Finally a good PFD
 

I've been looking for a couple real good PFD's for the wife and I but couldn't see dropping $300-$500 for a life line to wear 3-5 times a year especially after I found out that they aren't CG approved. So after many months of looking at all the fisherman and PWC crap out there I think I've found a winner.....

So, who makes it and what are the particulars on it?

More info would be nice

Where can you get one?

Sorry I'm not telling!!! OK for you guys anything....Its a Stearns rescue vest you can get them at rocknrescue.com for $79 they are 100MPH impact tested crotch straps pretty cool for the $$$

Really!?!? $79, are you sure they didn't drop a 1 before that 79, that seems awful cheap, I have to go check that out!! Thanks for the info, at that price these guys will be getting a ton of business.

Have you bought one yet?

Its for real!!!I havent ordered yet...waiting to find out the wifes size......dont want to screw that up buy it too big and I'll be eating crow for months!!

Wow, well I may just order one of those myself and see how it is, for $79 how can you go wrong!?

And it is funny how that works... :D

Excellent, Thanks

Its just because I love you guys and dont want you to drown.....I've lost one good friend in a boating accident and dont want to lose any more! I was just thinking back on last season and there was atl east 3 times I should have been in a vest, not counting all the high speed runs in flat water, thats just days in water over 3-5 foot seas.....now if I just pull my head out and wear it!!!

I bought some last year at Boaters World, I think they were 100 mph rated. They must not have been that expensive (don't remember), otherwise my tight azz wouldn't have bought them.

At our last boat club meeting, they pointed out that my boat was the only one on the last poker run that everyone was wearing a vest. I told anyone that didn't want to wear one was welcome to wait on the dock.

got some good pfd's on their site!

Hey what about those (auto) inflatable types? Are they too flimsy for impact? Thats my guess but what is your opinion? Sure would be more comfortable but don't want to be comfortably dead.

They don't provide any impact protection either.

The next one down (I426) looks more comfy because it is mesh. Cheaper too! But it says nothing about a crotch strap.
The 4485 has a fleece lining which might be a little onbearable in the summer! But better than no vest of course.

Up here in the north country if its rough enough to wear the vest its probibly cold enough that the fleece wont bother me.....

lifeline jackets aren't cg approved:confused:

Thats what I was told....APBA SBI certified but not CG approved....well I'll never race but I've been checked out by the CG lots of times!!!

Does it have the impact rating too?

dont look like it.

Impact is as important as buoyancy, if not more so. You can't swim so well with broken ribs...

ttt Just ordered two!!!

No LL's are not CG approved. Apparently, they don't want to cough up some admittedly serious dough for the approval.

Impact ratings DO NOT indicate protection. They simply mean that the vest will still likely be on you after you slow down. You may be bruised and broken, but the vest will still be there. There are impact rated inflatables since they have real nice harnesses, but will not protect you at all. Most impact rated jackets are sturdy enough to give some protection but don't depend on that rating.

IMPACT::
Ted is correct. The 100mph rating has nothing to do with bodily impact. It only means the materials the jacket is made of will not shred at 100mph.

So, with these non-impact material vests, your ribs and heart are unprotected should you get slammed into the dashboard or sides.

WATER:: And hitting the water that fast can be just as cruel. I know a guy who was thrown out and hit the water on his back at just over 100 mph. His aorta burst - he died on impact - and it was just water.

The racing Lifelines have ballistic material covering your back as well as over your chest.

UNCONSCIOUS::
Will your jacket float you face-up if you are knocked out for a few minutes? (Being knocked out is very common with a sudden impact above 80mph)
The racing Lifelines are designed to ROLL you over if you land face down in the water. Many lives have been saved from this single characteristic.
That feature is worth $400 alone, IMO.


The Lifelines are not CG rated. But you can shove some cheapo $10 PFDs under the seats and be fine with the water patrol.

Ok, so that is good info, and here I thought it was for protection upon impact...:confused:

Anyway, the LL vest is great, and it will turn you over in the water... BUT, if it's not CG approved I wouldn't be too happy to spend $400 to still get a ticket. I agree that the vest needs to float you upright in the event that you go over and get knocked out, floating face down is NO good. So, DYNO - once you get yours, go jump in the water and let us know what happens, from the looks of it, you should go belly-up and float facing the sky. And if so, for $79 - that is a hell of a deal, with the 100mph rating and all. The fact that we are even having this discussion is a good thing, I know I have been guilty of exceeding "reasonable speeds", in rough water and not using the lanyard or a vest, we all should be better about that... I used to ride without a helmet too, then I went over the bars at 50mph (wearing a helmet thank god), otherwise I'd be dead! A vest maybe thought of as awkward or "goofy looking" but we'd look really goofy - dead.

Just my .02:)

Why would you get a ticket?

If you have some of these under the seat cushions, you won't get ticketed:


$5.99 from Overton's

http://www.overtons.com/graphics/pro...pics/23942.jpg

Why won't Lifeline do what it takes to get them CG certified??? There is something we are not being told here.

That's kinda like buying a $450K Cigarette, they drill the whole for the bilge plug, and leave off the whole assembly at delivery.

I want to make a correction to what I posted. Putting the CG PFD's under seat cushions is probably a bad idea. The CG says the can't be stowed in "closed compartments."

Put them in a readily accessible place, according to the CG rules:

"Each PFD must be in good condition, the proper size for the intended wearer, and very importantly, must be readily accessible! Readily accessible means you must be able to put the PFD on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (boat sinking, on fire, etc.). PFDs should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them. "

From what I understand, if LL complies with CG standards, then the racing jacket will have to be compromised.

After decades of building these jackets, they know what works to prevent high speed boating injuries, and don't want to change anything just to get a label.

Besides, if you can put a cheapo $5.99 jacket on board and be in compliance, then there's really not a big problem anyway. All of our friends who wear these Lifeline's during high speed runs keep some of these inferior jackets on board, just like we do.

I wonder how well the racing PWC jackets work? Those suckers are pretty fast these days (70mph) and getoffs are pretty common. It is highly likely that they expect to contact the PWC during a getoff so they should be protective (the racing vests at least). I would hope that they came up with some reasonable priced vests that provide floatation and protection. Anyone know about it?

I will need to buy something so I am paying close attention to this thread.

Sorry to have started such a controversy over PFD's.....I hoped that this would help others find a good jacket for a reasonable price. Did I say Apache?????

I think it's a great thread.
Anytime people can learn something about safety on the water that they didn't realize before, it's a GREAT thread, IMO

I agree, I learned that I can't wear a 100mph rated PFD and expect my ribs to be protected in an impact... I guess ya learn something new every day!

Looked into the PWC racing vests and found out they are "100mph impact tested for strength but not for personal imjury from impact". This seems like a similar rating to the Stearns vest above. They do look a little better if that matters.

Interestingly, they called it a Type 5 coast guard approved vest, not a type 3. Not sure what that means.

Here is a website that describes all five styles of PFD

http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/MP/pfd.htm



TYPE V: Special-Use Devices

These windsurfing vests, deck suits, hybrid PFDs and others are designed for specific activities, such as kayaking or water skiing. Some Type V PFDs are designed to inflate when you enter the water. Inflatable Type V PFDs must be worn when underway to be acceptable.

one more thing.....

If I remember right, the phrase above is why Lifeline jackets don't meet the CG requirements. Because they take too long to put on. They don't meet specs.

But people who buy Lifeline jackets most likely will be wearing them when they need them. So the point is moot.

Here's the link:

http://www.rocknrescue.com/acatalog/...tearns_75.html

Dave

The type 5 is not required to turn you upright if you are unconcious. Many will however. You are not allowed to operate a PWC in Maryland if you are not wearing a 100 mph vest. I suspect many other states are the same.

I was told one time that LL did not want to pay $75k to get the jackets certified.