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Looking to pick up a couple of inflatable life vests. I was looking at the West Marine brand and was wondering if anyone knows if they are good or bad. I wanted to get the best one as far as floatation goes. I was thinking the Deep Water model since i figured I did not need the one the offshore model with the harness. Plus the Deep Water was USCG type II.

I already have the Sterns type 1 on board. this would be mostly on bad days if I was out with just my wife. If I went over she would probably just wave good by to me and yell finally.

AS I get older I think more about how I can't swim like I used too.

Why not just go with the harness model? I keep a bunch of them on board. If things turn really crappy, you can tether yourself to the boat and be wearing a floatation device at the same time.

Last year I bought the mustang inflatable work vest and a personal epirb beacon due to the fact that I do a lot of overnight trips and find myself up alone fishing in the middle of the night or early morning. I figured if god forbid I fall overboard nobody would notice and the liferaft and beacon on the boat would not help. Therefore I wanted the best safety equipment possible. I never thought of tethering the vest to the boat, good idea.

CHolgerson wrote:I never thought of tethering the vest to the boat, good idea.

A very common idea among blow boaters (a.k.a. raggers a.k.a. sail boaters)...

Personally I have a bunch of the off shore Mustangs (auto inflaters)... And, though there's a self deploying EPIRB on the boat I have one PLB in the raft and a second PLB connected to the PFD that I wear... Call me a dork but I do wear it every time I'm out of the cabin (i.e. in the cockpit, out on the front deck or on the FB...

On the few occasions that I have found myself out in dangerous conditions, I have rigged a line from a stern cleat to the bow cleat. Then I have elasticized tethers which clip to that line and to the harness. I can walk from the bow to the stern and if wind up in the drink I'll have floatation (in case I whack my head) and stay within 6 feet of the boat.

Mike

Is that a Mustang or a West marine Model? I thought about the harness and yes I know the sail boaters use them all the time, But figured it might get in the way, but good idea.

That is why we ask.

That one happens to be SOSpenders.

http://www.landfallnavigation.com/sospenders.html

Mike

Thanks

Mustang Auto inflate here.