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

"MarshallE" wrote in
m:

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




There's only one brand.....Sospenders

Just buy it. Get the self-inflating one in case you hit your head as you
go overboard and aren't concious to pull the lanyard to inflate. The
automatic one inflates as soon as you hit the water. I tried it myself on
ours when the CO2 carts ran out-of-date. Damned thing just went
boom!...and there I was bouncing around inflated.....

Your life's worth the money, easy....

Also has a great harness rig to go with it. Get it, too. Don't go out of
the cabin in rough weather or at night without it....ATTACHED..

On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 00:52:06 -0500, in message

Larry wrote:

"MarshallE" wrote in
om:

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




There's only one brand.....Sospenders

Mustang?

Ryk

Comments below:

"Ryk" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 00:52:06 -0500, in message

Larry wrote:

"MarshallE" wrote in
. com:

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




There's only one brand.....Sospenders

Mustang?

Ryk

Back in October of 2004 Practical Sailor (Vol.39 # 19) tested a group of
PFD's, including Sospenders (and it's West Marine twin), Stearns, Crewsaver
& Mustang. In their conclusions they prefered the UK based Crewsaver for
"its excelent comfort and fit" but recommended the Mustang models if you
needed a USCG-approved vest. Mustang has redesigned their models to improve
comfort and operation since this test and are still USCG-approved. In face
the USCG uses Mustang PFD's themselves. I have an older Mustang and use it
all the time. I find it very comfortable, in fact I usually forget I have
it on.
--
Ken Heaton & Anne Tobin
Cape Breton Island, Canada
kenheaton at eastlink dot ca

In article 2jZIf.3299$_62.2570@edtnps90,
"Ken Heaton" wrote:

Comments below:

"Ryk" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 00:52:06 -0500, in message

Larry wrote:

"MarshallE" wrote in
. com:

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




There's only one brand.....Sospenders

Mustang?

Ryk

Back in October of 2004 Practical Sailor (Vol.39 # 19) tested a group of
PFD's, including Sospenders (and it's West Marine twin), Stearns, Crewsaver
& Mustang. In their conclusions they prefered the UK based Crewsaver for
"its excelent comfort and fit" but recommended the Mustang models if you
needed a USCG-approved vest. Mustang has redesigned their models to improve
comfort and operation since this test and are still USCG-approved. In face
the USCG uses Mustang PFD's themselves. I have an older Mustang and use it
all the time. I find it very comfortable, in fact I usually forget I have
it on.

All great comments. Mine is a minor consideration but one that for some
turn into a major one. Try on as many of the recommended brands and
styles that you can. Fit might matter.

I have a shorter torso for a man over 6 feet tall. The life jacket I got
was made in both short and long models. I know I would not have worn
the long one, too uncomfortable, but I almost always wear the one i
bought. These things only work if they are on so make sure you buy one
you will wear.

harlan

--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?

Ryk wrote in
news
Mustang?

Ryk


Them, too. I have one of their survival suits, though I doubt there is
time to put it on in most emergencies that happen so fast.

Ryk wrote:
On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 00:52:06 -0500, in message

Larry wrote:


"MarshallE" wrote in
. com:


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




There's only one brand.....Sospenders


Mustang?

Ryk


that's the ticket...
http://tinyurl.com/9vmxy

PFD

another naive question on my part, i'm sure ... but does anyone else
feel a little weird trusting your life to a floating thing that has to
have air in it to keep floating ? i know they are comfortable and all,
the inflatables, because they don't inflate until you need them to
inflate. but if you were going over the side in an emergency out in
the middle of the ocean, and you could be in the water for who knows
what amount of time, would you worry about being out there with an
inflatable vest ? i imagine they have kevlar and other protections on
them to keep them from being snagged or punctured and losing their air,
but it still makes me feel sort of odd knowing that if it were cut or
punctured that it probably wouldn't keep me floating. or is it nothing
to worry about ? like maybe the inflatable vests have air compartments
so that if one is punctured the other 9 keep floating, or something
like that ?

as low tech as a foam filled vest is there's something about it i find
reassuring, that something being that if it gets punctured it won't
sink. maybe keep foam filled vests near the ditch bag and put them on
if you have time before you go over the side, keeping the inflatable on
most times in case you accidentally fall overboard ?

purple_stars wrote:
PFD


another naive question on my part, i'm sure ... but does anyone else
feel a little weird trusting your life to a floating thing that has to
have air in it to keep floating ? i know they are comfortable and all,
the inflatables, because they don't inflate until you need them to
inflate. but if you were going over the side in an emergency out in
the middle of the ocean, and you could be in the water for who knows
what amount of time, would you worry about being out there with an
inflatable vest ? i imagine they have kevlar and other protections on
them to keep them from being snagged or punctured and losing their air,
but it still makes me feel sort of odd knowing that if it were cut or
punctured that it probably wouldn't keep me floating. or is it nothing
to worry about ? like maybe the inflatable vests have air compartments
so that if one is punctured the other 9 keep floating, or something
like that ?

as low tech as a foam filled vest is there's something about it i find
reassuring, that something being that if it gets punctured it won't
sink. maybe keep foam filled vests near the ditch bag and put them on
if you have time before you go over the side, keeping the inflatable on
most times in case you accidentally fall overboard ?


Yup! my take is that the inflatable models are great for sailors who
might not wear a PFD for various reasons... such as uncomfortable,
confining...not macho looking.
My brother-in-law almost bought the farm falling overboard while
climbing into the dinght from his houseboat. After that scare I
convinced my sister to buy the inflatable version and he does wear it.
This is what I wear... http://tinyurl.com/cupvt
and if I bought another one.. http://tinyurl.com/drsut

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