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Reminder to all water hunters

X

XT18000

New member
With the recent thread posted by fir469 " A scary reminder of the dangers of water hunting "
everyone who hunts in salt water needs to remember that Sept. marks a change not only in
the air temps but more important a change in the water currents; they will start running
stronger, scallop out holes and troughs, have a increase in strength, and in short, make a
lot of changes in a short length of time. This can and will happen on a daily basis, and that's
a good thing for us water hunters but also bringers us dangers that we haven't had to pay
much attention to during the summer. A bottom that was as flat as a plate yesterday can be a
mine field the next with hole's in it that can be over your head with one step. We all need to
exercise some good judgement and common since in how we hunt under those conditions.
Any PDF will save a life if given a chance, get one and wear it and be a safe hunter!
 
Ditto! Anyone besides me think they know what action to take if you are caught in a rip? I just remember what I was told by our Surf Rescue folks and it may not be totally good info. Also if somebody knew what caused a rip, the geography and all, people might be more observant and know how to avoid them. jim
 
XT18000 is right!! A PFD is The BEST Insurance you can Buy!!!!
Many time I came too close to using it!!!
I would never water hunt with out one!!
You can even attach your finds bag on it.

MR.Goldmaster
 
Rip are formed when one current flowing parallel to the shore collides with one flowing parallel to the same shore
except in the opposite direction. If the two currents are of the same straight they can't overcome one another
and the shore line forces them to change direction away from it. Rips are usually not very wide and are hard
to see if you don't know what to look for. If you are caught in one, and are wearing a PDF, do not panic and
try to swim out of it , get rid of anything you are carrying and do not fight it. Swim on your back as best you can
to the side of it and you will be pushed out of it and you will be able to swim back to the shore. The main thing
is DO NOT PANIC! Sometimes you can see a rip before you get in it, if there is sea weed, foam, or trash in it
it will be pulled out while the stuff out of it will be pushed in. Rips can be very hard to see sometimes, you have
to train your eye to see them. Look for them always and before long you will be able to see them before you get
in one.
 
At another forum site, a fellow hunters son called him up at the salt water beach to let him know he found a CZ21 washed up on shore, minus the
headphones. There are questions as to who the owner was, what may have happened to him and why the CZ21 came ashore.

Good inflatable PFD can be bought at Outdoor shops that cater to fishermen.

Here's a great video showing what they look like and how to use them.
I'm sorry if this video violates any of this forums policies but, it serves a purpose of
maybe saving a treasure hunters life.
Inflatable PFD Video Clip
 
I have just asked my wife if she had ever seen one in a local store to purchase. I had already had one on my mind.
 
This is a very good PFD for around $80.

Do a Google shopping search for "Mustang Belt Pack PFD"


Mr.Goldmaster
 
No doubt the Mustang above is high quality. However, if it's hooked to your backside, when inflated won't it make you float butt up and head down? That's not good if you breath through you mouth.

My 'preference' is the one pictured by sven. It will float you face up. Even though Mustang is the top of the line brand, you do pay something for it's name. There are others out there that are as good and are less expensive. Do some shopping like always and compare features and quality construction. One thing to consider is the availability of replacement 're-charging' kits. Some who sell the PFDs don't carry the re-arming kits and that's a PIA.

One thing I learned from using that set up while diving, it's necessary to unscrew the CO2 cartridge after use in the saltwater and rinse it off. Also helps to spray some silicone on the CO2 cartridge threads as well as the activation mechanism. Nobody told me about that and after using mine for a year I decided to check it out and see how things were. The cartridge was saltwater welded to the trigger mechanism. Had to trash it and start over. There's a plastic safety piece that prevents a slight tug from inflating the PFD. You overide that when you need it. It breaks and a pin hits the end of the CO2 and that's what fills the vest. There is some significant mechanical movement of that device. I take out the CO2 and yank it to make sure it's still free and loose. That screws up the plastic safety plug and you have to get another one. I found that a couple of strands from 16 gauge copper wire will replace the plastic plug and you can test it and see how many strands you want to use and make it as hard or easy as you want. On my vest, as Stearns, 2 strands of that copper wire are equal to what the original plastic safety did. That way I can activate the mechanism every now and then and make sure it's mechanically operational without buying the 'Stearns' plastic replacement.

It's always good to carry an extra CO2 cartridge with you as sooner or later you'll accidentally catch the 'rip cord' on something and get an unwanted inflation. If you have the spare cartridge with you all you have to do is deflate the vest, replace the CO2, and go detecting. All the plastic safety or the strands of copper wire do is make it less likely to get an accidental inflation. As long as you are careful you don't even need either the wire or the plastic safety. It's kind of similar to a gun in a way. With the safety on you can't do the trigger. Only on the vest with the safety on it's just harder to activate the trigger. Probably more than anyone wanted to know...jim
 
Every year you here about somebody drowning,that would still be here if they had worn a PFD.Whats your excuse for not wearing one?
 
Got the Stearns PFD Fishing Manual inflate Vest 4444, wearing this since I started 4 years ago. My thing is in the water, it get blown up with the oneway inflatetube, so it inflated already..when hunting chest deep in the ocean and the swells are coming in {before they break into waves} I can bobb and hold on to my scoop once it is planted in the sand, giving me a chance to locate the target, then Hit & Run. Plus I like the fishing vest for I can put my finds in different pockets and not have to worry about the finds Bag. The pockets have a mesh bottom so the sand falls thur or washes out. One thing, with the Pfd inflated already, the cord is tucked away so I accidental don't pull it and blow the inflatable......... If it inflated already, it's one less thing you have to reach for

One thing about the Belt Inflatable, it pops out inflated when you pull the cord, you still have to get it around your neck..that's why I never went that route.
 
If these vest are made like the horse collars for diving they have a release valve that's set to let air escape to prevent over inflation and popping. Might want to check that out with the manufacturer. That way if you have it inflated by using your mouth and the hit the rip cord, you don't have to worry about popping it like a balloon. That'd be a really bad day. jim
 
Cleaning with fresh water and checking that everything works like " Grumpyoldman " said is a great idea
and should be done every time befor use. After all this thing is supose to be able to save your life and
will but only if it is in working order.
 
Hi all
Does anyone know if a belt pack PFD can be submersed in water and not used unless needed? I hunt in chest hi water but do not want the pack to inflate unless I need it in an emergency. If the belt pack is underwater for an hour will it still inflate when the cartridge is activated?
thanks
 
Yes, it can go underwater but when you pull the cord, it pops out inflated, then you have to hold on to it or put it around your neck while trying to recoupe from the Riptide, drop off or the reasons you pull the cord. It is more discreate but requires more work if your trying to get it over your head around the headphones, cord, and what ever else gets in the way.
 
arod777 said:
Hi all
Does anyone know if a belt pack PFD can be submersed in water and not used unless needed? I hunt in chest hi water but do not want the pack to inflate unless I need it in an emergency. If the belt pack is underwater for an hour will it still inflate when the cartridge is activated?
thanks
Click to expand...

The ones I have looked at come in two flavors, one that inflates upon contact with water, and one with a rip cord. The one that inflates when it sees water can be setup to work only when manually triggered also. So if you want one for double duty, say boating where you may be ejected from the boat and rendered unconscious or manual only for wading, it can do both with a simple change.

It is USCG rated, so it should stand up to being the water for extended periods of time and still inflate. All have replaceable cartridges and can be blown up by mouth if needed.
 
was looking at one and it says that it is NOT to be used by anyone who cannon swim. My hubby can't swim a lick. He was like I'm not using this thing. He doesnt metal detect like I do. I got it for him to use on a small boat to fish on the lake. Are there any of you all that use one of these inflatable devices that can't swim????

I wish they'd tell you these things on the information page about the item. I saw in the reviews where one guy ordered several for his grandchildren and when he got them it said not to be used for anyone under 16 so he had to send them back.
 
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