Doug Dotson wrote:
Hard to inflate it when one is unconscience. This ranks right up
there with the paranoia about seat belts trapping one rather than
saving ones life. The probability of having a self-inflating PFD
trapping one rather than saving one is pretty small.

I agree... and I think that the USCG does too since I've seen Coasties
on patrol wearing auto-inflate models.

One thing to beware of though... do NOT wear an inflatable under foul
weather gear. I know of a couple of people who have had problems,
including one who literally had to stab through his jacket with a
marlinspike... and quickly, because he was suffocating. Another case
I've read of suffered a broken rib.

Technology can solve lots of problems, but it always brings it's own
problems along.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King