For you guys on Falcon and Amistad the following applies to the throwable cushion:

Throwable devices must be immediately available for use. They
should be on the main deck within arm�s reach, hanging on a
lifeline, or other easily reached location.

Not many if any bass boats comply with the cushion being on the deck of the boat.

My understanding of the throw cushion law is on amastad and falcon they are concidered coastal waters, and fall under the coast guard rule of the throwable device must be on deck and accessable at all times.

A lot of it boils down to that the officer thinks "must be readily accessible" is. I have been stopped a few times and the last time the Coast Guard had me move it to a different storage compartment and have nothing on top of it.

Back to the original question now on the auto inflate jackets.
It all depends on what type your jacket says it is.

Most that i have seen are Type V - must be worn
however his Mustang is a USCG approved/Type II - so my understanding of the rules is this is an auto inflate that does not have to be worn at all times to count as a PFD. http://www.basspro.com/Mustang-Survival-Deluxe-Automatic-Inflatable-Vest/product/10204824/133738


http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/safety/life_jackets/

Recently I was told that having only inflatable life jackets on board does not satisfy the requirement of having life jackets on board for each boater. Do I have to have the old school life jackets in addition? I don't want to be in violation, and I sure don't want to have a possible pay check cancelled because I only have inflatable life jackets
In the boat.

Depending on what your coast guard rating is on your inflatable will determine if it has to be worn to be counted. TPWD law states that they must be used in accordance with coast guard regulations. the new HIT are rated as type II where the old style were not. read on your label what level it counts as and it should say when it is legal or not. For instance some will say legal for recreational when not worn but only legal on commercial vessels when worn.

There is alwyas some confusion on this often mis-quoted PFD wearing regulation.......actually there is no such written regulation stating that all inflables PFDs have to be worn to count.

Type II labeled inflatables PFDs such as the Mustang MD183 hydrostat model do NOT have to be worn to count on recreational boats in Texas. (It is not a type V hybrid PFD that has to be worn).
Not what a Lake Fork GW told us. He told us we must keep them on or have two other PFD's on board.
Sounds like some wardens and anglers may still not be up to date nor have closely read the Texas regs, but thankfully, the local wardens here know them. They never have asked to see another PFD whether the Type II inflatable PFD is being worn or not.