PFD's Lifejackets.

bill lewinski

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
40
I was going to respond on a different thread but thought I would start a new one.
Years ago I was involved in a search and rescue mission that turned into a recovery mission. I was duck hunting at the time and a hunter fell out of
another boat and they couldnt find him. This was at 02:30 in the morning.
He was finally found shortly after daylight, He had a PFD on but it was
camo in color and blended well into the waves in the dark. The sad part about the whole thing according to the autopsy was that he was still alive when he was in the water. He had a heart attack and may have survived
if he could have been spotted in time. This really made me think since I'm no spring chicken anymore and probably wouldnt survive long in the water in november or december, why do they make camo life jackets? IMO your defeating the purpose of needing to be seen quickly! Why worry about a camo life jacket when your going to take it off when you get to your duck blind or start hunting out of your boat blind? I started thinking about this when I got done hunting that day and got rid of my camo life jackets and bought the big orange ones with the reflective tape that the C.G. has.
 

83Evinrude

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 3, 2008
Messages
290
Re: PFD's Lifejackets.

I agree, the same can be said for many watersports lifejackets. I think they should all be bright colors so boats nearby can clearly see them in the water getting ready to ski etc. Sadly when we are looking for them it seems many are very dark colors.
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: PFD's Lifejackets.

I use a cammo life vest when jump shooting from a canoe--then you need the camo. Otehrwise, I agree, you don't.
i should put removable reflective tape on the shoulders at least. Maybe next season.
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,204
Re: PFD's Lifejackets.

it IS possible to have both... You can get a water activated self inflating life jacket that isn't bright orange, and you don't notice it while wearing it. Fall in the drink and it inflates (and IS bright orange then). I personally know of quite a few fishermen that hated wearing life jackets are now going with inflatables.
 
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