Talking About Adventure In Small Boats
Danito
Member
Has anyone experienced an inflatable pfd deploy in heavy rain or with constant spray?
What brand or model?
I was thinking about adding one to my gear but I read some reviews that they might deploy in rain or if stored in humid conditions. As a class 1 & class 3 you always have some water slushing around in your boat and that might be an issue.
Thanks in advance,
Danny
BustedRudder
Member
We use them for offshore sailing.The better ones are hydrostatic (Spinlock / Mustang). They will not deploy unless submerged in > 4" water and have a light that automatically comes on so a crewman knocked out when going over can be found at night.. . To be honest I would never consider them for kayaking as they weigh as much as a kayaking PFD and the thought of one going off while upside down in a kayak is unnerving. Then once deployed you have to carefully repack and add new inflator.
By the nature of them they have no pockets for a PLB or other niceities so you need an additional utility belt for an EC
Unless they have made ones even lighter than our >$300 units specifically for kayaking I would avoid.
Besides, a PFD is an excellent piece of thermal gear as they are:)
Good morning,
ther are two tipes of o2 jakets, manual and auto, the auto models have the hidro fiaring s previously mentiond. most of the new colars are easy to fild pack , and all have an oral inflator, its also very surprising how much flotation is gand with only a cupel of puffs of air in them .
thay need more mantanance than a PFD and must be servised yearly, with ther growing popularity hear in Australia it now OK for home servacing to be made on privatly yoused jakets , but for survay must be caried out by a recognised service center.
Ther is also a hibrid on the market to, Kokatat have ther sea o2 which is a pfd with half its flotation in foam and the rest with an air chamber . Im curently testing one now, and sofare im realy pleased , it lite non restrictive well made (this model is stil made in the US ! ) and easy to youse 90% of the time I wold never need the extra flotation, but its ther for when I do . the charge is instant , and with 3 pufs its up enough to.
If you go down this road make shore to realy consider what tipe of inflator you get, my preferance is manual ,less chance of it inflating at the rong time , sumtimes the hidro plugs in the mecanisam can be more tuchie than others.
hope all your trning is up to pace
best regards Mick MacRobb
flat earth kayak sails
Danito
Member
Thanks guys. My Kokatat will continue being my go to PFD but I was thinking about adding the inflatable as an extra and switch back and forth. Sometimes its tremendous relief getting that big bulky PFD off your shoulders and thats were i was thinking the inflatable would come in handy.
Interesting insight you offer there, Danito, that you feel your PFD is big and bulky. I've got all my pockets filled and a small pack for my emergency gear attached to its back, but I never feel that it's heavy or in the way. Perhaps I'm so used to it now. Llike wearing a safety belt in a car, I do feel naked not wearing my PFD.
KB
Merman
Member
Danito,
The hydro releases CAN go off in squalls - it's not very likely but has happened on powerboats when the spray hit hard as a hose spray. I don't think it's likely on a kayak but I would not take that chance. Besides- space is limited and after it is inflated, then what do you do? Say you turn over, it inflates, then you have to wear it like that till you get wherever you are going? Not a good option. A really good fitting vest is cheaper, less maintenance, has pockets, keeps you warmer, and comes in lots of goofy colors! I know you probably already figured all this out but I wanted to be a know it all this morning apparently.
Congrats on completing the NCC this weekend!
Merman
Meatloaf
Member
I've been using inflatable PFD's for over 10 years. I've used the manual and auto units. I flipped my kayak once and before I was fully out of it and getting myself pointed up ... it was inflated and pulled me to the surface. It was an automatic model. I had one go off once in the back of an SUV when the icebox overturned and flooded it ... serves me right for goofing off (automatic model). I also had one go off when sitting on the rail of a sailboat during a race ... as I ducked my head under the upper lifeline to cross the boat during a tack, the inflate fob caught the lower lifeline and it inflated before I was halfway across the boat during the tack (manual model). And of course my daughter once yanked the fob and asked what is this daddy! Once inflated, they are easy to deflate by pressing down on the oral inflation tube. Wrap your arms around it and slowly squeeze the CO2 out ... you can try to suck the gas out ... but I highly advise you not do that. On the Gulf coast, the inflatables are much cooler to wear in the summer, but I wear my Stolquist in 3 out of 4 seasons. Cause it has pockets for stuff!
My 2 cetns worth,
Meatloaf
ZeroTheHero
Member
Interesting topic as I have been trying to decide which type to use. I have 2 extrasport sailing pfd's and 2 auto inflate. The auto ones are older but have seen very little use and have never been inflated. Since they have seen so little use they are stiff and I don't find them comfortable. They will break in over time but not before the race. My main reason for possibly using them is that they have a built in harness and on our boat (17 foot open sailboat) that might be a good thing to have. But I like the idea of knowing the extrasports don't have any breakable parts. Would hate to wind up in the water without it inflating. If we did use the auto ones I would test them a few times and would not be on the start with a 10 year old cylinder in them.
good morning,
I have now yoused the kokatat sea o2 long enough to make an informed disision,
in short I love it thers enough boyancy in the fome for most things, and when you inflate the chamber it gives heaps of lift I have only oraly inflated it and found that two breths wws plenty its ferm when inflaten and dosent ride up as much as a sea collar dos
the pokets are only just enough I personaly dont like to much gear on me when paddling. and its not restrictive to have on .
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