hi, i'm currently looking around for a PFD.

after reading various comments i am looking for something with a crotch strap and auto inflation that can be changed to manual inflation if desired.

some questions remain:

what are the pros and cons of the various brands, e.g. Burke, Hutchwilco, Marlin, etc.? are there any good reasons to choose one over the other?

is it preferable to have a PFD with an integrated harness system, or are there reasons why having a separate harness is betterer?

An integrated harness is best in my view. Makes life easier. Make sure you have the crotch straps, you don't want it to slip over your head during recovery.

I have a Burke manual one. I have seen auto ones inflate on the foredeck under a wave. I also don't want it inflating if I am under the boat trying to get out. If I go over the side unconscious and don't come to in the water, I shouldn't have got up that day.

+1 mb (I'm wearing mine in the pic)

+1. What Morning bird said.
If I had to get a new one, I like the look of the integrated Spinlock PFD/harness.
Manual for me, for reasons stated above.
Regards,
SB

I have integrated harness ..... PFD1 an aussie company, comfortable and excellent service.

Manual inflation for obvious and previously stated reasons ...... am happy and has to be comfortable, nothing worse than hours with something that chafes and rubs

Hi Fishmonkey

Down here in Tassie Stormy jackets are pretty popular http://www.stormylifejackets.com.au/sailing/copy-of-stormy-life-jacket-with-harness-150n-as4758-1-iso12402-3-iso12401-1/

I wear mine all the time when i am on the boat and just zip the arms off when the weather is warm

If you just want a yoke they do them as well www.stormylifejackets.com.au/sailing-pfds/life-vest-pro-180n-as4758-1-iso12402-3-iso12401/

Regards Don

I believe if you are going to ware a pfd / harness you should ware the best. If you ever need it you will be glad you paid the extra $300.00. I ware a Crewsaver Ergofit 290 Ocean Hydrostatic hammer. The hydrostatic hammer system is different to the automatic jackets, the hydrostatic pfd's are activated by water pressure which has to be over 1 mt. These pfd's / harness are very comfortable to ware and have provision to fit you personal EPERB and personal AIS beacon. The Spinlock pfd's / harness is very similar. I also carry on board a Stormy Seas jacket with integral pfd / harness that I use at night if the conditions are mild and I just want a light jacket. The lanyard I use is Spinlock triple hook so as I can remain tethered at all times. When it comes to safety equipment I buy nothing but the best.

I also have a Crewsaver Ergofit, but the 190 Coastal, Hammer Activation. Love it! Very comfortable! Feature packed!

the Adventure Safety site has some good info on PFDs

http://www.adventuresafety.com.au/news/

Here's as an interesting video on cutters, which I think are a must have when tethered. A cutter is a safe way to cut yourself free without worrying about puncturing the PFD (or stabbing yourself) as when swinging an open knife blade about. It's the most under appreciated piece of safety equipment you can find for $30.

www.facebook.com/adventuresafety/videos/1078064208894756/

whatever PFD you buy, the first thing you should do is download the self service guide and see how it all works, put it on and manually inflate and deflate so you know to do it, where all the bits are and roughly (on land) what it is going to feel like.

I have an RDF Cyclone. Manual, cheap, comfortable and does not require crotch straps! RDF actually recommend straps though. The strap around the back is nice and high, almost the perfect lifting harness position and the here is not much gap under the armpits so the jacket will not rise much.

+1 on buying something better than the cheap chinese ones in most Chandleries.

I have a Crewsaver Ergo fit as well and love the fit, the way they don't add pressure to the back of the neck and the easy zip up system.

Spinlock are also worth a look but for the money the Crewfit is really hard to beat.

If you want a good price on any of the above, drop me a PM

I also have the auto inflate crewsaver 190 coastal, with integrated harness. It's the most comfortable jacket I've had.

Before that was a Stormy Vest, which I serviced regularly, and in the end the waterproof lining inside separated. It was fine on cooler days, but was often too warm when the temp went up. I have a Stormy yoke also with harness, but it's nowhere as comfortable and lightweight as the Crewsaver and is the last choice jacket.

Go the Crewsaver.

A common view here. Individual sailing environments will influence decisions here. Coastal day sailing will have different needs to longer overnight passages.
My Burke pfd isn't the best one around but it works. IMHO I spend the money on the boat as it is more important than the jacket.

thanks everyone for all the info!

Crewsaver have recently released the 165N Sport which has all the options - manual, auto, harness, crutch strap.
Pricing is at the lower end of the mid range for a PFD that is as comfortable and manufacturing/materials quality of the high range products.
Have some stock in the shop here, and have used one for the last few deliveries without being able to pick any fault in it.

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FreeRadical said..
I also have a Crewsaver Ergofit, but the 190 Coastal, Hammer Activation. Love it! Very comfortable! Feature packed!

the Adventure Safety site has some good info on PFDs

http://www.adventuresafety.com.au/news/

Here's as an interesting video on cutters, which I think are a must have when tethered. A cutter is a safe way to cut yourself free without worrying about puncturing the PFD (or stabbing yourself) as when swinging an open knife blade about. It's the most under appreciated piece of safety equipment you can find for $30.

www.facebook.com/adventuresafety/videos/1078064208894756/

whatever PFD you buy, the first thing you should do is download the self service guide and see how it all works, put it on and manually inflate and deflate so you know to do it, where all the bits are and roughly (on land) what it is going to feel like.

Interesting vid.

I knew a guy once who had a boat sink on him when he was snapped on. Standards Australia had been resisting Yachting Australia's requests to allow clips on each end of the line.

After the boat went down with one crew still attached, the owner lost heart too.

It wasn't fun as the hours went by and we went from trying to find people we knew, to trying to find their bodies.

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Chris 249 said..

I knew a guy once who had a boat sink on him when he was snapped on. Standards Australia had been resisting Yachting Australia's requests to allow clips on each end of the line.

After the boat went down with one crew still attached, the owner lost heart too.

It wasn't fun as the hours went by and we went from trying to find people we knew, to trying to find their bodies.

So I am assuming the guy was unable to release himself from the tether or the tether from the vessel. That is shocking!! A life saving device the causes death.

Maybe a hydrostatic release such as fitted to life raft tie downs placed at the vessel end of the tether would resolve that situation.

still undecided about what type of PFD to go for, this video is making me think about non-inflatable options:

This video is VERY misleading.

The non-inflatable he is wearing in the end of the video is a PFD 2, in other words it has no support to keep your head out of the water if unconscious.
Where as both the other jackets are PFD 1's, which will keep your head out of the water.

A modern good quality PFD 1 inflatbe is much more comfortable that the one he inflates, plus if you look at something like the Crewsaver or Spinlock they have two thigh straps which hold the jacket down when inflated.

Comparing apples to oranges is not really the best thing to do!!!

My wife and I both have CO2 inflatable PFD's with incorporated harneses. We both have personal EPIRB's with GPS with strobes fitted to the PFD's, registered to the each of us and absolutely never share our PFD's.

We carry 2 more for guests but these do not have EPIRBS fitted.

We have one each of the same in two different child sizes for guests children, if any (heaven forbid).

We also have four more of the more basic PFD's These still have the new plastic on them as we seldom sail with more than four on board.

We always wear our PFD's when on deck or in the cockpit when voyaging at night although the rule on our boat is that no one ventures further than the cockpit at night without someone else first coming into the cockpit. Otherwise we usually just don them if the weather dictates so.

If you are around Sydney, l would recommend to check out Bourke's factory shop at Rydalmere Clyde st.
They not just have Bourke gear, only. It is worth seeing them as they discount heavily. I managed to pick up a Baltic Race Edition auto PFD with harness, crotch strap and double tether. The auto function can be disabled and it works like a normal manual one.
I wear it every time l go kayaking or l sail alone or at night even with crew. And always clip on when l am on my own. One must have a jack line when one is on his own! It became second nature. Comfortable, not even noticing it, fits like a glove. A strobe or EPIRB can be attached easily. And it is self servicable to boot. It was less than 300 bucks.(end 2013)