Inflatable life vest rearm kits

[PawPaw Gene]

You that have inflatables, where do you buy rearm kits. I have some Cabelas vest but everytime I go to the store they never have any. Academy doesn't carry the type I need and I haven't found any on-line sites that offer any better deals than ordering from Cabelas. The vest are worth every penny that I put in them but 35 dollars to rearm them every year is a lot. I need the A-33 33 gram and bobbin for an auto inflate vest.
"gene"

["D"]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabel...Tz_stype%3DREG you may have to order one. The one I pasted in is from cabela's.Not sure it is right.

["D"]

This may be a better choice for you off ebay. https://www.ebay.com/p/Onyx-Outdoor-...d=262931799754

[PawPaw Gene]

Thanks "D", I also found the second one after posting, that's the one I need.
"gene"

[shadow]

Pawpaw, I have the one from Academy and they carry the rearm kit there too. I love the vest but if you have to rearm it every year, then it is like buying a new life vest (traditional style) every year. My rearm kit runs around $20. I have had to do it once b/c I decided to pull the life jacket when it was stuck under some stuff in my back seat, bad decision! lol

[PawPaw Gene]

Dwayne, I have the auto inflate model. If Linda happens to get thrown overboard I don't want her to be trying to remember how to activate it. The bobbin that causes it to activate deteriorates over time and then triggers the co2 cylinder. Our lives are well worth $25 once a year but it's just the inconvenience of finding the rearming kit. A great positive about the inflatables is that by law you have to wear it for it to count as a PFD, which means you need it on 100% of the time you're in the boat or you'll get a ticket for no PFD.
"gene"

[Pastor]

Dwayne, I have the auto inflate model. If Linda happens to get thrown overboard I don't want her to be trying to remember how to activate it. The bobbin that causes it to activate deteriorates over time and then triggers the co2 cylinder. Our lives are well worth $25 once a year but it's just the inconvenience of finding the rearming kit. A great positive about the inflatables is that by law you have to wear it for it to count as a PFD, which means you need it on 100% of the time you're in the boat or you'll get a ticket for no PFD.
"gene"

Thanks for that bit of information, Mr. Gene. I don't have the inflatable life vest yet, but if I get them I am glad to know that I will need to wear it for it to count as a PFD. This site is invaluable for the knowledge and information that is passed around.

[PawPaw Gene]

Thanks fellows. I bought one on line thru Walmart for $25.47 with free shipping. I good with it.
"gene"

[shadow]

Dwayne, I have the auto inflate model. If Linda happens to get thrown overboard I don't want her to be trying to remember how to activate it. The bobbin that causes it to activate deteriorates over time and then triggers the co2 cylinder. Our lives are well worth $25 once a year but it's just the inconvenience of finding the rearming kit. A great positive about the inflatables is that by law you have to wear it for it to count as a PFD, which means you need it on 100% of the time you're in the boat or you'll get a ticket for no PFD.
"gene"

Yea mine is an Auto/Manual one. I thought the same about having to have it on for it to count as a PFD and not get a ticket but there was a big discussion about it on Facebook I believe and our own Johnny Laughlin had brought up where in the rules, it did NOT say that. Now the rules may have changed since then, I don't know. As for me, I will wear mine 100% of the time anyway! Too comfortable not to.

Pastor, get one! It will be the best investment you make! They are really comfortable and don't interfere with fishing at all!

[jig rig]

Check the USCG rules. It's there.









Required Features and Advantages of Inflatable PFDs




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Required Features and Advantages of Inflatable PFDs
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by Tom Lochhaas

Updated March 05, 2017


In 1996 the U.S. Coast Guard began approving inflatable personal flotation devices (PFDs) to meet the requirement to have onboard one PFD per person. Although inflatable PFDs are somewhat more complicated than standard lifejackets with inherent (built-in) buoyancy, and certain specific requirements must be met, automatic inflatables offer key advantages for sailors, especially those going offshore.




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Inflatable PFDs must meet Coast Guard rules.

Gary Jobson, head of U.S. Sailing and a winner of the America's Cup race, explains the importance of wearing a PFD and the advantages of using an inflatable type.

Many inflatable PFDs now manufactured feature both automatic and manual inflation modes. The automatic mode is simple in concept but more complex in engineering. A cylinder of compressed gas is connected to a firing pin, which is engaged when the mechanism is immersed in water. If this mechanism does not fire automatically after immersion, the user can jerk the manual inflation lanyard (the yellow handle in the photo) to activate the firing.

After firing, the compressed gas rapidly inflates the buoyancy bladder, which expands out of the encased fabric housing worn over the shoulders and around the neck, providing significant buoyancy. A tube with a one-way valve is also connected to the bladder, allowing the user to blow air into the bladder for buoyancy if the automatic device fails or if the gas gradually escapes after inflation.



Legal Requirements

Some inflatable PFDs are Coast Guard Type I PFDs, which means they are designed for use offshore and should turn a wearer who is unconscious on the back and keep the person’s face out of the water. Type I PFDs have the greatest buoyancy. Other inflatable PFDs may be type II, III, or V, with varying amounts of buoyancy and other design differences.

Most important, consider which type is safest and most appropriate for your own boating needs.

Following are the legal requirements for using an inflatable:
The PFD must be USCG approved, as indicated by a label on the PFD. (Some early models were not approved and may still be in circulation, although most units manufactured presently are approved.)
The PFD must be the appropriate size for the user.
The PFD must have a full cylinder and the firing mechanism must have a green status indicator showing that the device is armed and ready for use (shown in the detail photo).
The PFD must be in good condition, including the inflating device, the air bladder, the oral inflation tube, and the manual inflation lanyard.
The PFD must actually be worn to meet the USCG carriage requirement for having one PFD onboard per person—unlike inherently buoyant life jackets, which are not required to be worn at all times (except by children) but which must be readily accessible.
Inflatable PFDs do not meet the requirement for users under age 16 (because they may not be mature enough to understand how to use the manual inflation mechanism if the automatic mechanism fails).
Inflatable PFDs are not recommended—though this is not a legal requirement—for nonswimmers (who may not be able to keep their head above water long enough to use the manual mode or the oral tube for refilling the bladder).