PFD's
- This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated Apr 15, 2014 at 9:44 am by
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My new Commander should (fingers crossed) be here any day now and I’m thinking about PFD’s.
What, if anything are you guys using while fly fishing ?I’ve looked at a couple things in the $ 90-100 range from LL Bean and NRS on-line, but it’s hard to gauge size and work out if they would be comfortable over chest waders ext.
Any opinions out there ?
Cheers.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
You can get them from your local boat shop for about the same price here, Dave (assuming you’re talking inflatable PFD). BCF/BLA etc. I have a Hutchwilco myself, but there are lots available. When I bought my boat the dealer had them for $75. I think you’ll find it mandatory to wear a PFD in float tubes, float boats, your commander etc – anything under 4.8m or when you are fishing alone which you tend to do in a float tube 🙂
be aware that marine safety might check the service dates on your PFD if its an inflatable, so check that it doesn’t have to be ‘returned to the manufacturer’. Most just need to be inspected annually in accordance with a maintenance check list, which you can do yourself. And a new cartridge is around $35.
After about 10 minutes you don’t notice them.
http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/Marlin-Explorer-PFD-150.aspx?pid=346250&menuFrom=571532#Cross
http://www.hutchwilco.co.nz/webapps/category/60993/54214/5252Best Regards,
Beechy
Thanks Chris,
Those look alright, but I was unsure if the inflatable type were a good idea for moving water ?
I suppose they would be a lot less restrictive to wear ?www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Yes – like I said, you don’t notice then after the first 10 minutes. They’re fairly cool on hot days too (thinking back to your float trip for cod a few year back…).
Best Regards,
Beechy
Inflatables might be fine on some lazy slow river somewhere or on a bigger boat. If you have any sort of current or any possibility of going in more than once, you want a real PFD. Low-profile kayaking PFDs are pretty comfortable and allow a full range of casting motion. They’re fine over most chest waders (as long as your waders don’t have buckles in weird places), and the sizing is as straightforward as your waders — most of them are semi-adjustable, anyway.
Hi Chris, just signed up to the BCF club and ordered the Marlin inflatable you linked – thanks for the suggestion.
In the not to distant future, I’m also going to get a proper kayak PFD for the reasons Dave mentioned about running water – not that there’s much of that around at the moment – damn drought.
www.dsaphoto.com
A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.
Here in the U.S. the inflatables are typically viewed as a last ditch, pull-the-ripcord type thing. The most comfortable vests I’ve worn are kayaking vests with a zipper. My kayaking vest is zipper-less, and while it is comfortable once on, it is a bear to pull over your head.
Zach
If you will be on moving water / rapids from time to time, in my view, it is worth spending the coin on a good PFD. I’ve had the ones from the boat store – they tend to be uncomfortable and bulky to the point that I didn’t enjoy wearing them, so I don’t wear them. They also started to smell after not much time.
Now, I have this, which I barely notice when I am wearing it http://www.rei.com/product/767267/astral-v-eight-pfd
Scott, I’ve been looking at that exact vest to upgrade to. Thanks for the feedback.
Getting a little wiser over the years, I think a full time vest on the river rule is a good policy. Never know what might happen. I’ve only ever needed my vest on one canoe dump and a few times when I had to pull folks out of the river but I was sure glad I had it on (once helped a random drunk at the jumping rock that swallowed water, once some kids out in rough weather that couldn’t handle it and lost their boats).
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