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

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	#1
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, 08:20 AM	#2
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	#3
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.