Auto or manual inflatable vest?

charlg

charlg

New Member
Jan 7, 2007
745
Newton, MA
Boat Info
2000 280 Sun Sport
/ Raymarine C80 w/ Radar / Sirius weather
/ SH GX5000S VHF
Engines
Twin 350 Mags / B1's
/ Corsa exhaust
My wife bought a few things at WM for me for Father's Day. They all need to go back. I was thinking of getting an inflatable life vest. After reading a few posts on the subject, it seems that the (cheaper) auto that WM sells might get wet and go off too easily. Is a manual a better choice?
 
charlg said:
My wife bought a few things at WM for me for Father's Day. They all need to go back.
Click to expand...

Ha! I don't know which one is better but your first two sentences are classic...it's the thought that counts. I have two manual vests for what it's worth.
 
We have a couple of each. I think the auto units have to get really wet (as in submerged for a couple minutes), because we have worn them in some really heavy rain and not had any mis-fires.

Henry
 
I have two Mustang manual PFD's onboard and I wear mine whenever I go out. I chose manual over automatic because I end up returning in rainstorms fairly often and I was afraid that I would constantly be rearming it. I've since spoken to a couple of LEO in the area who say that theirs never go off in the rain.
 
Personally I would choose the auto inflate for power-boating. We used to sail before moving to power. I chose manual inflate because of the getting wet issue. But not the getting wet in a down-pour. I was concerned about fore-deck work when I was changing a head sail and the sail boat buries its bow and you are waist deep in water - then there is the real risk of the auto vest inflating. If I were to buy them now with our power boat for sure I woudl get the auto ones - a bit of rain will not set them off.
 
I have a Mustang auto inflate and it needs about 4" of water over it before it will inflate (has manual over ride as well) so will not inflate in rain.
 
We went with the auto inflatables. If you are knocked off the boat, or your feet let go and you slide/slip off and hit your head in doing so, you might not be able to manually inflate it. I'd rather re-arm mine than not have it inflate because I was knocked out and couldn't do it.

I only have one life. It's much more important to me than the cost or inconvenience of having to re-arm an auto inflatable.
 
We have both. The manual ones are SOS and are type III's. With either one you chose I recomend jumping in and trying the " Inflation" process. I tried w/ Kids first and had a good laugh. Then I jumped in and the kids had a good laugh. My point is they are a bit nerve racking as they go and you should know what to expect. Mike
 
I have Auto Inflatables, Same vests for some 20+ years, "Crewfit" brand.

I inspect, inflate and test annually. Weigh the CO2 cylinders, record the inspection and repack. Each has a whistle and water powered light attached. In all these years and over 22K miles at sea I have never hand an accidental inflation. I have used one in crew training by wearing one in a pool demonstration on several occasions. Inflatables have one huge advantage which is people will wear them. I've defaulted to the Auto Inflate because you can not be assured of going overboard in a state allowing manual activation, its simple to me, either use CGA Types that require no intervention or automatics.

Inflatables must be tested annually, a fish hook prick can make one of these useless.
 
We have and wear the auto inflatables on our Center Counsle. My wife is a non-swimmer. She also wears hers on the Sea Ray. The first day I brought them home she jumped in the pool with hers on. She is very comfortable wearing hers. While underway we were boarded by the Coast Guard a couple of weeks ago for a saftey check. They were both wearing the Mustang auto inflatables.
 
If you and your family go in, you are not going to want to waste time inflating your life vest before you can tend to them, especially if you are injured. You are no help to others if you have to save yourself.
 
Great advice. I bought the automatic, and plan to get a few more over time.
 
There are two types of automatic vests in the Mustang line, automatic and hydrostatic. The automatic models activate when a tablet dissolves in water. The hydrostatic models activate when they are submerged in a few inches of water. The other manufacturers may do the same.

Just to be clear about the manual models, they activate a gas cartridge also, they are not inflated by mouth.
 
Phlorida said:
Just to be clear about the manual models, they activate a gas cartridge also, they are not inflated by mouth.
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I'll ask the question.....what does the wearer have to do to manually inflate the vest? If the wearer is unconscious, how does the vest inflate?
 
Good God... and "what if" monkeys fly out my ass.

If you jump in the water with the automatic and it inflates, you won't be helping anyone. Those things lock down around your neck like a 17 year old drunk girl at prom. I have manuals... for everyone except the inlaws. Those have no CO2 cartridges in them.

I prefer to have control over the situation... I can't imagine climbing into a life raft with those things all inflated. And... if you have auto ones and a life raft, I assume you'll have re-arm cartridges so you can rebuild your life jacket while bobbing around in 100 degree heat?

And yes... I always wear my life jacket when the boat leaves the dock... but I want control over it. If I "bump my head"... well... guess the karma caught up with me.
 
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We have both typs on our boat but normally wear the auto inflate. When I fish alone, I always wear the auto inflate. Mine needs to be underwater several inches to auto inflate. It's really a personal choice. If you boat with family or boat alone, that should help in your decision...
 
In case Scott's answer wasn't clear...... you have to pull on a lanyard that hangs from the bottom of the vest.

Gofirstclass said:
I'll ask the question.....what does the wearer have to do to manually inflate the vest? If the wearer is unconscious, how does the vest inflate?
Click to expand...
 
Phlorida said:
In case Scott's answer wasn't clear...... you have to pull on a lanyard that hangs from the bottom of the vest.
Click to expand...

It's just like the ones the flight attendants demonstrate every time you fly... right up there with how to fasten a seat belt. I guess the typical boobs that fly on a plane are smarter than the typical boater as the airline ones don't auto inflate... Then again... life jackets on an airplane are kinda pointless.
 
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