Inflatable PFDs? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Fiskadoro · 12-11-2012, 06:56 AM

In the above post I'm trying to talk about it with a sense of humor, but the deal remains that with a standard kayaking PFD you don't have to mess with it to get it to work, and it's simply more practical for kayaking.

A kayaking PFD protects you as soon as you put it on. and when you hit the water it's there keeping you afloat. You can be in and out of the water all day long as much as you want and it's still 100% effective.

You don't have to deflate it, recharge it with a new cylinder after every use. Since you don't have to mess with it, start it, or inflate it so you can instantly take care of other things like grabbing your paddle, turning your yak back over, and fighting in that forty pound fish you hopefully still have on, if you do end up in the water.

You can also swim paddle and do everything you could do normally without having to reset it, or mess with it, and since it is designed for freedom of movement you can swim fish or paddle in it with total freedom of movement and comfort wet or dry day in day out.

Climb in and out of your yak, fall in the surf multiple times, do a handstand on your yak and flop over the side, with that Kayaking PFD it all doesn't matter. It's there and your safe, and you don't have to worry about damaging it punchering it or it getting in the way of what you want to do.

Inflatable PFDs are designed for boaters and rescue. Your boat sinks it's there for you. You fall out of your boat and it keeps on going it's there for you. When you fall out of your boat or it sinks it's a major catastrophic event, that inflatable is there so you can pull the cord then float around with your face up until the coast guard finds you and rescues you.

Boats don't roll very often, and when they do it's a huge deal. It's not like your going to climb back in a boat after it flips and then fish out the day.

Rolling a kayak is just part of ocean kayaking. It happens all the time. In sit insides you learn to Eskimo roll so you can just turn right back up and keep going. Rolling or falling out of your kayak is just part of kayaking so you want to wear gear that not only protects you but also allows you to get right back to kayaking with minimum effort and maximum safety.

Jim

ful-rac · 12-11-2012, 07:39 AM

Yeah I went the automatic inflating pfd route and I thought I was brilliant while all the other suckers were wearing a bulky pfd....mine was nice and compact.... I had it stored in my front hatch one day after it had rained I heard a boom!....I was thinking what the hell was that? A couple of days later, I open the hatch an it looked like I have a air mattress in there....that wasn't the worst part...you should have seen my face when I found out how much it was to re-arm it!!! FUCK!!! I bit the bullet and bought the re-arming kit...I could swear that the instructions said clearly that you had to be in 2 feet of water for so...many seconds for it to inflate....??? It was in 2 inches of water....So a couple of months later....I get home after a trip and I'm rinsing down my kayak and water starts to build in the front......with my PFD.....Boom! This time I knew what that sound was......I said are you FKN kidding me? open up the hatch and there it goes again...Mo $$$$$ for nothing....

So I didn't rearm it the second time, and now it sits in my garage. I would save the automatic pfd for when you go on a boat. That's what it's designed for anyway.

Hunters Pa · 12-11-2012, 08:20 AM

Did not want the automatic in case I needed to manually deploy and was unable to because of being hit by a boat or drunken jet-skiier. I have a wife & 2 kids relying on me coming home. I'll take whatever slight discomfort from a regular PFD to help ensure that happens.

sasha · 12-11-2012, 10:28 AM

Lets not forget that a regular PFD would protect your ribs in the surf. Going back in at the end of the day I got fliped out again in about 4ft of water. Tosed around under the water for a second or so. Just then when I stand up that freaking boat of my smacks me in the chest.

Well as we talk about a PFD. Lets say you roll over and for one reason or another you are out cold. Would the regular PFD keep you from sinking???
can someone be to big and heavy for one???
I always put my PFD on and keep it nice and tight. I can't swim well so always aware of safety first.

12-11-2012, 07:39 AM	#2
ful-rac Emperor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buena Park Posts: 3,649	Yeah I went the automatic inflating pfd route and I thought I was brilliant while all the other suckers were wearing a bulky pfd....mine was nice and compact.... I had it stored in my front hatch one day after it had rained I heard a boom!....I was thinking what the hell was that? A couple of days later, I open the hatch an it looked like I have a air mattress in there....that wasn't the worst part...you should have seen my face when I found out how much it was to re-arm it!!! FUCK!!! I bit the bullet and bought the re-arming kit...I could swear that the instructions said clearly that you had to be in 2 feet of water for so...many seconds for it to inflate....??? It was in 2 inches of water....So a couple of months later....I get home after a trip and I'm rinsing down my kayak and water starts to build in the front......with my PFD.....Boom! This time I knew what that sound was......I said are you FKN kidding me? open up the hatch and there it goes again...Mo $$$$$ for nothing.... So I didn't rearm it the second time, and now it sits in my garage. I would save the automatic pfd for when you go on a boat. That's what it's designed for anyway. __________________ There's nothing colder than yesterday's hotdog.

12-11-2012, 06:56 AM	#1
Fiskadoro ....... Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,509	In the above post I'm trying to talk about it with a sense of humor, but the deal remains that with a standard kayaking PFD you don't have to mess with it to get it to work, and it's simply more practical for kayaking. A kayaking PFD protects you as soon as you put it on. and when you hit the water it's there keeping you afloat. You can be in and out of the water all day long as much as you want and it's still 100% effective. You don't have to deflate it, recharge it with a new cylinder after every use. Since you don't have to mess with it, start it, or inflate it so you can instantly take care of other things like grabbing your paddle, turning your yak back over, and fighting in that forty pound fish you hopefully still have on, if you do end up in the water. You can also swim paddle and do everything you could do normally without having to reset it, or mess with it, and since it is designed for freedom of movement you can swim fish or paddle in it with total freedom of movement and comfort wet or dry day in day out. Climb in and out of your yak, fall in the surf multiple times, do a handstand on your yak and flop over the side, with that Kayaking PFD it all doesn't matter. It's there and your safe, and you don't have to worry about damaging it punchering it or it getting in the way of what you want to do. Inflatable PFDs are designed for boaters and rescue. Your boat sinks it's there for you. You fall out of your boat and it keeps on going it's there for you. When you fall out of your boat or it sinks it's a major catastrophic event, that inflatable is there so you can pull the cord then float around with your face up until the coast guard finds you and rescues you. Boats don't roll very often, and when they do it's a huge deal. It's not like your going to climb back in a boat after it flips and then fish out the day. Rolling a kayak is just part of ocean kayaking. It happens all the time. In sit insides you learn to Eskimo roll so you can just turn right back up and keep going. Rolling or falling out of your kayak is just part of kayaking so you want to wear gear that not only protects you but also allows you to get right back to kayaking with minimum effort and maximum safety. Jim

12-11-2012, 08:20 AM	#3
Hunters Pa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1,361	Did not want the automatic in case I needed to manually deploy and was unable to because of being hit by a boat or drunken jet-skiier. I have a wife & 2 kids relying on me coming home. I'll take whatever slight discomfort from a regular PFD to help ensure that happens.

12-11-2012, 10:28 AM	#4
sasha Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 275	Lets not forget that a regular PFD would protect your ribs in the surf. Going back in at the end of the day I got fliped out again in about 4ft of water. Tosed around under the water for a second or so. Just then when I stand up that freaking boat of my smacks me in the chest. Well as we talk about a PFD. Lets say you roll over and for one reason or another you are out cold. Would the regular PFD keep you from sinking??? can someone be to big and heavy for one??? I always put my PFD on and keep it nice and tight. I can't swim well so always aware of safety first.