A Fresh Start—No PFDs, No Photos
01-07-2026 | 07:21 PM
#41
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From: Portland, OR
To add to all this, when will they dictate what KIND and BRAND of vest you have to wear? You gotta see that coming...
Also, it is my hope that ALL outboard cat owners do not comply. That way I will never have to see another vanilla outboard cat again!
Also, it is my hope that ALL outboard cat owners do not comply. That way I will never have to see another vanilla outboard cat again!
01-07-2026 | 07:45 PM
#42
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Here, I'll push this thread into a positive direction 
What is the "best", yet most comfortable, auto inflate vest? We have lifelines but to be honest, I probably don't wear them as much because, they're not comfortable to wear. I'd wear an auto inflate and have been looking to buy a whole set for the boat, so everyone can wear one but I really don't know which I should get.
Opinions?
What is the "best", yet most comfortable, auto inflate vest? We have lifelines but to be honest, I probably don't wear them as much because, they're not comfortable to wear. I'd wear an auto inflate and have been looking to buy a whole set for the boat, so everyone can wear one but I really don't know which I should get.
Opinions?
These are the ones I have in all my boats Tank. They fit everyone from 5', 100lb women to 6' 5", 250lb men. They're super easy and quick to adjust and they're the same ones that Rik and I tested back in 2006, so I know they work.
01-07-2026 | 08:00 PM
#43
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From: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
Perfect! Thanks Dale. I knew you liked the mustangs, just didn't know which model.
I'll grab a few in red.
01-07-2026 | 08:31 PM
#44
Drive to arrive alive!!!
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: OK and LoTO
Here’s a good article on PFDs. A year ago USCG changed the rating system. Most of the older inflatables were type V which don’t count as a life jacket on board unless you are physically wearing it.(So unless you were wearing it you still had to have an orange brick on board to count as a life jacket) Make sure and check the ratings before you invest in inflatables.
Lifelines are probably the best you can buy but still don’t count as a life vest on board because most don’t have a USCG rating.
It’s best to have a jacket that will right you in the water if you’re knocked out.
https://blog.dockwa.com/new-uscg-lif...fications-2025
Lifelines are probably the best you can buy but still don’t count as a life vest on board because most don’t have a USCG rating.
It’s best to have a jacket that will right you in the water if you’re knocked out.
https://blog.dockwa.com/new-uscg-lif...fications-2025
01-07-2026 | 08:38 PM
#45
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Glad to hear that Tank! I figure if the USCG and Navy put their trust in the brand, I should too. They're obviously not as good in the event of a high-speed accident as Lifelines, but they're WAY better than not wearing anything.
01-07-2026 | 08:59 PM
#46
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From: Chicago
I got these.
I have yet to wear them .
https://www.basspro.com/p/bass-pro-s...QaAvn5EALw_wcB
At the end of the day with a survival rate of 5% that life jacket just makes sure that maybe they find your body faster.
I have yet to wear them .
https://www.basspro.com/p/bass-pro-s...QaAvn5EALw_wcB
At the end of the day with a survival rate of 5% that life jacket just makes sure that maybe they find your body faster.
A 1965 FAA study on high-velocity water impacts found that only 25% survived falls at 90-100 ft/sec (about 61-68 mph), and survival drops sharply above that—just 4.9% for higher velocities. Horizontal ejections are worse, often resulting in fatal blunt force, while a feet-first vertical entry might improve odds slightly by reducing surface area.
Last edited by ICDEDPPL; 01-07-2026 at 09:25 PM.
01-08-2026 | 09:13 AM
#47
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From: Indianapolis, IN/ Punta Gorda, FL
Technically, I think that just means they were low bid
01-08-2026 | 09:52 AM
#48
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From: Merritt Island, FL
Do those have the straps that go under your legs so they can not be pulled off?
01-08-2026 | 10:52 AM
#50
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No, they do not. To be honest, I wouldn't want leg straps such as the Lifelines have just due to the inconvenience of taking them on/off and the discomfort factor. I'll take the slim chance that the vest could be ripped off in a high-speed impact with the water. For people with athletic builds, they really can't be blown off anyways if they're worn correctly with the waist strap snug. If the circumference of your midsection is substantially smaller than your chest/shoulders, they can't come off. You've got to also realize that in the case of many accidents, even if they start at higher speeds (100-120), by the time the boat goes through the motions of the going over, a lot of energy is dissipated. By the time the occupants finally enter the water, they're at speeds that are much lower than what the boat was travelling when the accident started to happen. For the accidents that happen at big speeds - 140 and up - the life vest is basically just there to keep your body floating for recovery anyways.
