Why we don't wear lifejackets - is there a better life vest or PFD?

[@BoatBloke]

I always wear a pfd when ever I’m on the water..It amazes me how many times I see boaters not wearing anything, even their children. Great video mate

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank you!

[@HenryFL1]

According to the California department of boating , 9 out of 10 drowning victims were not wearing a PFD . You tube has many videos one can watch showing boaters falling off their craft at inlets with no PFD . Thumbs up 👍 to a very important topic that can save lives !

[@mikeo.750]

Hi Wayne We haven't had a boat for at least 35 years but I'm drawn to your channel. You are very informative, humorous, and Common sense to boot. Enjoying your channel in SC

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Awesome, thank you!

[@AB-bg1or]

I spent a lot of years as a water cop and pulled plenty of bodies from the water. The one thing they all had in common was none had a PFD on.

[@SOGOnic]

I wear a pfd anytime I'm alone, or on a boat with low sides(bass boat). I have a "fishing" vest style pfd that is my favorite. Plenty of pockets for gear and phone but small straps on the shoulders. I don't trust the self inflating ones. Seen too many videos where they don't inflate or inflate because they were bumped wrong.

[@geebroni4118]

It is extremely difficult to put on a pfd once in the water.

[@capt.gregusmm9303]

For those that boat in winter, a good float coat is an option. Warmer than a regular winter jacket, and you don't really notice the internal flotation when wearing it. Mustang makes a really good one, so does Stearns.

[@leschase1824]

I once heard someone say, "It only takes half a minute to put on a PFD Life Jacket when one dose not need it, but a Lifetime when you do need it and Drowning" for boating. I used to do a lot on my own in a small 10' foot RIB, rivers and coastal. Always wore a life jacket, killcord, and a 6' foot rope attached to a bottom loop on a pocket rope ladder which was secured to the boat on it's top. Should I ever accidently get thrown over the side, engine would kill, then folding rope ladder attached both to the RIB and myself would follow me in the water. I then would be able to climb back into the RIB fairly easily. I did practice going overboard in a safe place once in a while to check it out before hopefully not needing it in case of an emergency.

[@LunkerFishing]

I always wear a PFD while on the water. I am a tournament fisherman and you will be disqualified if the outboard is running and you are not wearing a PFD that is properly secured. I also fish alone many times so I always wear a PFD. I always wear a self inflating PFD and most of the time I do not even know I have it on.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Do you prefer the belt style or the vest style?

[@ronmayo8591]

We have several different types. We wear the auto inflatable when the weather is warm. We also have the best style that we wear when the weather is colder. They help to keep in the body heat. Also have the best style with mesh shoulder straps. Even our Yorkies wear their life vests. Like to think better safe than sorry.

[@collinparsons3363]

If I'm in a kayak, I typically don't wear a PFD because I never go far from shore, and it gets too hot. Otherwise I will typically wear one that's of the vest style. Also, on a motorboat or jetski, I wear the killswitch cord if there is one. The last thing you want in the event of an ejection is for your boat to speed away without you, or worse yet, you get caught in the propellers.

[@mike1983mn]

I wear the self inflating vest type most of the time. I do take it off sometimes when stopped if it’s really hot, but other than that I kind of forget it’s on. It’s was well worth the $150 for a nice one. In MN at least the self inflating PFD does need to be worn to count as a life jacket. If you are not wearing it then you do need to have enough “normal” PFDs on board for everyone not wearing one.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I think it’s the same here.

[@SpacePope420]

Im terrible at swimming. We stopped the boat to jump into the water,didnt anchor and i let go for literally 2 seconds from the ladder. The waves instantly took me too far away to swim back. It took 15 minutes to get me back on board. If i didnt have my pfd id be dead

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yeah the water can be very dangerous and unpredictable. PFDs save lives.

[@thebodybuoy]

I would love to send you one of our new USCG Certified Body Buoy La to try and maybe even do a video?

[@Kasonas]

I always wear one but my husband doesn't. He is the captain and he keeps one right under his seat. The problem is that when we have guests on our boat the men don't want to wear one because he doesn't have one on. I always offer the women and they always wear one. I feel like my husband is a bad example but I'm not there to make anybody wear one. I wished it was the law like seat belts are.

[@TripSmith]

Nice job on the video Wayne.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks 👍

[@AZHighlandHomestead]

We just got new PFD’s from Costco this past week. They are very adjustable, comfortable, and we’re only $30. Would I wear it 100% of the time? Probably not, but would I be more likely to wear it? A lot more so than most others.

[@GurrasGarage]

I do most of the time, I also wear a helmet when i’m riding my motorcycles

[@sunsetatshabooms4558]

If u keep an eye on West marine, they sometimes have really good sales on the auto inflating ones. I had mine on over a jacket & wanted to take the jacket off. I took the life vest off & just the tip of it touch the water & boom! It inflated so they do work! I always wear mine when I kayak now but never when I boat. I should tho. Keep in mind we have several of the belt style & most of them don't autoninflate. U have to pull the cord % then they inflate & put it over your head.

[@Elcompaserg13]

Some arnt coastguard approved sadly

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yeah when I was browsing I noticed that too

[@vitoparrinello4003]

Thank you for making this video keep up the good work..

[@pauldavis4055]

On my boat, I am the captain and everyone who wants to ride, must wear one no exceptions. My friend and I were on the lake one day and a wave came over and swamped our boat. it happened so fast that had we not been wearing a life vest already either one or both of us may not have survived that day. One thing went wrong that day but there was a lot of things that we did that worked. too many to name. But suffice it to say, I wear a plastic shirking obnoxious piece of plastic that when you blow it, will leave blood dripping out your ears. Another cheap safety device that saves lives...

[@ratdude747]

First time boater. Bought my wife and I "recreational vest" style PFDs from Bass Pro (on sale this week) along with a 4-pack of the "cheap orange" vests (also on sale, lucky us). My best friend who is also on the first outing already has a vest PFD. My boat (that the friend's aunt gifted me and I fixed up over the fall/winter/spring) will be used for tubing and water sports... not things well suited to auto-inflate PFDs. In my jurisdiction (Indiana) PFDs are required for water sports... tubing included. Hence why we bought "decent" vests for us... the 4 pack is insurance for cases where I have a guest who didn't bring their own PFD. It is a 16' boat, so I also have a throwable cushion-type PFD on board.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Sounds like you got it all covered! And yeah, the vest type are best for watersports.

[@charles.neuman18]

I always wear one. Always. I'm worried if I hit my head and become unconscious and fall in, I can't rely on my swimming skills, and if someone else is in the boat, they'd have to decide on jumping in after me (possibly abandoning the boat or putting their self in danger). I use the auto inflate kind. I think the cartridge on mine is due for a replacement, so I want to test it. I'd love it if you'd test yours for us!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I may take the plunge and test mine next summer!

[@Kyle-bb9zp]

Every time I get into my 1962 14 ft aluminum boat StarCraft with a 1969 Johnson 25 2 stroke outboard i know people that have drowned 25 to 30 years ago allways wear a life jacket it will save your life.. other Wise the owner of Glen harbor marina in Watkins Glen NY would still be around today. His mechanic survived because he was wearing a life jacket. The Watkins Glen sheriff department divers had to go down quite deep in Seneca lake to find the body of the Glen harbor marina owner.

[@melissabacon2698]

I love to kayak, but I can't swim! I always wear the bulky type 2. At least I know my head will be held above water.

[@daniellamere3993]

I've got a early 80's mercury 2.2 like your 2.5, it came with an old boat that I bought, I changed the impeller after watching your video, the thing runs like a Champ..!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Those little 2 strokes can be pretty simple!

[@maddgoatee9708]

Traditional recreational life jacket from West Marine $40. I don't use self inflating anymore. It so hot where I live they self inflate, once while wearing and once while PDF was seating on my deck.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Dang!

[@ISOSAILING]

Well ive been sailing all my life dingys and big boats and always have a bouncy aid on when in the dingy as i fully expect to be in te water at some point!! don't always have a lifejacket on when sailing big boats unless it's bad weather i do tend to have it on more often than not though , only found this vid as i was looking at replacing my 25year old life jacket, not that theres actualy much wrong with it only neads the co2 bottle replaced then it will be fine to use again, but got a new atumatic one witch is more upto date!!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I tend to wear my auto-inflating one much more than I ever wore any other type.

[@25Patman]

In some states, just an inflatbble seat cushion is enough to be legal. Or it used to be that way. Its been a few years for me.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Boats over 16 ft are required to have a throwable device and also a USCG approved PFD for every person on board

[@25Patman]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy Yea, dad had a 12ft shallow V. We only needed the throwable back then.

[@sarsapp]

I’m in the, “I wear it in the kayak but not on the pontoon” category. Also note: we boat on a lake where MOST areas are 4-6 foot deep. As the saying goes, “If you go in the water, don’t panic! Just stand up!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

LOL - people forget to try that!

[@josephmansell1137]

One thing to note is that if you have the inflatable PFD, you must wear it. If the USCG finds it stowed away and that’s your only option of PFD, you can be cited. I wear the ski type vest when by myself and take it off when I have another qualified operator in the boat with me.

[@malekodesouza7255]

I don’t when we’re in the cabin under transit. I do when I’m outside walking around or up on the bow etc. Always when we’re in the dinghy transiting to shore from anchor. The water temp here is in the 50s year round. The self inflating horse collar types are the best of all worlds, IMO.

[@danielboughton3624]

I don't wear one sailing my little boat. If you capsize and are not somehow attached to the boat you have to take it off to get back to the boat and after going through that exercise a few times you don't bother anymore. In addition any bulky apparatus will limit your agility and could lead to an accident. I have inflatables for the big boat but would not wear those under normal conditions while in the cockpit but the chances of falling out of that cockpit short of a knockdown are zero. Also for big boats which are difficult to manage short handed and take a while to turn around rule #1 is don't fall off the boat. Rule #2 is don't set it on fire and that is only rule 2 because it is more obvious than don't fall off. Not mentioned in this video is the also very important 'do not become separated from your boat' which is why jet skis have kill switches and auto-circle. Even with a PFD you are in trouble if you can't get out of the water especially in cooler water and if you are offshore you are toast in most cases because even if someone is looking for you your head poking out of the water is tiny (also why old PFDs are orange).

[@majavivo]

West Marine had this month Buy one Get One free on the inflatable ones. Not sure if still on sale. I got two.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

That’s how I got mine!

[@moto_rad]

I quite like wearing Type IIs for some reason. Maybe Im just a dork 🤣

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

They DO make a fashion statement!

[@kickinitoutdoors5782]

I fish three to four time a week on Lake Ontario and St Lawrence River and the conditions can change in an instant. I have vest style for my passengers, and I wear an auto inflator. You will not get in my boat without wearing a life jacket of mine or bring your own while we are underway. while we are stopped fishing or using the trolling motor, I am fine with not wearing one. I do make sure one is in the ready to throw or hand in event of an overboard incident we have heavy current condition on the river in many places and you can get swept under quick!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Sounds like you're a good Captain!

[@kickinitoutdoors5782]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy Thank You means a lot! Don't want anyone get hurt on my watch, sometimes you have to make the hard choices.

[@kristiefeldman2684]

But isn’t that considered as overreaching?

[@Beyondthebackyard-au]

I am a kayaker, I ALWAYS wear my pfd every time. I am not sure about your country, but here in Australia the regulations around inflatable life jackets is you must service them every year "according to manufacturers guidelines" which is always "send it back to us along with the service fee" So the jacket is even more expensive in the long run. Not that a kayaker would ever want a self inflating jacket anyway lol But what a lot of boaties do is keep the cheap one onboard to meet legal requirements and still wear the inflatable without servicing.

[@cwmaxfield2000]

Is a life worth $100, or 200 or even three . Simple math IMO

[@youdonthavetoreadthispost.5850]

I always bring my own high-floatation, white-water, river-rated life jacket. I carry guide-rated jackets on the river for my passengers. I've worn full and shorty wet-suits in cold weather. Face-up is mandatory and offshore gear works inshore. Don't forget to tether to your kill switch and use it. I fished alone at night for Stripers and never took anything for granted. Drown-proof yourself so you stay alive long enough to die of hypothermia - that is not a joke. Cold kills too.

[@simonjamesdean2307]

People who make excuses for not wearing a PFD need to remember that nobody puts to sea thinking their boat will sink, yet over time, many thousands have....

[@gonzalomanriquezjr864]

I wear mine mainly because I have a bad back, bad knees, bad neck, and bad shoulders. I can swim, but it’s only a matter of time before my body locks up. It’s all about safety for me. Plus after wearing an IBA for a total of 33 months in Iraq vest don’t bother me that much lol

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank you for watching and for your service.

[@Voxguitarsrock]

I always wear my pfd. But I'm only out in my Kayak.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I feel weird without one in my kayak

[@sheldoncampbell2958]

I have a auto inflatable PFD for everyone on my boat. I make it mandatory to be worn on the boat.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yeah I’m really liking those!

[@rateit1474]

Lifejackets should be mandatory to protect the protected swimmers from the unprotected swimmers.

[@dan.debski4207]

Most the time we aren't in deep water and most the time, land is close. So no we do not need to wear a Life Jacket. Plus we learn to swim and wade in water to rest. So No we do not need to wear a Life Jacket. And it's not like wearing a Seat Belt.

[@Blue_Doge]

yea I really agreee with that seat belt one, if wearing a life jacket was the equivalent of wearing a seatbelt the coast gaurd would mandate their use, the reason not is because most people over 13 can swim or at least float, there is no secret tequnique to not getting your head caved in in a car crash. thats why children have to wear life jackets, then its kina similar

[@choimdachoim9491]

Your shirt should have a logo titled Daviation or Daviaviation.

[@paulpuglia8480]

You don't wear a PFD when you go on a Cruise or on a Ferry with or without your car on the Ferry neither so where do you draw the line. I never went out on my Boat alone I had a 25ft Sea Ray and a 27ft. Formula but if I did go out alone I would wear it. I I'm getting a jet ski next year you have to wear a PFD on a Jet Ski it's the Law.

[@Omnipotant_1]

Only in bad conditions, when boating alone or when working forward on the deck of a sailboat.

[@Kyle-bb9zp]

But you probably would not be able to get that life jacket in time allways wear one

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Around the time I made this video, I switched to the self-inflating model and wear it 100% of the time I am in my little boats.

[@jimlaird8875]

Alot of PFD'S DO NOT keep your face out of the water if you are unconscious!

[@johnsambo9379]

I guess I will be the only honest people in here so I never do on the lake boat. Never had to use one. I can give you a thousand stories of people dying just being on a boat where a life jacket bad nothing to do with it. Why be in a bost at all if it's so dangerous. Think how many lives we will save banning boats for recreational purposes.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I look at it like seatbelts - we can potentially drive our whole life and never have benefitted from a seatbelt or airbag. But there's always the potential for that one time where it really matters.

[@chriseisele9969]

West coast still on sale buy one get one free

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

That's how we got ours!

[@charleslanphier8094]

Another reason not to go boating.