I’m sure most of you have the orange life jackets on your boats to meet DNR requirements. But have you ever had one on in the water when it was rough?
I’m a good sized guy at 6’3, 255#s. I fell overboard with a orange PFD while the lake water was whitecapping and I was suprised at how much kicking I had to do to keep my head above water. I also have the Mustang manually inflatable jackets that I love because of comfort, but have yet to try them out.
What brand life jackets do you coastal people use that you have good faith in keeping your passengers safe when waters are rough?
In my opinion, those cheap orange ones may make you legal but, I would not want to rely on one if I go in the water on a rough day. I have 2 Helly Hanson auto-inflatables (I wear one when I fish alone) and all the rest on board are good quality Stearns or some other decent PFDs.
quote:I'm sure most of you have the orange life jackets on your boats to meet DNR requirements.
Not a chance, not on my boats. Those things are junk. I don’t have life jackets to meet DNR requirements, I carry them to save the lives of me and my passengers. If you ever actually need one, you’ll wish you bought the best.
Edit: Sorry, I didn’t really answer the question. Type 1 Stearns, with reflective tape. Each one has a whistle and strobe attached.
Because I make the cherubs wear their jackets when on the boat, I always wear mine even if the cherubs are not on the boat and if I’m on someone else’s boat. I have one of those West Marine auto-inflatables.
Off shore (if and when we go which is uber rare) we take the Mae-West Type 1 style
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 17 year old
1 - 13 year old
1 - wife (The Warden)
A long time ago me and a buddy went out to 4KI through Stono Inlet. We had a fun time out there and everything was fine but on the way back in the wind picked up. As we approached the mouth of the Stono all we could see was the backs of these huge rollers. We put our life jackets on but when I turned to look at my friend (a big guy 6ft 250lbs) it looked like he was wearing a bow tie. Their was no way that type II cheapo jacket was going to keep him afloat.
We made it through the inlet without any problems. A week or so later I had all type I jackets on the boat and I have kept a full complement on my boats since then.
