My personal opinion and treatise on PFDs

If you are even considering (and you should) the purchase of an
inflating PFD, please read completely and understand this. You don’t
have to agree, but you probably will.

Find somewhere that you can go to try on numerous suppliers products.
There are at least three suppliers in North America: Sospenders, Mustang
and Crewfit.
I personally believe that only the auto-inflate (AIPFD) are worth
considering at all.
Try them all on. Do not even look at the price tag. Do NOT buy a PFD
on price
If a PFD is not Comfortable, you may be tempted to not make the point to
wear it always.
When you find the one that is comfortable to you - Buy It (and a re-arm
kit).
If you are a sailor, buy the version with the harness.
Get the both the included and replacement cylinders weighed as soon as
practical and write the actual weight and date on it with a waterproof
marker.

It has been my experience over very many years that PFDs are not worn
for two reasons.
1. They impede movement.
2. They are uncomfortable or cause discomfort.

This is the thing that the AIPFD specifically avoids. BUT, it is still
of no value if it is not on the body that hits the water.

Have the re-arm kit in a double zip lock bag stored in your sea bag.
Again, if it should deploy when not needed, you need to be able to
recover it during the passage.

My wife and I have been wearing AIPFDs since long before the USCG daned
to approve them. We have each used them (as opposed to merely wear) at
lease once in eighteen seasons. I have two original Crewfit that are in
the reserve stock. They will pass my annual inspection, but they are
very visibly worn at the folds. These devices do not have an infinite
life.

Now that you have an AIPFD, please remember to inspect it at least
annually. Blow it up and let is sit for a day, and while it is sitting,
replace the batteries in the light you added and weigh and date-mark the
cylinder. Over the years, I have lost two cylinders because they came
up short on weight. Neither had any visible distress to the seal.

Let us depart and hope that your only experience with your AIPFD is that
day when you miss a step to the dink and end up hearing the BANG-
Whoose. It is very comforting - until you figure out that apart from
the embarrassment, you are also out the 20+$ for the re-arm kit.

Please, take the rambling of this old waterman to heart.

Matt Colie
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Perpetual Sailor

MarshallE wrote:
I am looking at various PFD's that are auto/manual inflatable with a
harness. I know very little about the different brands and am hopeful that
others have opinions and perhaps where to purchase at discount prices.
thanks