PFD recommendation

I got the Stohlquist ASea, And have no complaints so far. I've only used it twice, and haven't used any others with the same kayak, so not much of a basis for comparison.  The price was right, it has plenty of flotation, it didn't get in the way when paddling (what little paddling I did), and I was comfortable.

Inflatable pfds?  Not for me!

Been reading advocates of inflatable pfds; my two cents:

Granted an inflatable pfd is better than nothing if it is the only kind you will use, but here are a few other considerations. that led me to buy and wear a good quality foam pfd all the time when I am on the water.

Inflatable pfds depend on the FLAWLESS operation of three (3) separate manmade systems: (1) the in-water or submerged detector / activator– mechanical or chemical, (2) the inflation mechanism / CO2 cartridge, and (3) the intact float bladders.  Plus it depends on the FLAWLESS operation of your Mark One human brain to do regular and correct maintenance.
   
The activators must be regularly replaced and cannot be tested to see if they work without destroying them or having to replace them with the next - untestable - unit..   Are you changing the battery in your smoke detectors every year?  Do you want to find out you have a problem when you wind up in the drink?  Do you ever want to have to tell anyone “it looked like it was okay”?   

The inflation cartridges must be regularly replaced and cannot be tested without needing to be replaced with the next - untestable -unit..  Still forgetting your wedding anniversary or wife’s or kid’s birthdays?   Do you want to find out you have a problem when you wind up in the drink?  Do you ever want to have to tell anyone “your loved one should have been fine because it looked like it was okay”?

The float bladders only work if they are intact – they CAN be tested, but do you know anyone who has?  Any chance you are going to use this pfd in an environment with sharp objects that could make small penetrating holes that would be difficult to detect, like fish hooks, bait threading needles, or knives?  Do you want to find out you have a problem when you wind up in the drink?  Do you ever want to have to tell anyone “your loved one should have been fine because it looked like it was okay”?   

Is everyone that is going to use an inflatable pfd a strong swimmer?  Do you think even the strongest swimmers who are going to use it, might be forced to depend on it in, say, an emergency - where they are no longer strong swimmers because they are dazed, unconscious, or injured?  Any chance an uninjured strong swimmer will be in a hostile environment that might quickly render them unable to strongly swim like, say, cold water that causes hypothermia in a short time?  http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/saf_hypothermia.htm
Do you want to find out you have a problem when you wind up in the drink?  Do you ever want to have to tell anyone “it should have been okay because your loved one was a strong swimmer”?

Paranoid, maybe too paranoid?  Your call, skipper.

Best inflatable?

http://www.mustangsurvival.com/products/product.php?id=506

Coast Guard alert re CO2 pfd inflator failure:

http://www.uscgboating.org/alerts/alertsview.aspx?id=50

Other CG safety alerts and recall notices:

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mse4/recall.htm

COAST Guard use limits (not for children under 16 or weak / non-swimmers) and use requirements (must be worn at all times):
http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_pfd.htm
Discussed in plain English at:
http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/inflate.htm

More “best pfd” information:

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/gm/mse4/pfdseldata.htm

Well said Don, I spend most of my time on rivers. if you go down it happens quick.
The ideal of wearing an Inflatable scars the hell out of me.
I've used kokatat from the get go, tried others but came back.
Once again well said...you give research new meaning.

More thoughts on why no inflatable pfd for me:

Let me lay it on real thick (please forgive a bit of a rant in a heartfelt good cause).

Other possible floatation bladder puncture sources: fish spines; protruding nails, wires, screws, rivets, etc.; gaffs; pen or pencil points; screw driver, ice pick, or hook file points; safety pins and safety pin fasteners for things like fishing licenses; jig eye cleaners; sharp branches encountered in or out of the water; etc.  What does your pfd encounter on its rides to and from the water, or when in that pile at home?  What have the kids, or cat or dog, done with your pfd that you never know about?

Where on your skinny, no-pockets inflatable pfd are you going to put things like your EPIRB; handheld vhf,; aerial signaling devices (signal mirror and flares);  sound rescue device (s) (rescue whistle or air horn); night signaling device(s) (strobe, flashlight, laser pen, etc.); survival knife / line cutter; survival first aid kit; emergency medications; rescue streamer; emergency identification; who-to-contact-in-case-of–emergency info; and on and on? 

Maybe when your loved one goes overboard you don’t think it is important for them to be so well-equipped?  How well-equipped do you want to be if you have to jump in to try to save one or more loved ones?

How about your responsibility to others who may wind up in the drink with you, whoever they are?  Do you want to be the least prepared and the biggest burden on them?  Or do you want to be their best resource for immediate help and hope of quick rescue?  What if they wind up in the water because of you?

What about your friends on the internet who want to continue to read your posts, not read about your unfortunate end?

How about your responsibility to your loved ones who count on you to come home?

Okay, you probably have some real good points to make for and against inflatable pfds of which I have not thought.  And I know there is considerable expense in time and other resources to pull together a well-equipped pfd.

In any event, thanks for reading and I look forward to reading your posts.

I asked Mario, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer to weigh in and for permission to re-post.  Thanks, Mario!

“Note: The statements that follow are my personal views, and in no way represent official reccomendations from my employer .....I just feel like I should say that. Having said that, I'm ususally right about stuff like this  ..

Inflatable or not?

Absolute personal preference. With kayakers, it is almost a forgone conclusion that they wear PFD's, the chances of getting wet are much greater than on larger craft so you guys tend to be a more safety concious lot....however...there are always people who just plain don't like wearing PFDs, usually for reasons of comfort.

Traditional floatation is bulky by design and bulky means warm (or hot) and some people are what I call comfort sissies. "It's too hot...wahh.." For them, inflatable pfd's offer a typically more comfortable choice.

BOTH have advantages and disadvantages (of course):

Traditional PFD's are almost NEVER as bouyant as an inflatable (once inflated of course). The one I wear at work will hold me up, and a 200 lb friend quite easily. Try that with your traditional.

Inflatables have the disadvantages Don spoke of, but saying that a device is inhearently unsafe because it might break (not inflate, leak, etc.) is like saying my car is unreliable because the brakes might fail. True, they might, but my brakes are important so I maintain them. So too my inflatable. Negligence is always dangerous, so if you wear an inflatable...you know...take care of it.

Most of them have dual bladders, so punch a hole in one side, and the other takes over. I have seen plenty of inflatable PFDs in full emergency use, used by people doing a lot harsher work than a day paddle, and I've never seem one fail.

Having said that, I've definitely never seen a traditional one fail either (duh).

So whats the deal? Its all about risk versus gain...no surprise there. I prefer inflatables,(for bouyancy reasons and prior to inflation, I can dive underwater if needed) but I am a very well trained water guy with seriously good gear (that someone else (you) pays for). My daughter has to wear a traditional...thats how I manage that risk.

How you do it is up to you. If you feel comfortable with an inflatable, and you maitain it well, you are just as safe as a person wearing a traditional in my opinion.

"But what if I go unconsious when my head hits a rock on the way ....etc. etc. and the bladder doesn't inflate?...what if it leaks?" Well, then your in a mess. What if flies carried machine guns?

Frogs wouldn't mess with them.”

Original post at:  http://topkayaker.net/cgi-bin/TopYakcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=000203