Flipped by a whale Tues - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Dean Machine · 12-16-2010, 01:07 PM

Don't they also make water activated pfd's that inflate after being submerged in the water? Of course there would be some trade-offs, but it could solve the comfort vs safety problem. Either way, a pfd is a must 100% of the time. I know, sometimes stuff happens that prevent you from wearing it, either way, Jim is right, we are not all perfect. I used to be a 99% of the time seat-belt wearer until I was thrown from the passenger seat of a pickup truck. I swear to god I will never ride in any vehicle again that I can't get a seatbelt on EVER but that's another story.

Any way........anybody ever heardof the water activated self inflating pfd?

Jim Sammons LJKF · 12-16-2010, 01:46 PM

Yes they do have water activated inflating PFD's the problem here is getting splashed particularly when going out through surf, they can and will inflate.

Electronics Squid · 12-16-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sammons LJKF

Yes they do have water activated inflating PFD's the problem here is getting splashed particularly when going out through surf, they can and will inflate.

We had these on the patrol boats I was on in Kuwait...and they would go off from spray coming over the bow...had to keep them in the cabin on nasty days...

Also had an outdrive rip off and the boat went down...we got it to the pier, tied it off and started getting gear off. When the the boat went down and I had to jump off...I started swimming to the pier and the vest inflated. I have never been so scared in my life...tons of noise, made me think it was that vacuum you hear about when a ship goes down...The guys on the pier got a kick out of that...

Jimmyz123 · 12-16-2010, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Machine

Don't they also make water activated pfd's that inflate after being submerged in the water? Of course there would be some trade-offs, but it could solve the comfort vs safety problem. Either way, a pfd is a must 100% of the time. I know, sometimes stuff happens that prevent you from wearing it, either way, Jim is right, we are not all perfect. I used to be a 99% of the time seat-belt wearer until I was thrown from the passenger seat of a pickup truck. I swear to god I will never ride in any vehicle again that I can't get a seatbelt on EVER but that's another story.

Any way........anybody ever heardof the water activated self inflating pfd?

I currently have a auto inflate or water activated PFD it has the Auto inflate and the pull string in the event I go over and it does not auto inflate. I'm planning on getting a new one here soon though because, like Jim stated, I don't want to leave anything to chance. Like he said if I'm knocked out and can't pull the string, and something goes wrong with the auto inflate I don't want to risk it. For what I have been doing lately it works and I'm wearing a PFD, but I want to have a normal PFD before I go out in the ocean.

Jim Sammons LJKF · 12-16-2010, 01:59 PM

I once had a client wearing an auto inflate down in Baja that got splashed by a big Roosterfish and inflated. Startled the hell out of him but was Funny as hell to us.

Jimmyz123 · 12-16-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sammons LJKF

I once had a client wearing an auto inflate down in Baja that got splashed by a big Roosterfish and inflated. Startled the hell out of him but was Funny as hell to us.

Isn't that video on YouTube? After I watched that I started looking for a different PFD. That's what I don't want to happen while I'm fishing. Early Inflation is not good. I hear they have medications for that.

bigbarrels · 12-16-2010, 02:54 PM

pfd 100% of the time will save your ass when the shit is hitting the fan....saved my butt......as far as waders go.......my waders only took on a little water initially last Spring during my 45 minute swim. They had to be kicked off immediately though due to inability to swim with those damn booties and fear of them filling up with water......just my .02

deepdvr · 12-16-2010, 04:36 PM

Hey Chris why don't you chime in on your experience with the automatic inflatable life vest?

Hypoxic1 · 12-16-2010, 04:49 PM

I had one of those onboard my kayak. I think I actually had two and had one inside the boat that day. Aparantly the trigger for the vest reacts to moisture, not barometric pressure of sinking.
The one in the boat got wet and BOOM it went off inside the boat. Scared the shit outta me. waaay scarier than this whale event. sounded like a bomb inside the hull.

That is why I dont have the auto inflate mechanism on my harness anymore. Plus if you have to replace one, CAUSE IT GOT WET its like 20 bucks for the trigger.

Jims probably right and a full on vest it the safest way to go. Maybe I should design a comfortable one. I havent found one I like.

lets be careful out there!!

12-16-2010, 01:07 PM	#1
Dean Machine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Clemente Posts: 162	Don't they also make water activated pfd's that inflate after being submerged in the water? Of course there would be some trade-offs, but it could solve the comfort vs safety problem. Either way, a pfd is a must 100% of the time. I know, sometimes stuff happens that prevent you from wearing it, either way, Jim is right, we are not all perfect. I used to be a 99% of the time seat-belt wearer until I was thrown from the passenger seat of a pickup truck. I swear to god I will never ride in any vehicle again that I can't get a seatbelt on EVER but that's another story. Any way........anybody ever heardof the water activated self inflating pfd? __________________ "Good luck and tight lines!"

12-16-2010, 01:46 PM	#2
Jim Sammons LJKF Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 947	Yes they do have water activated inflating PFD's the problem here is getting splashed particularly when going out through surf, they can and will inflate. __________________ Jim Sammons La Jolla Kayak Fishing The Kayak Fishing Show JimSammons.com

12-16-2010, 01:59 PM	#5
Jim Sammons LJKF Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 947	I once had a client wearing an auto inflate down in Baja that got splashed by a big Roosterfish and inflated. Startled the hell out of him but was Funny as hell to us. __________________ Jim Sammons La Jolla Kayak Fishing The Kayak Fishing Show JimSammons.com

12-16-2010, 04:49 PM	#9
Hypoxic1 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 215	IAuto inflating life vest I had one of those onboard my kayak. I think I actually had two and had one inside the boat that day. Aparantly the trigger for the vest reacts to moisture, not barometric pressure of sinking. The one in the boat got wet and BOOM it went off inside the boat. Scared the shit outta me. waaay scarier than this whale event. sounded like a bomb inside the hull. That is why I dont have the auto inflate mechanism on my harness anymore. Plus if you have to replace one, CAUSE IT GOT WET its like 20 bucks for the trigger. Jims probably right and a full on vest it the safest way to go. Maybe I should design a comfortable one. I havent found one I like. lets be careful out there!!

12-16-2010, 02:54 PM	#7
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	pfd 100% of the time will save your ass when the shit is hitting the fan....saved my butt......as far as waders go.......my waders only took on a little water initially last Spring during my 45 minute swim. They had to be kicked off immediately though due to inability to swim with those damn booties and fear of them filling up with water......just my .02

12-16-2010, 04:36 PM	#8
deepdvr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 591	Hey Chris why don't you chime in on your experience with the automatic inflatable life vest?