Presents for Friends - need feedback on Auto PFDs please

[Catigale]

Im getting a couple of Christmas presents for friends - the kind who drove a total of 12 hours to help us strip the plywood of our cottage roof, and then underlay and nail 500 sqft of roof.......

In November in upstate NY......

Can you guys who use automatic PFDs comment quickly on what you have, pros cons??

Im buying them each an auto PFD for their boat and want to get them good ones.

SOSuspenders
Mustang
??

[Bawgy]

The 109 I race on supplies the crew with SOS if they want to wear one . I have the SOS myself with the Attachment harness built in .I wear it during the winter but summer days I just use the belt manual one . It gets hot down here in 5 mph winds and 95º days .

[Trouts Dream]

The admiral and I each have one. I have had to remind her to take hers off when we get to dock. So comfortable she sometimes forgets she has it on.

[pokerrick1]

Trout;

What make/model are they?

Rick

[NiceAft]

I have six of the SOS auto inflatable with the harness. No one on the boat gets away from wearing one. We find them extremely comfortable, and I have yet to get one complaint from any guest.

After two years with them, I decide to actually try one out. I figured it would be nice to know if they actually worked It did I jumped into the water and waited. It was definitely not instantaneous, but I was just as happy because I felt secure in the vests not going off when it gets wet from rain, or splash. There was reflective fabric inside, and a whistle.

The one obvious drawback is the cost. It also took me awhile to find a replacement cartridge kit. You are supposed to replace the cartridge every three years. I saw no benefit in using a replacement kit that would not give me three years of use. Make sure any replacement cartridge kit is new enough to give three years of use.

Ray

[Trouts Dream]

We have Mustang make but they are on the boat about 1 hour from home and I'm not sure of the model.

[jeffz]

We bought the mustang units with the HIT inflater.

Model
MD3183

Haven't needed them but wear them all the time. Very comfortable, don't even know they are on after the first few times. Found a good deal on them online.


JeffZ

[Divecoz]

For what its worth . We have 2 and both ( Both Suspenders btw one auto one not) have self deployed . Mine was hung inside the cabin and while we were gone the suction cup hook let go and it fell 3 feet and somehow inflated. My wife's self inflated after being dropped from waist high onto the dock and she is 5' 0. IMHO It was well worth the cost to recharge it, as it scared the daylights out of her and this time, I had nothing to do with it happening Freak accident ? I dont know but it happened twice in one month.

[jeffz]

The ones we bought are auto with a hydrostatic inflater that needs like 6" of water pressure to inflate. They also have a manual oh s*it cord.

They cost around 200 per copy but figured it is well worth it. so far so good.


jeffz

[Catigale]

Thanks everyone - might stop at West Marine today and do the deed if I can get a deal on 3 of them..

[Terry]

No one on the boat gets away from wearing one. We find them extremely comfortable, and I have yet to get one complaint from any guest.

After two years with them, I decide to actually try one out. I figured it would be nice to know if they actually worked It did I jumped into the water and waited. It was definitely not instantaneous, but I was just as happy because I felt secure in the vests not going off when it gets wet from rain, or splash.
Ray

The ones we bought are auto with a hydrostatic inflater that needs like 6" of water pressure to inflate. They also have a manual oh s*it cord.

OK, This sounds fine for a fish like me, now, how about a non-swimmer, you know, the one who panics the second they hit the water and may even drown while waiting for the vest to inflate because their head went under for a couple seconds?
The Admiral keeps looking at these vests at the shows and I am quick to discourage them knowing her the way I do. Mind you I'd love to have one myself cause I don't like wearing a life jacket but I have to set the example and if I get one you can be sure the Admiral will demand one. So Here I am stuck, setting an example.

[Trouts Dream]

Maybe Niceaft can elaborate but I believe they are pretty darn quick to inflate, although not instantaneous. My guess is they will have inflated by the time the COB gets oriented enough to know what just happened.

Me, I want the boat coming back to be instantaneous. I can tread water for a few minutes, but I want to see the boat coming back.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

OK, This sounds fine for a fish like me, now, how about a non-swimmer, you know, the one who panics the second they hit the water and may even drown while waiting for the vest to inflate because their head went under for a couple seconds?

A couple of friends of ours are non-swimmers, and your topic has been our thinking also. It would be troubling to holler at a MOB in the water, in panic, trying to remind him/her -- "INFLATE" "INFLATE" We keep several sizes of "normal" pfds on board & stored--and its also comforting to know they have features of foam floatation for the boat (just in case of the worst scenerio).
The zip up (and/or snap strap) vest types of pfds arent too uncomfortable, in my opinion. Its those big orange foam thingies with the big "behind the neck" support that makes one feel like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

[Chip Hindes]

I can't say anything about the hydrostatic type inflator, but about the standard (non hydrostatic) autoinflator Trout's Dream is right. I had a chance to find out first hand when I flipped the inflatable dinghy (with the motor running). The West Marine by SOSPenders went off with a bang before I even realized I was in the water.

Probably because I went in headfirst, the surprise got me a pretty good mouth and noseful of water before the jacket went off and popped my head out, spitting and coughing; not instantaneous but no more than a second or two. If you think about it, no matter what type of PFD you wear, if you go in headfirst your face is going to be in the water, so I think what I experienced is about the best you can reasonably hope for. Be reasonable, though, even a non swimmer can't drown in a couple of seconds.

We've had ours for five years and have yet to experience an unintended inflation due to rain or other extraneous water coming into the boat. On the other hand, on several occasions we have come back to the boat after a week away and found a jacket fully inflated while hanging, perfectly dry from its hook on the bulkhead. The manual recommends the bobbin (the small donut shaped piece that controls the autoinflation) be replaced every season because after awhile it gets tired and just lets go. Sorry to say, we have been known to put if off. This is truly stupid since a replacement bobbin is only $6 while a complete rearming kit necessary after inflation is $30.

We have worn ours literally for 12-15 hours straight or more when offshore to and from Bimini. The worst I can say about comfort is that the neck part tends to chafe when I have a sunburn.

[Gazmn]

I have 3 autos and 1 manual, as well as another 4 regular type III foam jobs

Nothing like variety. One of my Sos auto suspender ones went off and has to be replenished.

Side note: I use the manual one for swimming from the boat. God forbid something happen and I can't get back to the boat due to a strong tide etc.
I've attached a whistle to ALL vests and I also trail 30' of yellow knotted & looped polypropylene line when I'm sailing [Especially solo ].

I also keep the line in the water when I'm on the hook and splashing around. It has a small white fender on the end that makes it more conspicuous and obvious to other boaters to go slow, there's something or someone in the water.

-Gaz