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Shoey
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Registered: 01-2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 132
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Inflatable Vests.
Just wondering if anyone has or has tried the inflatable vests. My Scupper has a very deep seat well and my vest tends to ride up the back of my neck. The inflatable vests seem to have inflated prices.
I had a quick look on your site Phil and didnt see any. Are you able to track any down? Are they worth the money they are asking for them?
Regards,
Gerard.
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Regards,
Gerard.
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Perception 'Swing Angler'
Ocean Kayak 'Scupper Pro'.
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6/Jan/2005, 4:58 pm
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The Mariner
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Location: Adelaide, Australia
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Re: Inflatable Vests.
Hey Shoey,
Nope, never tried one but I have seen 'em.
Up until a few days ago I haven't moved into the PFD side of things purely due to the cost of keeping a range of sizes of a range of models in stock for customers to try on.
I am slowly moving that way & will probably offer a couple of models from Perception's range at this stage.
For safety offshore I always favour standards approved class II PFD's & I'm not sure the inflatables meet this requirement, particularly the visibility component.
The other thing is to be truly safe they should be self-inflating once they hit water & I think this is what seperates the cheaper models from the dear ones.
Now, importing them from the U.S. might be cheaper than buying locally (by cutting-out a middleman or two) but you won't get one from the U.S. with australian std's approval, only U.S. Coast Guard.
I'm happy to do some research & let you know what I find.
Scupper (naturally) paddles a Scupper with a high-back seat & he's.. how do I say this nicely... short so it would be interesting to hear what his experiences are. Send him a PM if he doesn't read this & respond.
Maybe the design of your PFD is the issue. Some are a longer fit than others. Most designed for paddle sports are quite short to allow for comfort in a seated position whereas conventional boating ones are a bit longer.
--- Regards,
Phil.
Forum Administrator.
Visit www.hookedonkayaks.com.au for kayaks and kayak fishing accessories. |
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6/Jan/2005, 6:37 pm
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Redro
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Re: Inflatable Vests.
If you go onto the US web site www.fishingstuff.com and go to their forum - and do a search on this topic, I am sure you will find a lot of info. Almost as much as the old Sit Inside vs Sit On Top debate. Which must regularly attract about 500 postings every time a newbie asks the question!!
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Nick
Brisbane (Toowong), Australia
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Perception "Swing Angler"
Evolution "Debu"
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6/Jan/2005, 7:11 pm
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Shoey
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Re: Inflatable Vests.
Thanks for the replies.
I hadnt considered the safety side of things, ie: falling into the water unconcious or the visibility factor. I think I might try to fit some sort of comfortable high density foam rubber just to raise my arse an inch or 2. I have a seat from one of those sevlar inflatables but its been a while since I have used it as the Scupper seat is quite comfortable because of its depth. Catch 22 I suppose.
Gerard.
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Regards,
Gerard.
----------------------------------
Perception 'Swing Angler'
Ocean Kayak 'Scupper Pro'.
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6/Jan/2005, 8:09 pm
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PoddyMullet
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Re: Inflatable Vests.
G Day Shoey, Stormy make an inflatable Anglers Vest http://www.stormyaustralia.com/pfd/angvest.html Spoke to a sales rep at one stage and think they maybe able to make it up in a more visible colour (red-not 100% sure). Still the issue of going into the water unconscious, and the cost factor (remember them being a bit pricey). The other option is to get a fat arse (like mine), and this should raise you up without the need for add ons 
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Perception Swing & Dagger Drifter II. Wouldn't one yak be enough?
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7/Jan/2005, 6:31 am
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PoddyMullet
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Re: Inflatable Vests.
Oh forgot "the inflatable vests seem to have inflated prices" line deserves applause 
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Perception Swing & Dagger Drifter II. Wouldn't one yak be enough?
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7/Jan/2005, 6:34 am
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The Mariner
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Re: Inflatable Vests.
Good tip about checking the U.S. forums. Also check the other big ones.. Kayak Fishing Stuff and
Texas Kayak Fisherman.
Be careful altering the seat height. Even raising your seat 1" will noticably reduce your stability. The Scupper, with it's narrow beam (for speed) would ordinarily be a 'tippy' kayak but they countered this by designing a really low seat position.
The 'wet' seat is the main design trade-off made by manufacturers to gain stability without making the kayak wider & harder to paddle.
What about the back height of your seat. If it's a really highback maybe you could use a different seat with a slightly lower back so it won't cause your PFD to ride up. A new seat would be cheaper than an inflatable PFD.
--- Regards,
Phil.
Forum Administrator.
Visit www.hookedonkayaks.com.au for kayaks and kayak fishing accessories. |
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7/Jan/2005, 8:17 am
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The Mariner
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Re: Inflatable Vests.
Hi Guys,
I hace done some looking around on this. Prices seem to start from around $100.00 from Australian retailers which is lower than I expected. You'd need to check if the cheaper models are approved in your state as regulations vary state-to-state.
Here's some links..
Whitworths
C.H. Smith
BIAS Boating Warehouse
Wet Weather Gear
I have also done some thinking...
I would have thought the auto-inflating models to be the most suitable but I just had a thought... kayaking can get wet in rough or windy conditions. What if you copped a decent spray. Would that trip the water sensor & cause an accidental inflation ? Surf launches are often wet affairs so I reckon you'd almost guarantee an accidental inflation.
So maybe the manual inflate model would be better suited, but to ensure inflation in the event you los consciousness & fell ofer you should connect a lanyard between the PFD & your kayak. Just don't forget to disconnect yourself before you get out of your kayak back on shore otherwise 'whoosh'.
Another thing to consider is you only get one inflate per re-charge. Say you are offshore & accidentally fall off. There goes your re-charge. For the rest of the time out on the water that session you don't have any safety from the PFD unless you carry the re-charging equipment with you.
I use the pockets on my PFD to carry other safety equipment, like my whistle, knife & mirror. I'd have to check to see if this gear could be carried on an inflatable 'coz there's no way I'd be prepared to leave that gear behind just to use an inflatable PFD.
I'd be interested to hear what others think. If others believe they would be a useful alternative to conventional PFD's then I might look into stocking them.
--- Regards,
Phil.
Forum Administrator.
Visit www.hookedonkayaks.com.au for kayaks and kayak fishing accessories. |
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7/Jan/2005, 9:22 am
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fisher8
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Location: Adelaide, South Australia
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Re: Inflatable Vests.
In a previous working life we were issued with auto inflatable vests - they are good in certain circumstances but I think they are unsuitable for kayaks. They do go off accidently, but worse sometimes they don't go off when they are needed - and you need to remember to get them serviced. For commercial fishers or yachties looking for something that is not bulky and can be worked in continually they are great - for a kayak where getting wet is a high probability I don't think they are suitable. The auto inflate vests can still be uncomfortably hot as they don't allow the breeze through to cool you down. I reckon the low profile buoyancy vests that are available now are pretty good - they are generally smaller in shape than the auto vests. Are there any differing opinions?
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A wannabe kayak fisher
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7/Jan/2005, 9:57 am
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Redro
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Re: Inflatable Vests.
I would agree with you completely fisher8. I have a vest from Ocean Kayak and it is perfectly comfortable. Out on the ocean I wear it fairly loose as it is cooler that way - and tighten it up when going in an out of the beach break. I did not actually wear a life vest to start with - none of the regulars who fish Palm Reef seem to. Despite the fact that one of them had a fit of sorts (without a vest), while on the water. About a year ago. He ended up in the water in a semi conscious state - and was fortunately pulled out of the water by another kayaker, who just happened to notice nobody was on the kayak. It took him quite a while to recover, I believe. Water in the lungs, etc. Needless to say I always wear a vest offshore now! I don't bother on the river (Noosa mainly). Personally I believe the critical time is when you are coming in shore after about 3 hours of paddling. The last thing I would like is to be dumped in the surf in an already tired state. It happened to Bill Watson in his early days - when coming in through the Noosa River mouth. He was in the water for nearly 30 minutes - and reckoned he would not have made it if he did not have a vest.
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Nick
Brisbane (Toowong), Australia
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Perception "Swing Angler"
Evolution "Debu"
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7/Jan/2005, 10:10 am
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