PFD DISCUSSION

Here is my position on the subject. I have always talked safety first and always. I agree tubes have come a long way and hold up great. But there is always the unknown. Now my point is for always promoting safety first. I don't want anything bad to ever happen to anyone.
But newbies take our advice good or bad and believe in it.
Now if something does happen to them because of what they read here it can become my responsibility. Might be a long shot but it could come back to bite me. I agree it is a personal choice, but it is OUR position to always promote safety to all and that includes PFD's.
I hope this all makes sense guys , just wanted to lay this out.

jeffcpr wrote:Here is my position on the subject.  I have always  talked safety first and always.  I agree tubes have come a long way and hold  up great.   But there is always the unknown.  Now my point IS for always promoting safety first.  I don't  want anything bad to ever happen to anyone.  But newbies take our advice good or bad and beleive in it.  
Now if something does happen to them because of what they read here it can become my responsibility.   Might be a long shot but it could come back to bite me.  I agree it is a personal choice, but it is OUR position to always promote safety to all and that includes PFD's.
I hope this all makes sense guys , just wanted to lay this out.

Agreed.   ( Spell check by Poboy)

Thanks it is tough typing on your phone at midnight with out your glasses, man I am getting old.

jeffcpr wrote:Thanks it is tough typing on your phone at midnight with out your glasses, man I am getting old.

I used my readers!!! Nothing I can do about the phone or age.....I keep getting older, and this phone is my only link to the evil WW spider web.

So I can only sympathize. ( and use my readers....not sure I could pee without those...) What happens when 3.25 doesn't work anymore? Do they go from 3.25 to "Stevie Wonder"?

PFD's are a must in any vessel used. Especially in our float tubes. No matter how advanced and safe our tubes have become, carrying a PFD on board does not cause any inconvenience. You can even drape your PFD on the seat back and use it as a back cushion if applicable. We deal with elements on the water all day long and use baits with extremely sharp hooks! If a fish was to throw a bait near our tubes, the chance of it puncturing our tube is very real. When you have waders on and your mess of fishing gear, it's a frantic situation. I actually had this happen in NPH years back in my Caddis. I was actually able to kick to a private dock. I always carry a PFD on board any vessel. Another reason to have a PFD when float tubing is you really don't want the hassle dealing with the Coast Guard or Port Police trying to explain why a float tube does not require a PFD. They will ticket you most likely. New tubers can pick up one of those orange PFD's for like $10 or you can get a more advanced PFD like the self inflating C02 PFD's. Regardless, carry a PFD when you tube!

Agreed. I've never been on my tube without a PFD.

I'm an excellent swimmer and very comfortable in the water, but the unexpected happens and I just think about how some idiot on a Jet-ski almost ran me over once. The quality of my gear or my ability to swim well wouldn't have mattered. If you get injured on the water, all bets are off and a PFD could easily be the difference between life and death.

Over all, I think float tubing is a very safe sport, but the biggest part of that safety will always be me, acting in a safe way, and having a PFD is part of that.

The PFD regulations are there because thousands of boaters have drowned. In 2014 alone, 16 people on inflatables drowned - I'm going to do everything I can to avoid being one of those statistics.

As far being classified as a "water craft" by the Coast Guard, I'm glad for it. Otherwise, we would be "swimmers' and lots of places that allow water craft, don't allow swimmers. That may not be relevant where you live, but for those of us on the West Coast, not being classified as a swimmer is a good thing, even if it means they force us to be safe

I'm in on the PDF. I use a vest type, CGA, and ya it sometimes is bulky. But on cold days it adds a extra layer. Also I want to be able to save some of my gear, can't if I have to try and stay above water. Second I consider myself a swimmer, but in cold water it can be a hassle to stay afloat. I also have one of those light gadgets Jeff gave out, can't remember the product name, memory is going, but at night if u need to be seen............ya sounds corny, but safety is paramount if u want to fish another day........GT

As I said, In my over 40years of tubing, I've NEVER worn a PFD.

Does that make it smart or safe? DUH!!! NO !!!! I'm just trowing out there, that even WITHOUT a PFD, and from back in the day when tubes only had ONE TRUCK TUBE to keep them afloat....we survived.

As a matter of fact, I'VE NEVER EVER EVER heard of a tubing fatality . But by all means, wear a PFD...it's really just stupid not to. But also, remember this, when you venture out in winter, far from shore, a PFD is just false security, you CAN DIE!