Hi, I want to purchase horse-shoe, auto-inflating PFDs that have built-in harness and place to clip strobe and EPIRB.
Do you have one you know of and like? Do you have ones you recommend NOT getting for some reason?
Any recommendations welcome.
P.S. Have a 2003 Bavaria 38 and am loving it.
My recommendation is that these things are a very personal choice - a type which one person finds comfortable would be unacceptable to another person. So ignore recommendations and go to a big chandlery and actually try on a few different types. Assess not just their comfort when on, but also the ease of getting them on.
Thanks, while I agree one must try them on, I'm looking for recommendations for something that has all the features I'm looking for. Any ideas?
Thanks
Difficult to make recommendations as you are in the USA and the PFDs available there will be different from what is available in Europe where most of us are based. Research what is available, check the specs and then if possible try on the ones that have the features (which are common to most of the better ones) you want.
Perhaps not unimportant, also investigate what maintenance/ testing costs of the PFD will be. Some are either hugely expensive to test and for some are spares difficult to get. Generally there are only a few manufacturers of the actual actuating device (Halkey-Roberts, United Moulders) and make sure it is this kind of general and not exotic brand. If you are frequently sailing in poor and very wet conditions, you could consider a "Hammar" actuating device. (As your saltpill actuator may inflate in severe conditions, especially on bow conditions)
Also go for sufficient floatation, like 275N, which will be capable to turn your head above water when you enter it unconscious and prevents you from immediate drowning..
I have a Spinlock and can recommend it.
https://www.spinlock.co.uk/en-GB/uk/categories/lifejackets
The model I have is the 6D, which has all the features you are after plus a spray hood
Another happy Spinlock user here - for mostly coastal use we have the Lite+ models, incorporating harness and their add-on "bladder strobe".
Two accidental salt pill activations so far - both related to ~12hr bow / lifeline hugging on choppy seas during semi-offshore racing.
BR,
Tommi - s/y Anniina