texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,580
TexDawg 119,524
Bigbob_FTW 94,902
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,264
Bob Davis 81,500
Mark Perry 72,293
Derek 🐝 68,312
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,850
Posts13,935,532
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5
Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? #11522821 04/05/16 02:22 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19,756
Huckleberry Offline OP
TFF Guru
OP Offline
TFF Guru
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19,756
Just wondering what everyone thinks about inflatable PFD's. I like the idea about less bulk on your body but I just can't get pass the idea of relying on a mechanical feature to save my life.

We had an incident this weekend on Lake Gaston here in Va. during a tournament where two men were ejected from their boat when they speared a wave in very rough conditions. There are reports that the driver was wearing an inflatable that came off of his body at impact with the water and still can not be found. The other guy was resuscitated and life flighted out.

There are no reports if the inflatable did or did not inflate and I realize if not attached properly that any PFD can be stripped off with impact. Also no reports at what speed they were traveling.

This is the question I ask myself "would you rather be wearing a standard PFD or an inflatable if you were ejected from the boat at 60 / 70 or 80 mph?"

I choose standard.

http://www.rrdailyherald.com/news/breaki...dbbcaee347.html

Last edited by Huckleberry; 04/05/16 02:31 PM.
Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522829 04/05/16 02:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 50,006
fouzman Offline
Methuselah
Offline
Methuselah
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 50,006
Standard PFD that can withstand impacts up to 100mph. Have a friend who nose hooked and was ejected at 70+ mph. He was wearing a full PFD. His passenger was wearing an inflatable. My buddy was banged up pretty good but never went under water. His passenger went under water and his inflatable brought him back to the surface. But he was a large man and the inflatable wasn't doing a very good job of keeping his head above the water. Luckily, he remained conscious throughout the ordeal. But what if he hadn't?


"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out" - Zachary Troy Schrah - a young man with vision far beyond his years.
Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522832 04/05/16 02:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,070
K
kellisag Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
K
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,070
I don't. I would rather have the standard jacket protecting my ribs from the impact of hitting whatever I fly into.

Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522863 04/05/16 02:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 6,127
F
fitter2259 Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
F
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 6,127
I like the comfort of inflatables and use them most often, but when things get bad I keep a couple of standard jackets on board and switch. I have a lot of living left to do and try to minimize the risk whenever I can.


Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522866 04/05/16 02:45 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 50,829
T
Trickster Offline
Super Freak
Offline
Super Freak
T
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 50,829
Standard. I went to the Mustang 100MPH vest last year. I still wear the inflatable when it is warm and the wind is not bad. The Mustang vest is a very tight fit.

Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522868 04/05/16 02:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 30,306
RedRanger Offline
burro desagradable
Offline
burro desagradable
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 30,306
I find any type of life jackets to be dangerous wearing and I just don't like to wear them

I don't wear a seat belt in my car either..........

Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522878 04/05/16 02:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 50,006
fouzman Offline
Methuselah
Offline
Methuselah
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 50,006
Darwin will catch up to you eventually, RR.


"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out" - Zachary Troy Schrah - a young man with vision far beyond his years.
Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522883 04/05/16 02:51 PM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 256
F
FACSR Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
F
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 256
I don't know about the safety issues of an inflatable, but I was wearing my Onyx jacket the other morning fishing and it self inflated suddenly for no apparent reason, yes I not only had to get another life jacket out but I required a change of cloths also.

Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522894 04/05/16 02:57 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,750
Outdoordude Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,750
I wear an inflatable most of the time but it doesn't make me feel "safe." The traditional jackets I have are crummy and cheap, just haven't gotten around to getting a nice pair yet.


Scott Jones
Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522912 04/05/16 03:02 PM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 6,885
0
04champ Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
0
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 6,885
I feel safer with an inflatable than I do without, but I do not try to fool myself into thinking it is as safe as a good quality traditional vest

Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: 04champ] #11522932 04/05/16 03:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,566
Happykamper Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,566
I like a standard life jacket, I guess the inflatable would be ok to wear while you are fishing if you cannot swim.


[Linked Image]
Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11522973 04/05/16 03:35 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 929
K
kirbydog Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
K
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 929
I also like the standard jacket-been wearing it so long it doesn't feel right when I'm on the boat and not wearing it.

Last edited by kirbydog; 04/05/16 03:36 PM.
Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11523115 04/05/16 04:43 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,442
R
Razorback Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
R
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,442
I can't swim and I wear a standard PFD 100% of the time I'm on the water. I don't want to have to rely on a mechanical device functioning properly to save my life.

Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11523131 04/05/16 04:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,358
P
Pumadon Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
P
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,358
I assume you mean when running not fishing. I wear a standard PFD when running it does not matter how fast or when. I have a Mustang Hydrostatic that I wear when fishing and the water temps get around 50-55 degrees. Just don't trust the auto inflate to stay on when running. Right now I don't trust my hydrostatic as the recharge kit expires this year. I have to get it replace before next winter.


FISHING NOW NOT WORKING ANYMORE
Re: Do you feel safe wearing an inflatable PFD? [Re: Huckleberry] #11523183 04/05/16 05:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 903
Mike Prengler Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 903

Got thrown out at 70...no kill switch, no jacket on...lucky to be here. Some of you guys know this story.

It's not if, but when gang. Don't tempt it....you really feel like a moron when your boat is cruising away from you and you have no choice but to yell for help.

I would suggest a full jacket.

My saying, clip it an click it.

Page 1 of 5 1 2 3 4 5
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3