Recommendations: Life Jackets and Boat Tarps

[Rock81]

Since the best thing to do with a Life Jacket is wear it any recommendations on comfortable wearable life jackets? a couple of more bucks for quality would seem wise.

Also need to find a boat tarp for a 18' long alweld 8'wide with a center console. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[imhammer]

I wear an inflatable and it us great.....can even west it when I wade. Prices have come down on them considerably.

[Gulfcoast13]

Inflatable is the way to go, but I do not wear my as nearly as much as I should.

[WestEndAngler]

Motor turns on & I have my life jacket on. This time of year I wear a standard life vest around my jacket. Summer, I wear my auto-inflatable.

Type I & Type II life jackets are on my big boat at all times.

[Curmudgeon]

Love my inflatable, but I also have a couple of type IIs.

[Robalo]

i have a inflatable(suspender) wear while driving in tournaments that require it. but for passengers i keep a 4 pack of the bass-pro cheap-o's. funny story-- while in fla a couple yrs ago, the ff&w pulled us over. he had his inflatable on the back of his seat and while manuvering to get alongside of us, the wind blew it into the water. well it inflated and took off like a beach ball. as he took off after it he said "man, that's the second time that's happened. we figured he was their Barney Fife and they only let him have one bullet.LOL!

My brother's inflatable was on his boat deck after we came in from a downpour-it inflated and blew down the canal with us running after it. After that, I aint sold on inflatables. Have they changed so they don't "blow up" when wet?

[Rock81]

MY ERROR

I have seen mention here of Vests that were a prized piece of the fishing inventory, I am assuming that these were a separate "guide" vests.

Any further enlightenment???

[Sneekypete]

I have an HIT Inflatable that won't inflate until submerged in 4 inches of water, you can pressure wash it and a 60 mph rain won't set it off either.Here is the one I'm using. I have the "D" ring made out of Stainless. I have been wearing mine for over 3 years and it is the goods...If your looking to fish the surf or wearing while wading get a Manual Inflatable. This auto HIT will float you face up even if your unconcious.BUY THE BEST and CRY ONCE ... What's your life worth...? Its made by Mustang survival here is the link.

http://mustangsurvival.com/recreational/inflatable-pfd-hydrostatic-inflator-technology-hit?division=recreation

[buoy37]

I have a boat cover that I was about to throw away. I was told it will fit up to a 20' CC. You or anyone else that reads this is welcome to it. I live in Seabrook and work in south Houston.

Shoot me a PM.

[Robalo]

Thanks Sneeky-I heard that the Mustang is the best one and just a heavy rain set off my brother's vest (Not a Mustang), so Thanks-I'll go for one of them on my next purchase.

[Curmudgeon]

Good info, Sneeky! I don't have an auto-inflate since I worried it would be constantly going off. I'll check out the mustangs.

[Rolltide]

The important thing is to get one and wear it consistently. Take it from someone who had a near drowning last summer. I personally use a SOS auto inflatable while on the boat and a standard vest when I wade. I have never had the SOS go off accidentally and it's been pretty wet. It's only supposed to pop when it is fully submerged.