Inflatable Life Jackets

[Bill Gilbertson]

Anyone use them for hunting? Cabelas has one model at half price on a closeout. But I wonder if the model-specific CO cartridges will continue to be available.

[cstemig]

Personally, if it is a model-specific CO2 cartridge that is unique, I would shy away from it.

[Quack]

I use an inflatable regularly from the first boat ride of the year to the last boat ride. However, as a mechanical device, they kinda freak me out. especially when the air temp is extremely cold.

There was a guy on one of these forums, I think the old one Keller started, who went overboard and had a bitch of a time getting back in the boat because the inflatable got in his way. He said he'd never re-arm it with CO2 again and just use it as a manual-inflate. I would be worried about the gasp-reflex sending me to the bottom before I had time to inflate it, but I also worry about it not working so I'm obviously a worrier.

Odds are you would be able to find a rearming kit that would work, but that's somewhat of a gamble. I'm guessing all of the auto-inflate PFDs have the manual option, but you might want to verify that.

[h2ofwlr]

The problem with manual inflate is simply - what if you get dazed from bumping you head, or worse - knocked out.

[Bullet21XD]

Before you get one for hunting...research the temperatures that particular model will function in. Many...do not work when cold...like 40 or less.

[Bill Gilbertson]

Good point Bullet. I hadn't thought of that.