Inflatable PFDs

[philb Junkie19]

This post arose from a question by Byron on a Sun Cat thread asking, among other things, about PFDs. I'm responding here to reach a little wider. A local boat owner wearing an inflatable PFD was alone when he fell off his boat. He told me that he was able to get to his boarding ladder but his inflated PFD so restricted him that using the boat's boarding ladder was almost impossilbe. He was pretty scared and only uses a non iflatable now. I don't know if that was unique to a style or brand.  I have 2 manual inflatables on board but have never deployed one. Has anyone here and is this restriction what one should expect?

[wes]

Wonder why he didn't remove the pfd once he reached the boarding ladder rather than wrestle with it while trying to climb.

I have inflated my Mustang auto inflatable. It's true the air bladders are quite firm when inflated due to the CO2 pressure, and since they are on the front of the body (to ensure you float with head out of the water if unconscious) they are awkward. I think the trade off is well worth it, since they are so compact when not inflated, which encourages you to wear them more often. After all you will be wearing them 99.9% of the time in the non-inflated condition.

Wes

[kahpho]

I will present the contrarian view for inflatable PFDs, because its sort of my avocation to do so. I'm sure you understand.

I had an inflatable PFD once. I didn't particularly like it. I thought it was uncomfortable when compared to a traditional vest type PFD. That was quite some years ago so I'll admit they're probably better in that regard now since they've had plenty of time to develop them. In the end I used it as part trade on a used dinghy, which I also no longer have.

My second complaint was that it did nothing to keep me warm, or warmer actually. In my sailing neck of the woods it isn't perpetual warm breezes so another layer of insulation is sometimes a benefit I value. Besides, the extra padding makes me look more like all the other old duffers hanging about the dock (camouflage).

Third, a vest type PFD could also sometimes provide some extra cushioning that moves with me from seat to seat. Admittedly that would depend on the design of the vest and also there are other ways to mitigate that need. Still leaning back in the sun, while at anchor, and pillowing the head with a PFD feels very nautical but just wouldn't be the same with a whoopee cushion PFD.

Finally, I should state I don't really have anything against inflatables. The PFD you will wear is the best one.

There, job done.   

[Jim in TC]

A cautionary tale regarding the inflatable PFD comes from last summer's Chicago to Mackinaw race, in which an experienced sailor went overboard wearing an inflatable PFD that failed to inflate. Weather was a factor (windy, high seas) but he would likely not have drowned had the vest inflated. Some questions remain about the reason, but apparently one likely scenario involves the age of the inflator.  While its age was not known, these reportedly need to be replaced every 5 years or so, a bit of maintenance that would be easy to overlook.

[Reighnman]

As you can see in my profile picture I wore my kayak vest when sailing solo in the ocean but only a mile or less from shore. Was nice having the padding on the back while leaning against the rear stanchions/stern seats. Cellphone fit in front pocket, and had a whistle too.  Now, if I was knocked out by the boom this wouldn't right me but i'm not sure if regular inflatables claim to do that either.  Sailing vest made by Stohlquist seem nice but I went with the cheaper frugal option since I already owned it.

[Finbar Beagle]

One aspect of the inflatable is the more expensive ones include a D ring for attaching a tether line.  If you sail solo, that is a good investment.

Best pfd is one the can keep you out of the water...

[49captain]

I don't get on here more than once every couple of weeks.  I also don't "do" Facebook, Twitter, etc.  maybe I should change my name to "curmudgeon".  Hence, this late narrative.
Anyway, for what it's worth, my wife and I wear inflatables almost all the time.  However, if the weather and/or seas are rough we switch to noninflatables.  Our PDFs have harnesses and D rings and we use them, even on our DayCat.
Inflatables do take getting used to.  Every other year either my wife or I jump into our pool with the jacket on.  They inflate explosively and are restrictive and difficult to move or swim in.  However, they are effective at keeping us afloat.  Note here:  the waste belt must be pretty snug or you'll be wearing a very tight horse collar.  I do have confidence that will turn us face up because I have jumped in head first and the jacket did right me without any effort on my part.
Our jackets have a manual bleed/oral inflate tube.  Once we feel stable we can bleed off some of the gas making the jacket much easier to swim in.  They are never that easy to swim in, but neither are the other cheap ones.  Good offshore jackets are much easier to move and swim in and we wear them when we feel the need.  They are expensive, but so are funerals.
Jumping in the pool requires re-arming but it's worth the experience and gives us a little more confidence in them.  Of course, there could always be that one time.....
We check them before every outing and often while we're out.  On two occasions in the past ten years the gas cartridge ring has broken rendering the jacket non-functional.  We always have re-arming kits on board.  Rough handling can break something so treat them with kindness.
It is, of course, best not to fall in the water.  Using our harnesses with a tether will prevent  that.  However, if you should fall in you had better be wearing something. 
I heard an interesting statistic that 75% of men who fell overboard and drowned had their fly open.
I know that's not factual but it makes a good point - you will fall overboard when you least expect it.  My wife and may be a bit paranoid but, after four decades of kayaking, sailing, rock climbing, mountain climbing, scuba diving, etc., we have never been injured or had a close call.
Plan and prepare for the worst.  Maintain and use your safety gear.  Inflatables work but you must know their characteristics and limitations.  Most of all,use your head and keep out of trouble in the first place.
Now, I'm as bored with this long epistle as you are.  I think I'll go clean the boat.