Auto inflating life vest recommendations?

Hey gang I'm thinking about picking up an auto inflating life vest and wondered if anyone has had good luck with one brand over another.

This will be strictly for the power boat since I still like my normal vest for the yak.

Let me know your thoughts.


Thanks,
-Eliot

The west marine brand isn't bad.   Or Mustang.   

I use the mustang hydrostatic life jackets for work. They are comfortable, easy to recharge.  I have never gone overboard with one of these jackets, but I have seen people take a spill in them.  The jacket inflates after a second or two of submersion.

There is one 4sale on the classified board right now.

The west brand inflatables I have feel like they're riding your neck a bit. The Stearns model I use has a better cut around the back of the neck, you forget you're wearing it sometimes.

I've owned a number of varying styles of the West Marine inflatable life vest over the years.  The current model I have is a blue camo color & seems to fit well.  I actually do use it on my kayak & have only had 1 incident but totaly my mistake (sat it down & allowed it to get soaked - poof, inflate)

My nephew bought a boat from the widow of a guy who had an inflatable that did not inflate.  Hit head on something and fell overboard.
May he RIP. Nephew just sold the "Grim Reaper".

My nephew bought a boat from the widow of a guy who had an inflatable that did not inflate.  Hit head on something and fell overboard.
May he RIP. Nephew just sold the "Grim Reaper".

Just to be VERY clear ... there are 2 major type of inflatables; Auto & Manual.  Auto will generally work in 1 of 2 ways; a "melting tablet" & hydro-static (higher end models).  BOTH require routine maintenance (replacement of the melting tablet at least 1x a year + general inspection; one not as often as the other.  The manual will ONLY work if you pull the rip cord.  I've seen too many automatic models that people have disabled & converted to manual because they didn't want to spend the $15 for a 3-year supply of replacement tablets.     If you become unconscious, it will not work.  Neither counts as inventory of lifejackets onboard any boat unless they are being worn at the time of inspection.  Funny how no lifejacket works unless you are wearing them  .

The above statement leaves out a number of facts such as "was he wearing an auto jacket"?  Having been in marine retail for over 11 years, I will BOLDLY state that most people who bought an auto lifejacket went for the cheapest model they could get (manual)  despite reminding them that they will only work if you are able to pull the cord.

Lastly are beltpack inflatable vests designed for waterpsorts like SUP.  These require you to pull the cord AND place the inflated vest over your head.

Mustang on the bass boat. The best

Auto Inflate is fine on a boat but on a kayak they suck imho. HT and I each had them but one day we both launched in a tall surf and by the time we busted through the second crest both of our pfd's "auto-inflated" making it almost impossible to paddle. At one point I almost stabbed the vest...but we both made it through and fished the rest of the day with de-flated vests. Lakes and rivers they would be fine (again imho) as long as you don't get them wet.

I wonder if his family got a refund for it not working.? From what I understand he was unconscious then drowned. I dont think i would want to wear one that had to be manually inflated ones or even the auto inflates too many issues like  noninflation , boating accidents from crazy boat drivers and the like. I can recall at least three accidents that people were ejected from boats, 1 was drunk boater on Folsom Lake hit my friends boat ejected his kids out into the water. 2 was idiot salmon fisherman out of Bodega Bay Hit the party boat doing about 25 mph in the fog outside of Bodega Bay. Lots of crushed rail on bow of the party boat I believe the people in the Whaler were ejected into the water. 3 was party boat that was rolled over going into Bodega bay whale watching a long time ago. A friend was sitting on the  bench seat next to a 12 year old kid when it rolled back up he was gone no life jacket, she and everyone else were still sitting on the bench.

Water be  dangerous everyone should be wearing a pfd at all times when on it.

Inflating vests are made for bass anglers who think they will never need one. The ocean is a different story. A lot of things can go bad on the ocean, adding one more thing like your PFD inflating is not good. You are rolling the dice with your life that the technology will work. Boat anglers can live in the delusion that they will never end up swimming for their life. Kayakers know that it is something that could happen.

I've always wondered about these... So by my understanding they inflate when they come in contact with waster... So if you get hit by a wave enough to get you wet would they inflate...?

Inflating vests are made for bass anglers who think they will never need one. The ocean is a different story. A lot of things can go bad on the ocean, adding one more thing like your PFD inflating is not good. You are rolling the dice with your life that the technology will work. Boat anglers can live in the delusion that they will never end up swimming for their life. Kayakers know that it is something that could happen.

I'm perfectly comfortable with my inflatables, even my manual inflation pfd.  I don't harbor any delusions either,  I'm well aware of the minute odds of winding up in the drink.  They're a much better option than the regular pfd's that I never really wore at all. 

Then again I'm not the kind of guy that puts on a crash helmet to walk outside and I've been known to run with scissors.  Others comfort level with minor risk may disagree.

I've always wondered about these... So by my understanding they inflate when they come in contact with waster... So if you get hit by a wave enough to get you wet would they inflate...?

Most of the new auto inflate vests, when hit with water/waves, will not inflate.  I did a show about a year ago at West Marine & they had one of their auto inflate vests set up in a spray booth all day spraying it with a garden hose & it never inflated.  The mechanism is located behind the "shell" of the vest & inside of a plastic housing that has some small holes on the under side of the housing where the dissolving tablet is located up inside of a long tube.  In short, the water has to get past the outer fabric shell, travel upwards inside the tube, thru some small holes & about another inch to a reach the dissolving tablet.  Can it happen, yes ... will it generally happen, no.  Regular maintenance (tablet replacement) is a must with auto inflate vests.

The alternative is hydro-static vests which activate under water pressure.  I believe it is something like 3' under water.  I must admit that it has been a number of years since I looked closely at the hydro-static vests.

What most don't realize is the activation units in the automatic vests, for the most part, are all manufactured by one major company; Halkey-Roberts.

Like the rest of your gear ... you have to believe & trust in your gear.  If you are uncomfortable with it, find something that you are comfortable & confident with.  I, personally, am happy and trust my life with my inflatable vest.  Key is to wear a vest ... whatever type/style that may be.