PFD's (life jackets)

[Duane Scarborough]

There's been several threads recently on the SA forum related to PFD's, or life jackets. I haven't seen you guys in those discussions, so I'm throwing this out for you to think about.

You all know that I consider you to be my friends. It'd break my heart to learn that any one of you drowned, and you were not wearing a life jacket. I had a good friend drown several years ago, and they found his undamaged boat, with life jackets aboard. Unfortunately, his dead body did NOT have a life jacket, and he was a good swimmer.

Please WEAR some kind of life jacket EVERY time that you are out on the water. Just having it onboard is NOT the same as having it on your body.

The inflatables have come down in price, and are comfortable enough to wear without getting in your way. You may want to consider one of those.

They're kinda' like seat belts. It doesn't help if you put it on AFTER the accident.

Duane

[buster]

Good point Duane,
In Minnesota I know the law requires every person in a boat to have a PFD, but for some reason only the kids have to be wearing them.

If whatever caused you to end up in the water renders you unconsious, or otherwise injured, that PDF is probably usless to you if you're not
actually wearing it.

My problem with them is, my wife bought several Sterns PDFs' at a garage sale when I was building my first boat. They all are marked LARGE, but I can barley get them on, and I ain't that big, 6'2" and 210 lbs. I could never get one over a jacket. Do they make them a lot bigger than large, I haven't taken time to check that out?

Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Dave,

I hear what you're saying. I'm not a light-weight myself.

Here in the South, the foam vests are hot as hell.

I've ordered 2 of these, from West Marine.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=12387

There are MANY options out there. BUt for it to work, it HAS to be something that is comfy enough to wear EVERY time that you get in the boat.

I have friends that swear by these.

Duane

[Papee]

I must admit I don't wear mine as often as I should. If I'm making a short trip or just move around when fishing I don't put it on. I only use mine when I am boating in an unknown area or traveling a large distance at high speeds. Really to protect me I would need something like a catchers outfit.

[brlcla]

very comfortable on those cool spring morning rides.... even in summer us airboaters need a light jacket

http://floattech.com/

[Duane Scarborough]

brlcla,

That looks interesting.

Like I've said, there are MANY options. Everyone, PLEASE find something that is comfy enough that you'll wear it EVERY time you're out on the water.

It won't do you any good in an emergency if it's stowed away.

It puzzles me that some folks will buy $500,000 or $1,000,000 worth of life insurance, but they won't spend $100 - $200 for a comfy life jacket.

Duane

[Duane Scarborough]

Dave,

I hear what you're saying. I'm not a light-weight myself.

Here in the South, the foam vests are hot as hell.

I've ordered 2 of these, from West Marine.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=12387

There are MANY options out there. BUt for it to work, it HAS to be something that is comfy enough to wear EVERY time that you get in the boat.

I have friends that swear by these.

Duane

All,

I was delighted to find that the Fed-Ex guy had delivered my new auto inflate life jackets when I got home from work today. They are EXACTLY as advertised. You can put one on, and in just a couple of minutes forget that it's even there. VERY comfy.

I'm a "fair" swimmer, but Pam can't swim a lick. So, I wanted something that would be comfy enough for us to put on EVERY time we get on the boat.

Just think about it, if EITHER of us drowned, it'd be a very BAD day for BOTH of us.

The total cost for 2 of them, including taxes, and S&H, was $221.89

I consider that to be very cheap life insurance....

Thanks,

Duane