Agree that I appreciate the law on the water supporting our use and safety . I also agree that they need to fully understand the law ---- no guessing .
Inflatable PFD's are difficult to understand if they are truly safer , or just more convenient .
Several years ago a prominent guide listed all the reasons he doesn't allow his customers to use anything but a standard life vest ----no inflatables .
Main reason was that Inflatable PFD's are NEVER tested for use at high speed impact for bass boats. Including the USCG , they only test total weight supported and consistency on actual inflation .
I read an article where a bass fisherman was at full speed when the hydraulic connection at the motor came undone and his ProXS250 turned 90degree's instantly and he was launched out of his boat @ 70 MPH . He hit the water so hard it ripped his inflatable off his body ( still connected around the waist , but not around his shoulders/head ). Luckily , he maintained consciousness after impact and survived . He was positive that he had the inflatable PFD on properly --snug fit etc... If he had been knocked unconscious , he was positive the inflatable PFD would have drowned him versus keeping him alive with his head above water .

I think I'm missing something here (wouldn't be the first time). if you are fishing (no big motor running), what difference does it make where you have your "automatic" PFD on or your "conventional" PFD on? I didn't think you were required to have anything on (well, other than shorts) if you were just fishing with your trolling motor. neither unit will protect you if you fall out of the boat while fishing if it's laying in the driver's seat.

The law on inflatable's as I understand it is that if you do not have the inflatable on it does not count as a life jacket on board. So if you are out fishing and take your inflatable off when you shut down and put the trolling motor in the water you better have an additional standard life jacket somewhere in that boat because your inflatable when not on your person does not count as a life jacket. This is how the law was described to me by a game warden, so until another game warden tells me otherwise that is what I'm going to follow no matter what I read on the TFF.