Inflatable Lift Preserver - Pro's, Cons, Purchasing Suggestions

[Little Ducky]

I've been kicking around the idea of getting and inflatable life preserver to wear around the dock, while fueling and doing other things in and around the boat while out and about.

Pricing seems to be all over the place and one thing I noticed today is some or most that I've seen are not Coast Guard Approved.

Has anyone purchased one lately or suggest a make and model over another brand.

Thanks

 

[Burg guy]

Bought one for our 40yr old son to wear on his fishing boat from Cabelas. Read the reviews on the auto inflators. They go off in the rain and one guy down south in very humid temps had them inflate twice in his vehicle. After reading those, I told him to always keep it in manual mode. The prices have come down but you certainly can't pay twenty bucks every time it rains.

 

[Little Ducky]

Bought one for our 40yr old son to wear on his fishing boat from Cabelas. Read the reviews on the auto inflators. They go off in the rain and one guy down south in very humid temps had them inflate twice in his vehicle. After reading those, I told him to always keep it in manual mode. The prices have come down but you certainly can't pay twenty bucks every time it rains.

Some really good points.

I was actually thinking I'd wear it in poor conditions when I have to walk around the windshield and screw around with the windless or some other weather related scenario. Having accidental inflation has not been mentioned in the reviews I've seen so far. If they have a tendency to go off in the rain I might have to stop my search now.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Had 2 go off sitting on the backs of the chairs on our bridge I think from the heat/humidity.

 

[sbw1]

I have used them for years in all kinds of conditions and never experienced or heard of them going off in the rain. There are several types and I bought the ones for offshore since we were frequently 30 or more miles from land. These are designed to support an unconscious person in an upright position. Purchased them from West Marine. Very comfortable to wear. I also attached whistles and signal mirrors to them. They do require maintenance which consists of replacing the pellets on a schedule.

 

[b_arrington]

Inflatable PFDs are great. I've had the auto-inflating type for about 20 years (same one). The only time I had an unintended inflation was when it was left in the bottom of my dingy - that had water in it.

There are couple types of autoinflator mechanisms. The best type is call hydrostatic. It relies on a certain amount of water pressure to inflate - IE, you have to wearing and be in the water for it go off. Of course these are more expensive. The other type uses a disolvable "bobbin" or "pill". When the get wet, they dissolve and allow the inflator needle to puncture the CO2 cartridge. These are the types with the most unintended inflations. Some designed are better than protecting the bobbin from moisture than others. I've worn mine in the rain without a problem because the design is good.

On the bobbin, this is a service part. Technically it should be replaced every year or so, and they have an expiration date. I've not done it that often.

Typical autoinflator bobbin. The white part rapidly dissolves in contact with water.

For brands, my oldest PFD is a West Marine SOSpenders model. Very confortable to wear, used to wear it ALL THE TIME on my Amberjack. Without exaggeration, basically any time the boat was in motion or I had to go on deck such as grabbing the mooring. It made me feel much safer. My current ones are from CrewSaver Crewfit models. They were part of the dealer commissioning package for my last boat. Pretty comfortable too, although I seem to wear them less since I'm in a slip now and have a boat with fully enclosed helm deck.

 

[Bop]

We all wear Mustang auto inflatable. We wear them in pouring rain and never had an issue. The big benefit I see with the is we wear them way more often since they are just way more mobile. That alone makes them worth it.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

I have a few of the west marine units on the boat and wear one when ever out on the deck while away from the dock.
I too only had them go off inadvertently when I left them it the dingy with the cover on. I picked them up for $80 and change on sale.
Carpe Diem

 

[Juliery]

I have worn a Mustang PFD (personal flotation device) since they first became available. They pioneered the technology. The bobbin style have pretty much been replaced by the hydrostatic type as b_arrington has noted earlier. There is zero chance of unintended inflation. I wear mine whenever I'm out on the boat. It's not bulky and is very comfortable. The statistics are compelling: those going overboard without a life vest of some sort have a much reduced likelihood of successful recovery.

 

[Strecker25]

Love ours as well. Comfortable too. I had an accidental discharge this winter because I left it at the helm and it got wet prior to Shrinkwrap.

the recharge was $25 so I won’t do that again

 

[Stee6043]

I think the biggest downside is that they don't offer sizes for children under the age of 16. I'd love to have some USCG approved inflatables for the kids whilst running around on the dinghy...

 

[Little Ducky]

I have worn a Mustang PFD (personal flotation device) since they first became available. They pioneered the technology. The bobbin style have pretty much been replaced by the hydrostatic type as b_arrington has noted earlier. There is zero chance of unintended inflation. I wear mine whenever I'm out on the boat. It's not bulky and is very comfortable. The statistics are compelling: those going overboard without a life vest of some sort have a much reduced likelihood of successful recovery.

I like Mustang's description:

US Coast Guard Approved Recreational Type II, Commercial Type V (Type II only when worn*)

Mustang Survival HIT AUTO Inflatable PFD is designed for use in severe weather conditions. It incorporates an auto hydrostatic inflator which is not susceptible to spray, rain or humidity, and is maintenance free for five years from date of manufacture.

 

[Strecker25]

I think the biggest downside is that they don't offer sizes for children under the age of 16. I'd love to have some USCG approved inflatables for the kids whilst running around on the dinghy...

tell me about it. We’ve trained our 3 year old to deal with his life jacket and I wouldn’t expect an inflatable to be safe at that age but if they could get them approved for 6 and up or so it would be great

 

[Creekwood]

I have both the Mustang autoinflate as well as the manual inflate versions (you have to pull a rip cord to inflate them, like an airplane one). They are totally comfortable and we wear them while underway on plane, and I wear one when fishing alone. Highly recommend them because people will wear them.

One thing to consider is that they do not count in your "one life jacket per passenger" rule unless people are wearing them. At least that is the rule in Canada. So if you and your guests are not wearing them while underway, you should have a sufficient stash of regular life jackets on board in case you get boarded by the CG.

 

[b_arrington]

I think the biggest downside is that they don't offer sizes for children under the age of 16. I'd love to have some USCG approved inflatables for the kids whilst running around on the dinghy...

Me too. At 5’ 8” and 180 lbs of muscle, my 14 year son is bigger than some adults and has been for a while. No reason he shouldn’t be able to use an inflatable.

 

[b_arrington]

I have both the Mustang autoinflate as well as the manual inflate versions (you have to pull a rip cord to inflate them, like an airplane one). They are totally comfortable and we wear them while underway on plane, and I wear one when fishing alone. Highly recommend them because people will wear them.

One thing to consider is that they do not count in your "one life jacket per passenger" rule unless people are wearing them. At least that is the rule in Canada. So if you and your guests are not wearing them while underway, you should have a sufficient stash of regular life jackets on board in case you get boarded by the CG.

Rule is the same in the US.

 

[Little Ducky]

One thing to consider is that they do not count in your "one life jacket per passenger" rule unless people are wearing them. At least that is the rule in Canada. So if you and your guests are not wearing them while underway, you should have a sufficient stash of regular life jackets on board in case you get boarded by the CG.

Good to know. Thanks.

I use my boat to social distance myself from others so most of the time I'm solo.

 

[DWABoat]

I've been kicking around the idea of getting and inflatable life preserver to wear around the dock, while fueling and doing other things in and around the boat while out and about.

Pricing seems to be all over the place and one thing I noticed today is some or most that I've seen are not Coast Guard Approved.

Has anyone purchased one lately or suggest a make and model over another brand.

Thanks

We use the Mustang MD3183 in my day job.
This is a HIT type auto inflate with a pull handle and manual inflate tube, if all else fails. About $300 plus bucks each.

They are pretty rugged with stainless buckles.

When me or my crew do any function or operation where the risk of falling overboard is enhanced, we will wear our foam pfd’s. We only use these inflatables for our normal risk operations.