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Inflatable PFD's Input
#13558914
05/15/20 04:10 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,654
Tiltman
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,654 |
Can I get some expertise ? Do's Don'ts , stay away froms etc.
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13558924
05/15/20 04:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,522
Mark Perry
Super Freak
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Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,522 |
I like them. Have used them for years and have done a lot on in store demos with them. I currently have the Cabelas house brand in the 38lb bouyancy rating. I test them yearly and keep a couple of spare canisters ready to go in case one deploys accidently or when needed. The canisters are cheap on Ebay and Amazon. In about 15 years I have had exactly one accidental deployment. The old wives tell that they "pop" and are loud when they deply is false. It sounds like a balloon being inflated.
Best tip I can give you on the one time I actually had to use mine is DO NOT wear it too loose. When my deployed it filled up and then twisted and was actually holding my head in water. It was not terribly hard to correct in the water but an injury or being unconscious it may have been. I have since tested that by wearing them snugly as suggested and jumping in to deploy them. Never an issue since.
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13558941
05/15/20 04:28 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,654
Tiltman
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,654 |
k cool good info. I am ready to try one for the summer heat.
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13558952
05/15/20 04:42 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 845
Rickmb
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 845 |
I had an Onyx deploy once without me in it while it was on the seat of the boat. Sounded like a gun going off and filling the bladder sounded like a bullet whistling overhead. I literally hit the deck and dove under the console (so much for PTSD). My buddy laughed about it once we figured out what happened. So I do not care for the type where the ring dissolves in water, too much moisture and over time the ring will partially dissolve until it gets weak and deploys. I have had them deploy sitting in a boat compartment. I prefer the hydrostatic type where it uses water pressure to deploy.
I have had the cheaper ones with just straps which can get easily tangled and harder to put on over layers in the winter. I have one that's more of a harness that is comfortable and easy to put on. When fishing along or in inclement weather I wear one the entire time I'm on the water and it doesn't really get in the way.
2018 Skeeter ZX250 2018 Yamaha 250 SHO
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13558955
05/15/20 04:46 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,278
SoCal Tom
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,278 |
Chris, I had a Mustang self inflatable for a lot of years. I still have it. It works but I have just heard so many bad stories about them that last year I went a standard style life jacket. It's bulkier and lots more uncomfortable, but I never have to worry about if it's going to work. I'm a bigger guy and want to trust the life jacket I'm wearing.
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13559021
05/15/20 05:44 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,008
BigDozer66
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,008 |
I have a 20+ year old Mustang HIT, a couple Onxy brand auto's, and I just bought myself a new Mustang Survival Elite HIT model with 28 lbs buoyancy. The only problems I have had was one accidental auto inflate on one of the Onyx's in my storage compartment. Like Mark mentioned make sure you wear it correctly! Get one that fits you well and is comfortable to wear so you will actually wear it!
2016 Ranger RT188 Charcoal Metallic Dual Console 2017 Yamaha 115 VMAX SHO (VF115LA) SS Prop Minn Kota Ultrex i-Pilot Link 45" 80 lb. Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BalZout Console Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BBT Bow Mount Trick Step
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13559022
05/15/20 05:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,522
Mark Perry
Super Freak
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Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 72,522 |
k cool good info. I am ready to try one for the summer heat. Onyx Mustang BPS/Cabelas All good brands. Easy to find cartridges for too
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13559027
05/15/20 05:52 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,437
BThomas
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,437 |
Can I get some expertise ? Do's Don'ts , stay away froms etc.
Do not fall in the lake. They will deploy... At least the Oynx one did.. lol They DO keep your head above water after you surface.
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13559031
05/15/20 05:56 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,437
BThomas
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,437 |
I wear the Mustang. But, the replacement cartridge for them are like 65-70 dollars. I think the re-arm cartridges for the Oynx are cheaper.
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: BigDozer66]
#13559039
05/15/20 06:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 12,181
tmd11111
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 12,181 |
I have a 20+ year old Mustang HIT, a couple Onxy brand auto's, and I just bought myself a new Mustang Survival Elite HIT model with 28 lbs buoyancy. The only problems I have had was one accidental auto inflate on one of the Onyx's in my storage compartment.Like Mark mentioned make sure you wear it correctly! Get one that fits you well and is comfortable to wear so you will actually wear it! I had one do the same. Did a little research and come to find out you should replace the bobbin in the rearming kit every 3 years. Their date stamped and the one I had showed over 3 years yet I had just purchased it less then a year earlier.
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Rickmb]
#13559088
05/15/20 06:37 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 139
dr14
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 139 |
I had an Onyx deploy once without me in it while it was on the seat of the boat. Sounded like a gun going off and filling the bladder sounded like a bullet whistling overhead. I literally hit the deck and dove under the console (so much for PTSD). My buddy laughed about it once we figured out what happened. So I do not care for the type where the ring dissolves in water, too much moisture and over time the ring will partially dissolve until it gets weak and deploys. I have had them deploy sitting in a boat compartment. I prefer the hydrostatic type where it uses water pressure to deploy.
I have had the cheaper ones with just straps which can get easily tangled and harder to put on over layers in the winter. I have one that's more of a harness that is comfortable and easy to put on. When fishing along or in inclement weather I wear one the entire time I'm on the water and it doesn't really get in the way. Which model is the one you mentioned was comfortable and is to put on. thanks
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13559094
05/15/20 06:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,962
Sinkey
Tidy Scoop
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Tidy Scoop
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,962 |
I had 2 different Mustangs. One expanded in my rod box. The other I tested by jumping in the lake and it did NOT expand. Two total different spectrum. So I went back to traditional life jackets. That way no worries.
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Tiltman]
#13559131
05/15/20 07:10 PM
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,149
Ocelot
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,149 |
Just from above you can tell there are issues. Inflatables require regular maintenance and also have had recalls.. When you are on your long awaited trip go out to your boat and discover your pfd inflated and you do not have what you need to get it in a working state are you going to wear it inflated, if not, are you disciplined enough to fix the pfd even if it means missing out on fishing for the day or whole trip? Maybe you will take the risk of your pfd having a low chance of not inflating, have you thought about what that could mean to the people who care about you? Of course if something did happen you would not have to explain it might have been prevented if you did not want to look so cool or took an outing or 2 to get used to having non inflatable pfd on. I want my pfd to always work so no inflatable for me. I use the NRS Chinook, considered gold standard by many kayak fishermen. I do not find it hot in summer or limits my movement.
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: tmd11111]
#13559179
05/15/20 07:58 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,008
BigDozer66
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,008 |
I have a 20+ year old Mustang HIT, a couple Onxy brand auto's, and I just bought myself a new Mustang Survival Elite HIT model with 28 lbs buoyancy. The only problems I have had was one accidental auto inflate on one of the Onyx's in my storage compartment.Like Mark mentioned make sure you wear it correctly! Get one that fits you well and is comfortable to wear so you will actually wear it! I had one do the same. Did a little research and come to find out you should replace the bobbin in the rearming kit every 3 years. Their date stamped and the one I had showed over 3 years yet I had just purchased it less then a year earlier. Mine was less than a year old as well and the cartridge was 3 years old as well.
2016 Ranger RT188 Charcoal Metallic Dual Console 2017 Yamaha 115 VMAX SHO (VF115LA) SS Prop Minn Kota Ultrex i-Pilot Link 45" 80 lb. Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BalZout Console Humminbird Helix 10 Mega SI BBT Bow Mount Trick Step
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Re: Inflatable PFD's Input
[Re: Sinkey]
#13559226
05/15/20 08:28 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,406
bassfishinglawyer
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,406 |
I had 2 different Mustangs. One expanded in my rod box. The other I tested by jumping in the lake and it did NOT expand. Two total different spectrum. So I went back to traditional life jackets. That way no worries. Pretty much the same experience for me.
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