Suggestions for Personal Flotation Devices

Consider a float coat. If you buy a good one, they are comfortable and you will wear it. I have a mustang bomber that I've had for over 10 years and it has held up well (getting a little worn now). A float coat is superior to any life jacket in that in an immersion situation, you have a period of time that you will not get wet and can maintain a core temp longer for self rescue. A vest or suspenders and you are wet to the skin instantly and start chilling down from the get go. For duck hunting with the water temps, you not only have to not drown, but you need to conserve body heat and a float coat does that and suspenders do not.
 
Tod, how is the float coat to shoot with? What is the brand you are using? Anyone else use them?
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Mine is great to shoot with. Mustang survival bomber classic is the coat I have.

There are cheaper ones that I don't think would work as well.
 
I wanted to start cheap with the float coat to see how I liked it. Went with a Sterns and love it. I wear it at all times except when the boat is tucked away in a ditch and shooting.

I shoot shallow tidal flats with depths up to three feet at high tide so I exercise some risk assessment and take it off. Also, when wading above my waist with neoprene waders the last thing I need is more buoyancy. I am a light weight and start to bob in the water if there is a swift current.

Some take the flotation out of the shoulder for shooting but I would rather keep mine intact for deep water.

Best investment for a boat hunter.
 
I have used a Mustang camo floater for over 20 years. Newer coats are more flexible for shooting. Hypothermia protection a big plus in case you get dunked.
 
I have 3 flat coats for me and the boys. A longer coat style Stearns and the shorter jacket style Mustang bomber and Onyx. We shoot with them on, have even shot with one in the layout boat. I do prefer the shorter jacket styles. Late season around here you've got to dress warm and alot of guys buy waterfowling parkas. Float coats cost less than the high end parkas, they are warm, and they'll keep you afloat.
 
I typically use an Onyx inflatable (always under way) during the season when breathable waders are comfortable. Once it gets cold and I switch to Neoprene waders I use an Onyx Float coat that I picked up from a member here. Before that it was a Sterns float coat I have had for 20 some years. Both are good coats. The Onyx foam is a bit more flexible and I like the collar and cuffs better. Chasing cripples or walking in unknown waters I'll always wear the inflatable for ease of shooting and comfort.
 
My boat is over 20K, my shotgun 2k and probably 5K in decoys. I'm not gonna cheap out on the one thing that might save my life.

In my neck of the woods though, as in many others here, if you are alone and go in, you only have a couple minutes to get out or it's all over.

I good inflatable is hardly even noticeable.
 
Not to try to redirect the thread but I am considering an inflatable for full time wear as well. Living in a Nanny state like NY where the government hates its citizens it is routine to be hassled. When they snuck through the law about having to wear your PFD any time the boat is underway (under 19') between November 1st and April 1st I thought that it was open to abuse. I almost always wore my PFD while running in the winter and many times in a canoe as well while paddling but I don't think it needs to be a law. Last season while hunting Nov 16th on a warm day on a flat calm pond with my 14' fiberglass boat with an electric motor that was running down on the battery so bad my friends Son was paddling at the same time. I was headfing in on a pond I could stand up in depth wise and a DEC cop pulls up. We'll apparantly after hunting this spot for twenty years someone complained and the DEC K-9 cop went through all our stuff and the regs and couldn't find anything I was doing wrong and wrote me a ticket for not having the lifevest on. Cost me $125. $50 fine $75 state surcharge, gotta love NY. The guy was young and cocky and would ask a question and cut you off before you could say anything. This guy was a real D**K to say the least. We'll I have had many dozens of interactions with DEC police and by and large mostly positive when they reallized you knew what you were doing and you were folowing the law so I look at this guy as one that would be just as happy being a State Trooper rather then being involved because he was interested in Conservation and the Outdoors. Unfortunately my Son who was 16 at the time this is his one and only impression with DEC law enforcement so his opinion is based on this guy and I don't know if this is the way things are going. Anyway I figure I might have to get an inflateable so this won't happen again but I'm sure with his attitude he would have found something else to hassle us on. By the way I'm 50 years old and never had a single hunting or fishing infraction and like to think my ethics are higher then even the law allows as I'm sure many of you do also.
 
Sorry you and your son had a bad experience with a DEC officer. I had a similar experience with fed, I asked him for his name and his supervisors name and phone number. Spoke to the super and explained how rude he was and my name is not Hey You. I think he got promoted and moved on quickly.
I have worked with DEC and all but one has been great to meet and talk too...
 
Yea I was going to complain to a higher ranking DEC officer when I got the chance. You know when I first saw the truck pull up by the ramp I thought it was a state trooper truck and then I saw the DEC markings I was relieved. So when this guy came off as he did I was somewhat taken aback and its really been bothering me as to what a douche the guy really was. I know a few years back they started recruiting for ENCON officers from the State Police but he was pretty young but acted the same.
 
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