Inflatable PFD, auto or manual? 2025
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
I think I should get myself a PFD, actually a PFD that I will wear.
I do have regular PFD plus kayak PFD, but I never wear any of those while fishing in Jon Boat.
Now my situation is I alway fish alone but along shoreline. We do have quite a bit traffic of water ski boat. The thing that scared me is wake from those plus wind and unstable of Jon boat.
Im thinking of manual inflatable PFD where I can activate if needed. What do you think? Why ppl buy manual versus auto PFD?
lo n slo reply :
good call james. i do alot of fishing in a jon boat (at times) and some people either dont care, or are oblivious to the wake they’re creating. i have both styles of inflatable vests but prefer the auto. my personal choice is the one i am wearing in my pic, the Mustang MIT.
jbmaine reply :
Auto-- one less thing to worry about.
Todd2 reply :
A/M Auto/Manual is the only kind I'd ever buy. It's hard to pull a cord if you're knocked out.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
@Todd2I got your point but my case I don't see chance of me being knock out. I'm not concerned of falling when speeding or collision with other boat my is Jon boat with only 15hp. My worried is only when I'm moving around while fishing with trolling motor running, I only have less than 50" of space at the front and 36" bottom known to not very stable. I see a chance of me jumping aboard more.
@lo n slo thanks, I was looking at that one too and saw they do have manual inflatable as well. I think it might work better for me since I have a chance to swim after my Jon boat where I don't want PFD to activate to get to my boat faster.
Why do they have manual PFD? Who are their target group? Can anybody give Pros and Cons for manual ones?
Jimmy Green reply :
If you are unconcious, you cant inflate buy nothing less than the mustang survivor..I was in an accident, have researched thoroughly.
Todd2 reply :
Manuals are mostly used for kayaking and canoeing as I understand it. Not even sure I understand it then. A recharge kit is around $30...what's your life worth?
NHBull reply :
I just went through the same thing and got the mustang 28 auto........I know my wife worries given how much time I am out alone.
Jimmy Green reply :
Yes sir, cant put a price tag on life! The biggest problem is they are only rated in psi, which equates to bouyancy which doesnt tell ya much...spare no expense! more psi better!
PS thanks for your service Marine.
lo n slo reply :
On 2/26/2018 at 1:26 AM, NHBull said:.I know my wife worries given how much time I am out alone.
another good reason
Burke reply :
On 2/26/2018 at 1:25 AM, Todd2 said:Manuals are mostly used for kayaking and canoeing as I understand it. Not even sure I understand it then. A recharge kit is around $30...what's your life worth?
that's what I tell myself every 5 years when I replace the kit.
I tell myself that Its worth 70 bucks instead of my wife getting my inheritance money
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
Now it is getting out of hand. My question really is manual or auto? Now it goes into how much my life worth? ????
to buy expensive PFD doesn't really show how much your life worth. It is all about how much RISK you wanna take. Some don't wanna take risk but some do.
@todd2 it is not about charging kit only. Yes I don't want to pay for charging kit if I don't need to but my concern is about to re-entry the boat and to swim after the boat.
@NHBullI think my wife would worry more when I'm on the bike than boat. She know how fast I ride and how much I love to ride on canyons. Even got on an accident coming down hill from big bear while she was with me in the back. Yet she bought me a new bike after that accident.
Angry John reply :
I like auto from Mustang with HIT. The value in HIT is that it is not going to inflate in the rain. A lot of the pill types or others will inflate in the rain and I got no time for dealing with an inflated vest or the effort and money to deal with a rearm kit just because I get caught in a downpour.
NHBull reply :
On 2/26/2018 at 6:38 AM, JustJames said:Now it is getting out of hand. My question really is manual or auto? Now it goes into how much my life worth? ????
to buy expensive PFD doesn't really show how much your life worth. It is all about how much RISK you wanna take. Some don't wanna take risk but some do.
@todd2 it is not about charging kit only. Yes I don't want to pay for charging kit if I don't need to but my concern is about to re-entry the boat and to swim after the boat.
@NHBullI think my wife would worry more when I'm in the bike than boat. She know how fast I ride and how much I love to ride on canyons. Even got on an accident coming down hill from big bear while she was with me in the back. Yet she bought me a new bike after that accident.
James, get the auto! When ice goes out and water temps are 40, it can be very hard to get back in the boat..additionally, I have seen a guy fall into 3feet of water and bust an ankle and while he wasn’t wearing a pfd, I did have to toss him a cushion. Crap happens
kjfishman reply :
My wife bought me the Auto / Manual and I wear when I am fishing from my kayak and from my bass boat. As others have said Auto is important.
tbone1993 reply :
I was able to pickup a Mustang HIT a few months back for $80 and its honestly my favorite purchase. I can wear it fishing, hunting, or even pleasure boating. I've been wanting to purchase a HIT for some time now and I have found them for $100 off which I would even buy at full price. I've been in a boat when the motor has cut off and the water temps are above freezing and the waves are knocking you around. I've been on the trolling motor and have had to kneel because I just couldn't keep balance. I can 110% see a pleasure boat wake knocking someone off balance. Imagine falling out, trying to turn and you hit your head on the gunnel getting KO'd. If you make the purchase you may be more inclined to use it, especially with how light they are.
Bankbeater reply :
Go with the auto. If you are going under, you may not be thinking of inflating the unit.
LAO162 reply :
As an epileptic, I've considered an auto PFD for fishing from the banks when I am alone in the morning. Most accidents are beyond our control. We can only anticipate and be prepared for the worst.
blongfishing reply :
Not sure why you would purchase just a manual vs. auto and manual in one unless there is a price difference. If it comes with the auto feature why would you avoid that? You never know what can happen and somethings aren't avoidable. I would get the auto/manual just for extra insurance. But, to each their own.
flyfisher reply :
Auto, i don't see the point of a manual. You rarely use a PFD on purpose so to me it makes no sense. If i was going to buy a manual i would probably just take my traditional one and leave it "accessible" but not wear it so i am meeting the requirements of my state.
Dwight Hottle reply :
Regular life jackets are all automatic aren’t they?
TOXIC reply :
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have an inflatable in your boat, it has to be worn at all times to be legal. If you take it off for any reason, you need to have a non-inflatable on the boat and you need to have one for every person. At least that's the law in Virginia. In my boat I have both. I use the vest style that stays hooked up to my killswitch for running and if the water is rough enough, I will put an inflatable on when I stop to fish for comfort and freedom of movement. I used to just use the inflatable but I have read too many instances of them not deploying so I went back to the vest style for running. It's a lot different slipping or tripping and falling out of the boat vs. getting ejected at 60mph+
J Francho reply :
Another vote for Hydrostatic (HIT).
NYWayfarer reply :
On 2/26/2018 at 6:38 AM, JustJames said:Now it is getting out of hand. My question really is manual or auto? Now it goes into how much my life worth? ????
to buy expensive PFD doesn't really show how much your life worth. It is all about how much RISK you wanna take. Some don't wanna take risk but some do.
@todd2 it is not about charging kit only. Yes I don't want to pay for charging kit if I don't need to but my concern is about to re-entry the boat and to swim after the boat.
@NHBullI think my wife would worry more when I'm on the bike than boat. She know how fast I ride and how much I love to ride on canyons. Even got on an accident coming down hill from big bear while she was with me in the back. Yet she bought me a new bike after that accident.
James you are one of my favorite Bass Resource forum posters. Please get an auto PFD I want to see your posts on these boards for many years to come.
To many things can happen when you are on the water to chance being able to pull the manual inflate cord. Some examples: passing out from heat, low blood sugar, heart issues, etc. Getting struck by something like a low hanging branch. Having your arm pinned and can't reach the cord.
That last one actually happened to a kayaker around my area. He got wrapped in fishing line and his yak turned over. He was not wearing a PFD at the time.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
Seem like everyone like AUTO, huh? Why on earth they have those manual or A/M where you can convert from auto to manual only?
I got a lot of your guys points some very good and some not even apply in my case.
Do you know that a lot of ppl having a hard time re-entry kayak with inflated PFD (not reg type) and it is going to be the same as Jon boat. And I don't have trim switch engine.
Jon boat with 15hp I don't think I can speed more than 15mph.
if I fell while operating trolling motor(hand control) meaning my boat gonna keep running since there is no such thing as kill switch either. Chance is I have to swim after my boat and to swim I think I can faster without inflated PFD. The water temp here rarely drop under 50 but you never know.
We don't have other personal water craft just pleasure boat and water ski boat, ever since I fish here there are only a few time I felt I'm going to fall while fishing. First with wake I can kneel to get low gravity and gain more balance. Second and my main concern when I operate trolling motor and turn 180 or 360 degree on my Jon boat when windy, this cause me to loose balance a lot and there are chances that I would jump off (feet down) to keep my boat float and my belonging safe.
Im not trying to convince you or myself it my own safety and my life for god sake and thanks to everyone who posted and concerned. I think I made my decision which one gonna get and if I don't like it, I'll dump that to my wife since we are getting a new pontoon boat soon anyway and I only have 5 life vest (2 stored in my Jon boat).
J Francho reply :
On 2/28/2018 at 11:49 PM, JustJames said:Seem like everyone like AUTO, huh? Why on earth they have those manual or A/M where you can convert from auto to manual only?
Some prefer to use the very least. All automatics have a manual override.
gobig reply :
I wouldn't buy anything but an auto if I was going that rout but then again I wear a foam padded impact life jacket. Every time I see where someone dies in a wreck they are wearing an inflatable. They either do not open or they tear in the accident.
J Francho reply :
I wear a PFD not because I think it *might* save me in an accident, but more for when I'm fishing. There's a much greater chance me tripping on the deck.
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