I have an inflatable vest.I bought it to wear while I fish when I have on my winter clothes.I figure it better than not wearing one at all and you can still wear your regular vest when using the big motor.I do not notice the inflatable at all while fishing.I did not trust them either but spoke to game wardens every time I saw them to get their opinion and they trust and use them.I was stopped on Lake o the pines by two wardens and was told that if inflatables are the only vest you have you have to have it on.Cant just have it in the boat. I carry both types so it does not matter.Hope this helps.

Actually it depends on the label I think. Depending on what type it is determines if you have to have it on at all times. Some are like a regular type III traditional vest and you don't have to wear em all the time I think. Just read the coast guard regs and the label to be sure.

If you dont have them on while fishing you must have regular vest out and accessable per the game warden or you are in violation, found this outwhile fishing at Martin Creek in febuary.Does not matter if they auto inflate or not.

You are wrong. It doesn't matter whether or not the vest is self-inflating or not. The only way it counts toward the number of vests required to be in the boat, is if it is being worn. If it's not being worn, or even sitting in the floor next to you, if the game warden checks, he will not count it towards the 1 PFD per person in the boat. My Sospenders inflated on me once also, but that was because they were laying in the floor of the boat during a gullywasher rain.
Blew up and like to scared the sh*t out of me and my partner.

I got my BPS Mustang early this year. Wear it all the time I'm in the boat (mine or someone else's). Yesterday fished in the rain here on Fork and had no problems.

That's the way I feel about it! If anything can go wrong with a "mechanism", it will do it while I am depending on it!!

Good stuff! thanks !

Astro 90 - I'm kinda old (62)and kinda fat (220)and fish alone most of the time. I wanted a vest that would self-inflate and be very comfortable. After trying on vests several places, the Mustang MD31 at BPS easily won out. The plug on the gas cylinder is opened by 4 inches water depth pressure (hydrostatic pressure).The non-hydrostatic vests have a cylinder plug that opens when it gets wet (rain, waves, splashes, high humidity, etc). The easiest way to tell the difference is in the word "hydrostatic" and also the higher replacement cylinder cost ($75 for hydrostatic vs. $25 for water immersion type). Hydrostatic vests are expensive - mine was $280 - but a good insurance policy especially if you fish alone.

Good advice ! thanks!!!

I asked the question to a ex-game warden about having an inflateable vest and not wearing it all the time. His answer was this.

Just have another regular PFD on board. I'm sure you probably already have. The Type 5's are only considered a legal PFD if they are worn. So if you have regular PFD in the boat you won't get any grief from GW's.

any of you that use suspenders have over a 52" chest? if so how is the fit?

bump

mine fits ok with just a shirt on but when i bundle up with sweatshirt and coat, its a little snug but still more comfortable than a full vest.

I was talking to the lake patrol last year on Texoma and he said "they are trying to get the inflatables tagged differently." He also made a statement that made a lot of sense. "With the inflatable type vest you have no protection if you are in an accident. You have no padding around your chest if you were to slam into the steering wheel or an object was to hit you." He was very informative on the vest. Also he said, "that if they have been discharged they are no longer legal PFD's". That was the first time I had ever heard that statement. I will always stay with the good old trust life vest.

Thanks, ridgerunner!