SOSpenders

[Topwater Terry]

Guys-looking at getting one of these, tired of wearing the bulky life
preservers. Was looking at the Bass Pro website since I have a gift certificate to the place. I see the sterns Ultra 100 Manual inflatable, as well as the XPS Deluxe auto and the eliminator auto.
Any recommendations?
Terry

[JeffJ]

Terry,

I have the SOSpender auto PFD and love it! Forgot which model I have. Just make sure to get another re-arming kit in case it goes off on you. Just another $17.

[Robert F]

Use your BPS certificate for something else. Buy the Mustang 3183 from Boatfix.com. or Phils Propellers. I think Boatfix was 170 something. It is the hydrostatic model. You can see it listed as the competition series at BPS for 250?-300?. Big difference in price. I would not wear a manual and not a fan or the basic autos that use the dissolve pellet.

[buddy brown]

I have the auto inflate Sospenders and in the back of my mind I wonder if that thing will deploy if I'm ejected going 65. I'm thinking about getting the highest quality bulky one for peace of mind. Don't mean to hijack but any reccomendations..

[Terry]

I agree with Buddy. Went back to the bulky kind (I'm bulky anyway). Scared of the Delta, don't trust the auto-inflatable. I do wear the manual when fishing. My lard butt would have a hard time getting over the transom.

You're not exactly bulky, dude. Be safe.

IMHO.

Terry

[Tony Lain]

I use the auto-inflate stlye. I recently changed the inflate kit, but tested the old one by holding it in the water and it worked fine. The Co2 cartridge did it's job. I have confidence that it would work if I went overboard. Any body ever had one go off in a heavy rain??

[smittyfish]

My boat sits in my driveway when not in use. It gets really hot in the summer. I had been leaving the auto inflater in a compartment in my boat. I went out one day and both had been deployed. I had to get them re-armed. I bought 4 re-arming kits. That way I have a couple of extra kits. But they sure seemed to work in the dry. I have to think they would work in the wet too.

I have not yet had them inflate in the rain. But that sure would suck. Not to mention that it would surprise the heck out of you if it did inflate without you expecting it.

I love the small and cooler SOSpenders. Sometimes they are like doing a puzzle when I first started putting them on. But they are much cooler and more comfortable.

[mark poulson]

I've worn the "cheap" Cabela's auto inflatables for four years now.
They don't open by accident when it rains. They do open if water gets into the comparment where they're stored.
The CO2 cartridge won't go bad, and, if the pellet does, then they will open, because the pellet is what keeps the spring loaded firing pin from firing.
When inflated, they'll float a boat.
A reminder. The Coast Guard doesn't consider the inflatables to be PFDs unless they're actually being worn. Just having them onboar while you're fishing isn't enought. So you need to have manuals on your boat for eash passenger, even if you use the inflatables, or, legally, you could be cited if you take the inflatable off while you're fishing.

[Brian D.]

on the manual PFDs. I doubt most people realize that they have to wear them to be "legal".

[scottsweet]

There are two types of auto inflators...one that uses the salt tablet and the hydrostatic. Hydrostatic is more expensive, but more reliable. Many of the folks commenting on accidental deployments are probably the salt tablet model. Rain deployments are often the salt tablet style...I don't think the hydrostatic can even deploy in the rain or heat.

I think both SOS and Stearns makes both models and I am not sure about Mustang. I recently switched to the Mustang hydrostatic.

[big_limits]

Guys-looking at getting one of these, tired of wearing the bulky life
preservers. Was looking at the Bass Pro website since I have a gift certificate to the place. I see the sterns Ultra 100 Manual inflatable, as well as the XPS Deluxe auto and the eliminator auto.
Any recommendations?
Terry

I recommend Ebay, I have a blue storm I picked up for $10 including shipping. Found re-arming kits there for cheap as well. Fished in the rain many times and has never inflated. It has when i have left in the rod locker though. The hydrostatic sound great but $200 for the pfd and $50+ dollars for a re-arm kit... abit expensive for me. I dont think a manual pfd will keep you safe regardless of what you decide. Some type of automatic, regardless of which direction you chose, is the only way to go. Plus I wear it all day and it keeps my neck from getting burnt.

[j10b]

I wear a 100MPH, some of my buds boats go 100mph+ although thats not the reason just wanted to brag, when riding and will get a manual belt for fishing.

The autos/mans wont protect you if you are thrown about the boat or a number of things. The bulky type will and do. i want a belt style for some of the stories I have heard about catfish trot lines hooking guys fishing with no vest, also at least you have something if you go overboard while fishing and can dive for your rod then pop the belt once you grab it

[Topwater Terry]

Thanks for the replies guys, looks like I may be looking in the direction of the auto inflate types...
Terry

[DL]

Bass Pro XPS, the set that I have is made by Mustang for BPS.

[reellittlephish]

Got the SOSpenders from Bass Pro. Works OK, but very difficult to find replacement cartridge on a trip... take spares. If I had to do it over I pay the extra $$ for a mustang.

[Caudawg]

I was ejected at approx 70 mph and SOSspenders helped save my life. I lucked out and didn't hit anything on the way out but still got pretty messed up and had numerous surgeries over the last 2 years.

I have reverted to the traditional vest style because of the extra padding it gives you in the event of an accident. Other guys like Gary Dobyn's will tell you the same. He hit the gunwhale (sp?) on his way out of the boat at high speed (with no life jacket)and got pretty messed up. So he is going back to the vest too from what I hear for that extra protection.

While something is better than nothing...why not give yourself that extra protection?