Life vest?

[jack1747]

I have a Mustang auto for at least 10 years.  Wear it in all kinds of conditions.  Never inflated.  Got soaking wet in a storm once.

[vw_buggsy]

I have a Mustang auto for at least 10 years.  Wear it in all kinds of conditions.  Never inflated.  Got soaking wet in a storm once.

Thanks Jack. After looking at the automatic ones, it looks like they have a little pill that dissolves in water to let them trigger, and it takes more than a splash or a little rain. I'll have to add one or two to my long list of things to buy 

On a side note, only somewhat related, my kiddo has just recently turned 13. According to MARYLAND regs she is no longer required to wear a life jacket when underway on MD waters. On the other hand the inflatable life vests are ONLY USCG approved for individuals 16 years of age or older. So we have a unique condition where the regs are basically stating "It's more legal for your teenage kid to wear no life vest at all than it is for them to wear an advanced inflatable one if there is one available".

I don't understand how that makes a bit of sense.

[jack1747]

What I understand from the CG is that a inflatable "does not" count as one of the required pfd's unless it's being worn.  4 people onboard, 3 regular pfd's and 1 inflatable laying on the deck.... Your short 1 pfd...

Not aware of the 16 age thing.. Heading for my "Chapman" book now. 

[vw_buggsy]

What I understand from the CG is that a inflatable "does not" count as one of the required pfd's unless it's being worn.  4 people onboard, 3 regular pfd's and 1 inflatable laying on the deck.... Your short 1 pfd...

Not aware of the 16 age thing.. Heading for my "Chapman" book now. 

Unless their under 16 that is, then it doesn't count either way I guess. I don't know if it will be in the Chapman book but every inflatable I've seen says on the USCG label: "Approved for use by adults at least 16 years of age and weighing more than 36.3kg"

So again it would SEEM that for say a 14 year old in MD waters they are allowed to wear NO life jacket at all. They are allowed to wear normal classic life jackets or any variety of the old generation wearables.

However by this USCG logic it seems there is a loophole where a USCG approved inflatable might not count because it's only approved for adults over 16. Could we be cited for no life-jacket if she wore one, since no life-jacket is required to be worn at all? At that point it seems it's technically surplus to the regs. If DNR/USCG COULD cite you for it I think the officer would have to be one heck of a jerk to do so.

For my kid, I'll just get her a lifejacket that's approved. I just think it sucks that she has to be hot and more uncomfortable with a classic life vest for a few years because the USCG has decided the inflatable ones somehow only work once a body reaches 16 

Sorry for the rant but the whole thing just seems really dumb to me. Why only over 16 for the inflatable? Is my 13 year old too dumb to operate an AUTOMATIC life-vest? It makes no sense to me. She's a bit smarter than I am and nearly as responsible 

[U812OHNO]

I'm using US Navy surplus belt pouch MOB kits from MUSTANG, I have two. They have a USCG approved inflatable PFD as well as a whistle and strobe all in one small package. No larger than a fanny-pack and comfortable for all day wear. They can be had fairly cheap too on eBay (I think I paid less than $50 each).

They are self-inflate though when you pull the cord, not the kind that auto-inflate if you hit the water. Y'all make a pretty good case for the automatic inflate ones. I guess when I got them I was just thinking I really didn't want deal with an accidental inflation due to a splash or something. They say the best lifejacket is the one you wear so I was going for something comfortable that I would actually wear rather than one I'd ditch on a 100 degree day.

I just as soon wear your standard run of the mill vest, but one that I can wear all day and doesn't restrict my arm movement, one that doesn't make me sweat too much, is not too bulky in the chest and one that most importantly, doesn't chafe my neck!!  Probably asking for the impossible though, lol. 

[Mikie]

Let you daughter wear the inflatable, just have a regular life vest "on board" to satisfy the cops if they stop you.

[vw_buggsy]

I ended up finding one of the harness jacket style mustang survival vests with auto (and manual) inflate on eBay for just under $60 shipped yesterday. It looks brand new in the pics and was listed as brand new without tag by a well rated seller (with return option), so it should be solid. So that's on the way now.

I feel much more confident that if I get knocked out going into the water, as Jack says: they'll at least be able to find the body     Does that make it easier for my wife and kid to get the insurance pay-out?

It does make sense though. I crab and fish almost exclusively alone in a fairly small boat and I'm starting to do more crabbing and fishing early and late in the seasons when water and/or air temps are lower. A bit more risk to operate that way but whatever, nobody gets out of life alive anyways.

Buggsy

[vw_buggsy]

I just as soon wear your standard run of the mill vest, but one that I can wear all day and doesn't restrict my arm movement, one that doesn't make me sweat too much, is not too bulky in the chest and one that most importantly, doesn't chafe my neck!!  Probably asking for the impossible though, lol. 

Yeah I think finding all those features in a "regular vest" is like looking for a unicorn. That's the reason the inflatables were created and are getting super popular. It's really hard to make a vest with bulky flotation foam that has all those features.

[jack1747]

The new Onyx is here.  I like it.  Light and comfortable. 

[U812OHNO]

 

[vw_buggsy]

 

[Logical1]

I have one of the inflatable PFDs (haven't pulled it out in years) and I have nothing against them. I just don't want to have my life dependent on something where an unseen or unknown hole or defective cartridge etc. would put my safety at risk.  Adam was the one who steered me to the NRS Chinook (he had an orange one, mine is red) they are as dependable as it gets and the pockets are very useful.

[U812OHNO]

I have one of the inflatable PFDs (haven't pulled it out in years) and I have nothing against them. I just don't want to have my life dependent on something where an unseen or unknow hole or defective cartridge etc. would put my safety at risk.  Adam was the one who steered me to the NRS Chinook (he had an orange one, mine is red) they are as dependable as it gets and the pockets are very useful.

Hear ya loud and clear.  I just ordered one like Jacks, I'll see how it feels when I get it.  Is that "NRS Chinook" bulky in the front?  I just know when I'm leaning over my boat running my line, the vest becomes annoying.  It's like I'm wearing a strait jacket and I feel like I can't twist or move my arms as fast.

[Logical1]

I have not had any issues like that with mine, and I am a big guy. Like everything else, it comes down to what you like and what works for you. Get what you are comfortable in or you won't wear it.

[U812OHNO]

Right.  I'll have one nailed down here shortly.

[Crabslayer]

Will this work? 
https://h3osports.com/cdn/shop/products/human_bobber_bu1.jpg?v=1543892154

[Harford Crabber]

This is the one I'm going with.    
Onyx A/M-24 Automatic/Manual Inflatable Life Jacket, BlueOnyx A/M-24 Automatic/Manual Inflatable Life Jacket, Blue

I'm with Jack on this.  BassPro-Cabella's and West Marine have them with their name on them that they usually run on sale in spring-early summer.  They are much lighter and cooler than the more expensive Mustang brand.  I wear mine most of the time I'm on the boat or Kayak.

One thing to know though, they don't count as a life jacket for DNR if you don't have it on.