PFD

[Flatsix]

In light of some of the tragic events that have occurred this season, I was wondering how many of you use a PFD when tubing or even wading in faster moving water.

I've thought about using a PFD when tubing but thought that I was reasonably safe with a main air bladder and a second air bladder in the backrest area. I've never thought much about using a PFD in moving water until this year. I've rafted the Kings and the Kern a few times and on occasion taken an unintended swim and without a PFD would have been in a lot of trouble.

I've seen the lightweight cartridge inflated PFD at REI and wondered if it made sense to use one. These are lightweight, and do not have much bulk until inflated and could save your life in an emergency.

What are your thoughts?

[Pete]

I have been thinking one of those cartridge PDFs will probably be my next fly fishing purchase. Hopefully somebody will chime in on any negatives. I have heard nothing but positive about them. As I move away from my chest pack and toward a lanyard it seems only logical to me. Since I don't wear a vest, I don't have the extra bulk to contend with anyway.

Pete

[NorcalBob]

Under CA boating law, you are required to have a PFD present in any floating device when it's on the water. Yes, that included float tubes, kayaks, inner tubes, rafts, pontoons, etc. You don't have to wear it, but it must be in your immediate possession or you may be cited. I use either an SOS Inflatable (in non/slow moving water) and a whitewater grade PFD in fast water. I sometimes (but rarely) wear an SOS Inflatable while wading (and that sometimes excuse is stupid with no excuse).

[Rockstar Fisherman]

Only when I'm jet skiing or when there are 5-6' swells out in the basins of Lake Mohave or Lake Mead.

[flybob]

I have one that I got from BPS for about 30.00, some places require them!
This one doubles as a fly vest, got all the pockets and d-rings.
Just a little warm on hot days.
Don't wear it all the time, but it is nice to have.

[sschung]

I had the unfortunate experience of having my main bladder pop, deflating my float tube in a blink of an eye. Treding water and holding onto my back rest kept me up. I would have had to let go of the back rest to get my vest on. Thus I no longer drag the vest, I wear it. Also I witnessed a canoe get flipped in NP. Bay by a boat wake. Out they went and off went the life jackets with the out going tide. Lucky for them there was two boats and a kayaker right there to help them. I wear my PFD all the time when I'm on the yak or float tube now. The SOS style vest are compact and out of the way. After a while you will not notice the PDF. A yank on the cord will inflate your PDF in an instant. They are always on sale at Bass Pro Shop or West Marine. Get the one with a CO2 cartrige and pull cord. I jump into the deep end of my pool, and yank on the cord for an "emergancy blow". Then I float around for while sometimes falling asleep. My wife thinks that's all dorky, but hey its a fun way to discharge the CO2 before putting a fresh one in.

Shane

[Wildman]

This is a good discussion and I learned something...the regs about PFD for any floating device. It's also common sense for some of the waters we float in the high country where the temps are low enough to incapacitate in a matter of minutes. Many people don't realize how dangerous immersion in water as warm as 70 degrees can be as it brings the body temp down resulting in hypothermia. I'll be looking at BPS and online for those CO2 PFDs on sale.

[briansII]

A couple options on inflatable PFDs. One is the manual pull handle. You have a bright colored T handle that inflates the PFD. The other is a auto inflate PFD. It will automatically inflate once the "pill" disintegrates in water. This PFD will also have a manual pull handle. If for some reason you are unconscious, or impaired in the water, the auto inflate is a good idea. That's what I chose. Getting thrown from a boat, or flipped out of a pontoon on your head, I want something to will float me without having to do anything. The downside is the price, but.............

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/082000c.htm

I also wear a life vest when driving the boat. I have them on the seats(2) of the boat, and a throw float next to the seat.

briansII

[Jim T]

I always wear my manual pull inflatable PFD on my float tube or pontoon boat on lakes and bays. I also attach a regular foam one on the back just in case. I wear a rafting PFD on rivers on my pontoon boat.

I've often thought I need my inflatable on some larger rivers when the flow is high (i.e. Kern) but have never actually tried it. I think I will try it next time I'm on a sizable river to see how much it enlarges my vest.

Jim T

[Autodave]

I did not realize how bad it was this year till I read this article....http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x965389881/DYING-IN-THE-KERN-RIVER-Drownings-up-75-percent-this-high-water-year

[RSetina]

I always use mine, a self inflating vest that uses the co2 cartridge. One day on the lake my fly became stuck in the fabric of the tube and as I was trying to free it I nearly slipped off the tube. The tube would have gone in one direction and I would have gone in the other. "For every action there's and opposite and equal reaction" kind of thing. I never tube without one now. You may think you're safe, but so did the guy who drowned just before he slipped and fell into the water. Buy one and wear it. I love all the posts you guys put up here and I don't want to read one day someone drowned because they thought it was safe. Please wear one. If you don't wear one, by one and at least tether it to yourself somehow so if you do go in, it goes in the same direction as you do. Better safe than sorry.

[Dry Fly Rie]

I did not realize how bad it was this year till I read this article....http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x965389881/DYING-IN-THE-KERN-RIVER-Drownings-up-75-percent-this-high-water-year

Very sad article. Obviously it's a very tragic situation when someone drowns, and you just wish people would make better decisions in such potentially dangerous situations.

Personally, I don't wear a PFD when use my float tube (I know it's not the smartest decision). My tube has two air bladders and the seat back floats and the seat cushion is made of two large styrofoam blocks that also float. Living in San Diego, all of the public lakes that allow float tubes have a laundry list of safety precautions you're supposed to follow (vest/PFD, 144 square inches of International Orange visible at least 12" above the water line, whistle, etc...). In an attempt to satisfy those requirements, I tried to find a thin life-vest that was orange in color to satisfy multiple items. I wasn't able to find one, and I kind of gave up on my search. Throw in all of the extra costs that go with float tubing the public lakes (launch fee, lake fishing permit, snail spray wash, etc...) and I haven't made it out in any of the local reservoirs. I know it's not the safest thing, but for now, I'll keep using my tube in the local ponds without a PFD.

Just my 2 cents.