Best PFD for Women?

TUS NUA

TUS NUA

Member
Dec 4, 2019
54
Boat Info
2003 320 Sundancer, Garmin GPSmaps 741xs
Engines
350 Mercruisers (twin)
In preparation for the new boating season, I'd like to get my wife the best low profile PFD available. I am thinking something she can wear while on the boat at all times (she'll be assisting with boat tie ups, lifting and setting fenders etc.).

I was leaning towards an dual inflatable unit but, maybe that is not the best idea???

Would love to hear what you are all doing while out on the water.

Happy New Year!
 
TUS NUA said:
In preparation for the new boating season, I'd like to get my wife the best low profile PFD available. I am thinking something she can wear while on the boat at all times (she'll be assisting with boat tie ups, lifting and setting fenders etc.).

I was leaning towards an dual inflatable unit but, maybe that is not the best idea???

Would love to hear what you are all doing while out on the water.

Happy New Year!
Click to expand...


Hi, The best kind is the one she will wear...It sounds like a flip answer but it will hold true.
If I was going to get my wife one it would be that kind that inflate when needed.
 
Based on our discussions, we've talked about having PFD's that we can wear on the boat all the time that are low profile enough. We see a lot of boaters out without jackets on, and things could change in a hurry especially if retrieving fenders and the like. Specifically, we have said that we want four low profile PFD's for my wife, daughter and her husband, and of course myself. Then have another four neoprene jackets under the seats. We have the bulky orange ones here at the house that we can take just in case.
 
DD's should float well. Find a good surgeon. Go to Mexico like some have said in other posts. Just kidding. My wife didn't like the low profile type units. It wasn't comfortable to her. She likes the vest style. So, before you spend the $$ for those low profile, I'd take her to a West Marine and try them on.
 
TUS NUA said:
Based on our discussions, we've talked about having PFD's that we can wear on the boat all the time that are low profile enough. We see a lot of boaters out without jackets on, and things could change in a hurry especially if retrieving fenders and the like. Specifically, we have said that we want four low profile PFD's for my wife, daughter and her husband, and of course myself. Then have another four neoprene jackets under the seats. We have the bulky orange ones here at the house that we can take just in case.
Click to expand...

Very good comments here and I would like to state something that everyone should be aware of. Life jackets / PFDs are for your safety and while the USCG finds it acceptable to have them onboard that is not always good enough.

Many people just get the quantity that they need and stash them away in the most inconvenient places to get to in an emergency. I would suggest keeping them in quick reach in the cockpit and the cabin. If the cabin happens to catch on fire the last thing you want to do is worry that your PFDs are under the bed out of reach.

We keep them in the cabin, the cockpit and the aft storage locker - always in reach. While we normally travel with four or five people I probably have 10-12 onboard at all times. In an emergency we will use anything including fenders, poles, etc that are stored up on deck. Same thing goes for the fire extinguishers.

It is also best to inform guests about all these items and locations before leaving the dock as if there is an emergency you will not have the time.

-Kevin
 
My wife and I have automatic inflatables and usually have them nearby but don't wear them all the time. When it's 100* plus they're just too darned hot. But they're nearby to grab if needed.

We also have neoprene jackets because, well we got those first before the automatic ones. They're tucked in a locker in a stateroom.

We also have 23 orange horse collar type for when we have guests on board. I always explain where they are but don't require guests wear them.
 
TUS NUA said:
In preparation for the new boating season, I'd like to get my wife the best low profile PFD available. I am thinking something she can wear while on the boat at all times (she'll be assisting with boat tie ups, lifting and setting fenders etc.).

I was leaning towards an dual inflatable unit but, maybe that is not the best idea???

Would love to hear what you are all doing while out on the water.

Happy New Year!
Click to expand...
We use the Inflatable type they are pretty unrestricting and after a while you forget its on
 
All great comments! Thank you!
I am getting the feeling that my head is in the right place. Recognizing that it gets hot, I want the PFD's close by, that are easy to get on/off, and in particular, on if we are moving forward along the bow rails.

is there a Manual/Automatic brand that I should lean towards (e.g., Spinlock, West Marine brand, other)?
 
TUS NUA said:
All great comments! Thank you!
I am getting the feeling that my head is in the right place. Recognizing that it gets hot, I want the PFD's close by, that are easy to get on/off, and in particular, on if we are moving forward along the bow rails.

is there a Manual/Automatic brand that I should lean towards (e.g., Spinlock, West Marine brand, other)?
Click to expand...
I would imagine as long that its Coast Guard approved, I went with the automatic incase i were to fall over hit the head, get knocked out it would keep my head above water. I've come down with Parkensons and have a balance issue. I intend to boat as long as possible !
 
TUS NUA said:
In preparation for the new boating season, I'd like to get my wife the best low profile PFD available. I am thinking something she can wear while on the boat at all times (she'll be assisting with boat tie ups, lifting and setting fenders etc.).

I was leaning towards an dual inflatable unit but, maybe that is not the best idea???

Would love to hear what you are all doing while out on the water.

Happy New Year!
Click to expand...


Greetings

Best type PFD for women are "see thru", just sayin.............................................:)
 
He TUS...before you invest in high-end PFD's you should definitely see how they feel. I don't know many adult boaters around my parts that wear PFD's while underway in the "big boat". Dinghy's, sure, but while cruising...not super common. Of course it's safer to wear them, we all know that...but...well...it's just not the most practical, awesome, comfortable thing to do whilst enjoying time on the boat.

Those slick low-profile/auto-inflate rigs are not cheap. If there is any chance your wife joins the masses of "these look silly", "these are too hot" or "these leave horrible tan lines" you'll want to avoid the investment and stick with the $5 USCG approved type.

My two cents only of course...
 
spikedaddy99 said:
DD's should float well. Find a good surgeon. Go to Mexico like some have said in other posts.
Click to expand...

I think it's germane to remind everyone of a few tenants of CSR - 1.) nobody ever complained about going too big (in engine choice), 2.) buy your second size (boat) first and 3.) plan for 10-15% of the initial investment in ongoing maintenance/fees/upkeep.

:)
 
90% of our boating is in very shallow water in a protected bay and usually within a few hundred feet of shore.
When we are going out of the the inlet to the ocean we wear our PFD’s and keep them on until we get back or to another destination.
They are bulky and uncomfortable to wear for hours at a time.
My friend picked up an inflatable PFD a couple of years ago. Much nicer.
One of these days I’m going to pick up a couple for us.
 
It's boat show season and West Marine often puts their inflatables on sale at pretty good discounts. We have a couple of those and they're easy to wear for long periods.
 
We keep ours clipped to the rail at the cockpit sink for quick access. 1 clip on each one. Can have them on within about 30 seconds. The rest stay stowed away but if we have any guests I always get a vest out for each guest and have them sitting in the cockpit too. Off topic here but it was already brought up...lol
 
We boat primarily on an inland lake. We have numerous PFDs on board including the orange Type II coasties and Type III neoprenes we use for tubing and the waverunner. I also have several inflatable fanny packs. They are all within easy reach but we don't wear them as a matter of course. The kids wear their PFDs as it's requirement under 14.
 
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