Lifevests/Life Jackets - Out with the Old, In with the New (2021)

[PeteMc]

My old airliner type lifevests probably still work...  But it's not worth the chance anymore.  Since I haven't been doing much long x-country or over water flights, they've been sitting in a little plastic box in the baggage area for a while.  (Probably will send them in for servicing, but they are old.)

So, anyone what to chime in with their preferred choice is these days and why?  (If your vests are old like mine, what would you buy now?)

I've been looking at a couple of front runners, but also notice (like so many other things these days) there are some serious back-order dates. 

[Skates97]

Spinlock Deckvest 6D

https://www.landfallnavigation.com/catalog/product/view/id/98684.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw2P-KBhByEiwADBYWCuqBHDjTKZh1CDXeKLx5bRMbcZw50AjDK5vubVpkyNuG5PqCSZXqRhoCCPgQAvD_BwE#132=30589

It is more expensive than the others that you can get, but in the grand scheme of all things aviation is not very expensive at all. I have four of them hanging on the wall in my hangar and anytime we are flying over water or just along the coast we are wearing them. They are comfortable to wear, you forget you have it on. You can remove the auto-inflator easily and turn it into a manual inflator. I'll invite Andrew @Hyett6420 to the discussion. He has more experience on the subject than most, flies over the English Channel, and has spent time in the water with the Spinlock Deckvest.

[GeeBee]

Unless you are for hire, forget the TSO'd units. They're overpriced and poor quality. Get yourself a USCG approved inflatable that can be used without the auto inflator bobbin. West Marine House brand, Bass Pro House brand, Mustang etc. Make sure it has manual inflation tubes so you can recharge it in the water and it is rated 35 pound buoyancy. You'll have a better PFD that you can actually wear with a seat belt.

 

[Skates97]

1 hour ago, Hyett6420 said:

now to help them find you:-

MCcurdo Fastfind. Its a Personal Locator Beacon. Wear it around your neck EVERYTIME you go out over water or even jist flying normally. So simple to activate and Incan tell you that. NOTHING beats seeing the helicopter search light coming over the horizon and aiming DIRECTLY for you.  

 

I have a rescueME PLB1 in the plane. It hangs from the center post when I'm not flying. (That also has it hanging down in the way of the engine controls so I can't forget to put it on before startup). Before I put my headset on I put the lanyard around my neck. Even if it is just a local flight I am wearing it, you don't have to be far from civilization to not have a cell signal, and if I land off airport somewhere I am just pushing the button on it to let people know where I am.

[PeteMc]

20 hours ago, Skates97 said:

I have a rescueME PLB1 in the plane.

I've flow with an inReach since back in the day when they first came our from DeLorme.  PLBs are great, but the inReach is even better for hiking WAY AWAY from any kind of cell service in the NW.   I've always liked having the texting capability of the inReach to relay what the emergency is or just sending a quick status to family.  Currently have an Explorer+, but if I were to buy one just for flying, I'd look at their new(er) Mini.

 

[tls pilot]

At EAA Oshkosh this year bought from Spruce 10% off and free shipping

 

[Yetti]

You can get auto inflate USCG for about $70.    Can't tell they are on.   Bought the last one from Amazon.

[tls pilot]

4 hours ago, Hyett6420 said:

Does not appear to have crotch straps. Look on youtube under RNLI for the videos of why crotch straps are SO important 

Agree with the need for these straps

easy DIY video 

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+make+crotch+straps+for+a+pfd&client=safari&hl=en-us&ei=jlNjYfmRKuySwbkP39OJIA&ved=0ahUKEwj5kPDN3cDzAhVsSTABHd9pAgQQ4dUDCA0&uact=5&oq=how+to+make+crotch+straps+for+a+pfd&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAM6BwgAEEcQsAM6BAghEApKBAhBGABQxSJYzThg-0VoAXACeACAAXCIAdcEkgEDNS4ymAEAoAEByAEGwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz#kpvalbx=_mVNjYca0Ec-RwbkP5umc6As19

 

or buy them

 

[A64Pilot]

Marine vests are way better, but I would NOT have the auto inflate. it could get you trapped in the aircraft cause if it inflates your going to be stuck to the roof.

‘I’ve not seen a Marine one with the re-inflate tubes?

PLB is an honest rescue device, one that contacts the RCC directly, my Explorer+ does not contact the RCC, it contacts Garmin’s employees and you hope they pass the message on, great if your lost hiking, and time isn’t a big issue. but if your in cold water, you need the USCG NOW.

We used our Explorer+ to send messages to family and they could track us 24/7 and see where we were. but it’s not s substitute for a PLB.

Anyone wants it, I would make a good deal on it, we just don’t need it anymore.

[PeteMc]

3 hours ago, A64Pilot said:

PLB is an honest rescue device, one that contacts the RCC directly

Um...   Not really.  PLBs are connected to SARSAT which is an organized as a treaty-based, nonprofit, intergovernmental, humanitarian cooperative of 45 nations and agencies.  The RCC you're referring to is not really any different that Garmin's IERCC. 

So you can reach out to a nonprofit, intergovermental cooperative or a center run by a corporation.  I really don't think there would be any difference in response time.  They both reach out to the LOCAL Search and Rescue teams be it Sheriff's Dept, Nat. Parks, local PD or possibly the Coast Guard if you're along the coast.  Neither "center" you contact actually controls or deploys any rescue resources themselves.  They just have a big, and probably the same, database.  

(If some sales guy told you there was a difference, s/he fed you a line...)

 

[GeeBee]

On 10/10/2021 at 8:05 PM, A64Pilot said:

Marine vests are way better, but I would NOT have the auto inflate. it could get you trapped in the aircraft cause if it inflates your going to be stuck to the roof.

‘I’ve not seen a Marine one with the re-inflate tubes?

PLB is an honest rescue device, one that contacts the RCC directly, my Explorer+ does not contact the RCC, it contacts Garmin’s employees and you hope they pass the message on, great if your lost hiking, and time isn’t a big issue. but if your in cold water, you need the USCG NOW.

We used our Explorer+ to send messages to family and they could track us 24/7 and see where we were. but it’s not s substitute for a PLB.

Anyone wants it, I would make a good deal on it, we just don’t need it anymore.

All my marine inflatables have mouth inflation tubes. 

[A64Pilot]

7 hours ago, Hyett6420 said:

Every marine LJ has a CO2 cylinder which can be unscrewed and replaced and an auto-inflate cartridge that fires the pin into the cartridge when it is immersed in water. Once the LJ autoinflate has fired then the cylinder is empty and the auto inflate fired (like a gun cartridge).  Then you just buy new ones unscrew both items and replace them.  
 

my LJ always went off when yacht racing (its wet up front) so we were always re arming it.  Its also been in the ocean (twice) as well so rearmed it after that also. 

I understand how they work and that the cylinder and auto inflate is replaceable.

That’s not the point, when I was trained at NAS Jax years ago they were very adamant about not inflating your water wings until after you were out of the aircraft, if you inflated them inside, then it’s likely that you could trap yourself and not be able to get out.

Autoinflate is great for a yachts, I had them on ours, but not so good in an aircraft, now while airplane do certainly float better than helicopters, airplanes can sometimes end up on their back with the cabin under water.

Edited October 13, 2021 by A64Pilot

[A64Pilot]

On 10/10/2021 at 11:19 PM, PeteMc said:

Um...   Not really.  PLBs are connected to SARSAT which is an organized as a treaty-based, nonprofit, intergovernmental, humanitarian cooperative of 45 nations and agencies.  The RCC you're referring to is not really any different that Garmin's IERCC. 

So you can reach out to a nonprofit, intergovermental cooperative or a center run by a corporation.  I really don't think there would be any difference in response time.  They both reach out to the LOCAL Search and Rescue teams be it Sheriff's Dept, Nat. Parks, local PD or possibly the Coast Guard if you're along the coast.  Neither "center" you contact actually controls or deploys any rescue resources themselves.  They just have a big, and probably the same, database.  

(If some sales guy told you there was a difference, s/he fed you a line...)

 

From Garmin’s own forum, 

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/inreach/f/inreach-mini/155452/inreach-vs-plbs

The PLB also transmits at a much higher power output.

A PLB transmits on 406 mhz and contacts the Compass/Sarsat satellites directly. The Compass/Sarsat exist for Sarsat that is their purpose.

A Garmin inreach uses the Irridium satellite system, There is a reason why ALL EPIRBs and 406 ELT’s contact the Compass/ Sarsats and not Irridium.

https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/inreach/f/inreach-mini/155452/inreach-vs-plbs

If you have ever used your Garmin, then you know that’s it’s pretty common for it to not connect first time, however it will continue until it does make contact, just sometimes takes a few minutes. If memory serves mine made a phone ringing sound and would do that every now and again, and make a different sound when the message was sent.

Now your in cold water trying to hold this thing up until it makes contact, your better off with a PLB, actually an EPIRB but I doubt many would go that far 

Edited October 13, 2021 by A64Pilot

[A64Pilot]

7 hours ago, GeeBee said:

All my marine inflatables have mouth inflation tubes. 

I don’t remember mine having them, but I never had to use them either so I don’t know, I never thought about it until this thread, mine were primarily harnesses for jack lines, if you go overboard in bad weather on a Mom and Pop crewed sailboat, your most likely dead. I had AIS SART transponders on ours so we could at least be found.

AIS is sort of the marine equalivent of ADSB, just no ground stations it’s just one boat to the other. The SART would set off an AIS alarm that would wake the dead and show you as a target on the screen. just steer the boat to the target, something that’s a lot harder to do in a sail boat than it sounds like.

Edited October 13, 2021 by A64Pilot

[A64Pilot]

6 hours ago, Hyett6420 said:

Fully agree about not inflating inside the aircraft thats why i was saying you UNSCREW AND REMOVE the autoinflate cartridge so the LJ then becomes a manual inflate only LJ. 
 

As for Man overboard alarms they are great it allowed the yacht I was on to know i had gone over, because in the storm the stupid helms woman had not noticed nor had any of the other crew!  It was only when the alarm went off, woke the skipper and he came up and first thing he did was look f’ward amd said “wheres andrew”.  
 

The spinlock LJ that day saved my life and kept me out of the spray, the fastfind allowed the chopper to find me and steer the boat back to me, the boat got me back on board, rapidly stripped my wet clothes off, wrapped me in dry stuff and a heat blanket, then I was hoisted onto the chopper and spent a night or two in a hospital in France.  Pas Bon!  My rectal had dropped a tad apparently. All i can recall is crying a lot.  

You are indeed a lucky man, even in race yachts with professional crew, going overboard usually amounts to a lingering death. 

On a Cruising boat crewed by a Retired couple, it’s almost a certainty. It sadly not at all uncommon for one to suddenly realize their partner just isn’t on the boat anymore.

 

[philip_g]

I keep my plb in my raft bag. Along with a led flare. I tested an airline style vest from the 80s and it inflated and held fine. Only problem was the strobe light led had blown up. 

 

ATC will get SAR moving faster than anything else. Hopefully the coasties find me alive drifting in my raft, but fortunately I'm just guessing at what I'll need. Hopefully I never find out.

Oh I also carry an escape hammer to bash my way out the side window if need be

Edited October 15, 2021 by philip_g