Inflatible Vests!!

[Bass Cat Boats]

No way to check these things. No way Im putting my life in one these things. Ill stay with old faithful. Now on a side note . Prayers go to this guy and his family.2013 PANTERA 2MERCURY 200 PRO XSMINNKOTA 80LB FORTREX25 fury

[Bass Cat Boats]

Our position has always been firm.

[MossBoss]

I wear mine to fish in rough water, but dont wear it to run anymore. Just dont trust it.

[muddywaters]

Leads one to question the reliablilty of inflatables, Sometimes they pop just sitting in your dry storage box in your boat. I had one pop in the storage and the co2 was not substaintial enuff to fully inflate the PFD, half of the vest never seperated the velcro to deploy. Yet having said that, I still own inflatable life vests. I find that I will wear a inflatable because of comfort, Standard life vests are very uncomfortable to me. In my younger not so smart days, I never took the PFDs out of the storage boxes. I disliked them that much. But with the invent of inflatable PFDS, I will wear one all the time when the outboard is running, and the kill switch is always attached to me by means of a PWC wrist strap or the ring on my PFD.

[catdude28]

The HIT (Hydrostatic Inflatable Tech) vests will not open when just wet, but work on hydrostatic pressure. The less expensive MIT (Membrane Inflatable Tech) vests will open when wet enough. I wear an inflatable full time on the boat, but after reading a few stories of failure like this one, am considering putting on a standard vest when running, and wearing the inflatable when fishing. Prayers to Roger for a full and speed recovery.

[BIGCATTER]

There are more stories about these things not working as well . — Ill keep my big bulky uncomfortable ( FUNCTIONAL ) life vest , thank you . — Hoss

[1stinLA]

I wear mine when fishing in rough or cold water just because I am not as nimble, or steady as I use to be, and am not depending as much on the auto unit, but my own hands to pull the inflation handle, this is the same reason that I added an E-ladder. But I always wear my good old bulky red Bass Cat Stearns vest when high speed running. But the first thing I did when I bought my inflatable was to actually test the vest at the local boat launch, and the original HIT valve and Co2 cartrige worked flawlessly, after repacking and re-arming I hope the new one works as well. Working like I do in the Oilfield, I believe every boater should take a water survival course at least once in their life (our company requires it every 2 years), or at least try getting back in their boat their selves (but with friends around just in case) from in the water a few times, so that they can see how difficult it can be when your fully clothed, especially in cold water or heavy seas or current.

[Cajunhunter67]

I always wear the non inflatable. I would never trust and auto inflate type If I were to get ejected and knocked unconscious. Just not worth the risk. I can agree on wearing an manual inflate to fish rough water.

[FishinCustody]

We have tested and evaluated every model of the auto inflate vests for Maritime Operations.Every model had an unacceptable failure rate. From Failure to inflate, to insufficient inflation.Even those that worked properly left individuals under water and in duress for an unacceptable period of time.We do not authorize them. I REFUSE to bet my life on one.

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