmth and sometime wear it around camp just for that reason. Spend some good money, try on multiple types till you find one that is comfortable. A tight fight is a MUST.

Could the inflatable PFDs inflate due to heavy rain ? I would love to get a couple but I always wondered if rain could be an issue.

The very first night out using the Float Tech’s I had vision of the three of them popping up one right after another as I was raining cats (LOL!) and dogs. We were headed back 7 miles to our launch and our pants were soaked.

The Float Techs are designed to inflate when water comes in from below and not from above. Once a person takes a look at them it’s easy to understand the theory behind the workings.

Seems I’ve lost a couple photos from my website that shows a couple guys soaked. Well, here’s a Lund ad with the same photo.

PS I wouldn’t put any auto inflatable PFD under your deck for storage. The humidity will at times make them inflate. I store mine indoors or in the back seat of my truck. A little care goes a long ways.

Thanks BK. Actually,a few years back, I had read (in the fine print) on one of the websites of a company who made inflatable PFDs that rain could cause them to inflate unexpectedly. That kind of cooled my jets about going with inflatables. After your post I think I will look into IPFDs some more.

That would scare the hell out of me! But would make a great practical joke… Thanks again for all the input. I put my new rod and reel on hold for 2 more weeks just so I can buy 2 new jackets for me and the wife!

The best suggestion I can make is to fine someone that has the brand that your interested in. Hopefully they will let you wear it for a few hours so you can get a feel of what it’s like.

There are some that have the collar style and it bothers them around the neck because of the rubbing. Others have them and they don’t seem to be bothered by it.

If it’s not comfortable for YOU, it’s not going to be worn.

Kinda defeats the whole purpose of the inflatable.

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If it’s not comfortable for YOU, it’s not going to be worn.

Kinda defeats the whole purpose of the inflatable.

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And some aren’t legal unless they are worn.
DT

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If it’s not comfortable for YOU, it’s not going to be worn.

Kinda defeats the whole purpose of the inflatable.

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And some aren’t legal unless they are worn.
DT

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Yeah, I said that wrong. All inflatables must be worn.

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NOW if you are fishing over COLD water, neoprene is indispensable. I would and do wear both. life is too short as it is. to miss any of it is a mistake.

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I’ll take the Mustang Survival Suit over a neoprene/PFD combo any day…so does the USCG. Worth checking out as I completely agree with the rest of your statement.

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I guide at night. I can’t afford to have someone fall out of my boat whether anchored or moving. If this should happen, I’ll have a very good chance of “catching” them as the river currents take them down stream.

My boat does not leave the dock without all on board wearing a Float Tech Inflatable PFD<

Float Techs are by far the most comfortable PFD on the market. Many of my clients try to leave still wearing them. Now if you forget your wearing a PFD, how much more comfortable can a person get?

They come with a vest and nylon jacket with removable sleeves for added versatility. “D” rings to hook your dead man tether to and it’s hooded for those cold night or rain showers that come out of no where.

The PFD around your boat chairs may cover the law, but will do you little good when a person is thrown or falls out of the boat.

Why else will you go swimming?

USCG Approved Type V
and
Catfish Guide Tested.

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That chick is the only reason BK pulled the trigger on those jackets, he thought she was included….

Corey, she could be my granddaughter.

…and that would be wrong…right? Right?

Touche’, but…

No “but’s”! Do you think that little blond haired girl would allow a 72 pound blue cat replica on her living room wall?

I’ll keep the little blond haired trophy I have…

(still working on the alligator gar mount in the bedroom as you can see)

The FW is a much better, “real” and a more wholesome woman than the blonde, I’m sure anyway. Let the wife read your responses, and you’d have the Gar on the wall in no time, I’m sure she’d help you put it up too!

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Let her read your responses,

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Corey, we’ve been married for 30 years. She’s onto my game.

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Let her read your responses,

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Corey, we’ve been married for 30 years. She’s onto my game.

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She tells him what to type from what I hear

BK,good luck with that bedroom mount thing

I decided this was the year to start wearing a PFD in all cool water or rough conditions. i’m a confident swimmer so i won’t wear one when it’s calm and the water’s in the 70s but spring fall and wavy conditions it’s time to get smart.

so i bought a Cabela’s Fish Stalker vest for ~$75 and was really pleased with how comfortable it fit. i stuck it in the boat and then forgot it was there when i drove to the lake for the first time…and it apparently blew out on the way. UGHHH!

i’m about to re-order, and just wondering about getting an auto-inflate instead. the Cabela’s Angler 3500 is about the same price as the Fish Stalker.

any thoughts on comfort/wearability between the two, especially when worn over rain or cold weather gear with hoods?

I have the Cabelas 3500 and no complaints. It’s comfortable enough.

Sometimes I need to read more carefully.

I’ve got both 3500s and like them both.

Here is what I decided on. I tried on about 7 different ones and they all had a stupid little flap that went up your neck, and I could see it being a huge nuisance! So I went with this one. I think for the money this was the best one I had looked at so far.
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=X-Factor-Deluxe-Automatic/Manual-Inflatable-PFD&i=81118&merchID=1006&r=view

I heard or read somewhere that these auto inflates may not even work in our cold waters here? I’m wondering if they are rated to a certain temp before I drop a bunch of cash.

Thanks, I need to buy a comfortable life vest so I wear it.

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I heard or read somewhere that these auto inflates may not even work in our cold waters here? I’m wondering if they are rated to a certain temp before I drop a bunch of cash.

Thanks, I need to buy a comfortable life vest so I wear it.

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Cold weather adversely affects the operation of these PFDs. While the CO2 cartridge will fully inflate the vest most of the year, in extremely cold temperatures the same amount of gas will not expand to the same volume, reducing the vest’s buoyancy.
Something to keep in mind when in the cold.

Hear is a link to go over that may help ones decision on inflatable PDF .

web page

Take note in the different triggering methods for the automatic PDF

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Take note in the different triggering methods for the automatic PDF

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By USCG rules they all have to inflate within 5 seconds. I’m not sure a 1.5 second difference is that big of a deal?

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How does Float-Tech compare to other float coats?
Float coats do not generally turn a victim’s face up and out of the water. Float-Tech does. Additionally, Float-Tech is not bulky, warm and heavy like full float coats, and is versatile enough to be worn in many more seasons and conditions.

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How does your jacket compare to the competitions? Why is it different?
Float-Tech is less bulky, lighter and more versatile. Inflatables have stricter performance requirements than your average foam lifejacket. Our inflatable has significantly more buoyancy than foam lifejackets and will turn your head out of the water if face down.

Float-Tech also has a wide neck design and lays flat in the shoulders for better comfort. It is the only USCG approved lifejacket that can be worn alone or zipped into an outer apparel and still exceed USCG standards for an inflatable.

In addition, the Float-Tech system packages a lightweight boating jacket that is waterproof and breathable that will keep you dry in the rain, yet light enough and versatile enough to wear in varying temperature conditions. The major advantage, its like wearing a jacket versus wearing lifejacket.

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I have three for my boat at Everts. With an advance notice I can have them available to try out.

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Take note in the different triggering methods for the automatic PDF

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By USCG rules they all have to inflate within 5 seconds. I’m not sure a 1.5 second difference is that big of a deal?

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Yea! probably not that big of a deal but I was thinking the Hydrostatic triggers are more dependable as for premature inflation over dissolving trigger units. More spendy though and more costly to rearm.

Also dissolving trigger mechanism have a half life of 2 to 4 years so one must keep this in mind when purchasing an auto inflatable PDF.

The Float-Tech sure looks likes a nice system.

Rd I see that these can be changed from a manual mode to an automatic mode. How does that work?

There I a small clear plastic piece on the bottom of the part that holds the cylinder. You just replace it with another one that it came with and your good to go!