Fishing Forum

I know that it is recommended to wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when tubing, but I never did before way back when I was using an old Caddis round tube that used a truck inner tube.

Now I am going to buy a Fat Cat, and I am somewhat dismayed to see that it only has one inflation valve, which means to me that the one valve services both chambers. So it looks to me like if you got a leak in one side the other side would deflate too, is that correct?

I had hoped that the newer designs would have multiple air chambers that were isolated from each other and so would somewhat negate the need for a PFD.

I guess I am willing to wear a PFD, but they are usually pretty bulky and it seems there would not be much room for wearing one in the float tube.

In the past I generally used the float tube to work the shoreline, but working it from the water side.... I seldom got out in the middle, since I figured the shoreline features to be more productive most of the time.

Do you guys wear PFDs, and if so, what type?
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[cool][#0000ff]We all seem prone to play the "WHAT IF" game. What is the worst that can happen? [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have been fishing a Super Fat Cat and my wife has been fishing regular Fat Cats for over 7 years...about 100 trips per year. Never a leak worse than a pinhole from bouncing a spiny fish off the surface. And even then you have a long time to get to shore and it is easy to repair.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Yes, there is only one air chamber. But there is also either a foam seat or inflated seats. Even if your bladder suddenly collapsed, it is unlikely you would sink. There is a lot of floatation besides the main air chamber.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Many states require that you carry a PFD, but none require that you wear it while fishing, unless you are under 12 years old. Some tubers like to play it safe and wear an inflatable PFD whenever they go afloat. Most of us just stash the PFD behind the seat. [/#0000ff]
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Great answer, TubeDude. I had forgotten about the foam seats. I believe I will go commando on this one.
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I have worn one at times in the past, but in general I don't. Most of the reservoirs where I live require you to have one in possession, but not to actually wear it. When I fish places where laws are likely to be enforced, I try to always have one.

I have a Stearns PFD with mesh shoulders and padding (flotation) only where it needs to be. I use this one when I actually intend to wear it.

Since I bought my ODC 420 earlier this year, I have started bringing along one of those bright orange "life vest" style PFDs. This is because the ODC doesn't have any orange on it to satisfy one of the other major regulations down here.

So as per suggestions from this board, I just take the orange PFD and strap it to my seat back. Kills two birds with one stone.

Honestly if I am fishing somewhere where there is no enforcement, I am not likely to even bring one along. I have spent a lot of my life in water bodyboarding, surfing and snorkeling, and I'm pretty confident and comfortable in the water and my ability to swim.

Of course I just jinxed that though by putting it in writing.
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I have my PFD behind the seat. I will wear it only in
bad weather, just in case.
In state of california (I think thats you too) You MUST
have one in your boat but you dont have to wear it
if you are over 12 years old , I think.
I do have to have a 12x12 orange flag on the back
(front) of my tube, which I do have .
Some of the new PFDs are very confortable to wear and
after couple of minuts you dont even know that you have it
on.
So the choice is yours...........................

Peter
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I hae been loking at the inflatable ones and I like what I see. There are two kinds a manual and an automatic. The auto inflates when it gets wet, the other you pull a rip chord. I would recommend one of these for tubin that way it won't feel so bulky and you will have the safety of a vest as well.
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[quote peter805]I have my PFD behind the seat. I will wear it only in
bad weather, just in case.
In state of california (I think thats you too) You MUST
have one in your boat but you dont have to wear it
if you are over 12 years old , I think. [/quote]

I'll go get something today, thanks.

Quote:I do have to have a 12x12 orange flag on the back
(front) of my tube, which I do have .

Now what's the flag about? Izzat a California regulation too?
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Quote:I do have to have a 12x12 orange flag on the back
(front) of my tube, which I do have .

Now what's the flag about? Izzat a California regulation too?[/quote]



Im not sure if its CA reg. but EVERY single reservoir
aroud me (LA) require to have 144 square inches (12x12) of orange 12 inches above water on
your float tube. Mine is removeble flag that I made.
Some people just get bright orange PFD and hang it
at the back of they float tube.
Now when I was in sierras, nobody told me anything
about not having orange flag or PFD or nothing.
See picture for the orange flag.

Peter
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I guess the flag in the LA reservoirs is probably California "nanny" protection to help you not get run over by drunken waterski and bass boat fools.

Where I am going for my early August trip is Spicer Reservoir, and they have a 10MPH limit on the whole lake, and one part of it is actually no motors at all, so I think I am unlikely to get run down.

I *will* go get a vest today though. REI has a couple that actually combine a PFD with a fishing vest. They're tan though, not Int'l Orange.
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[quote michaelnel]I guess the flag in the LA reservoirs is probably California "nanny" protection to help you not get run over by drunken waterski and bass boat fools.

Where I am going for my early August trip is Spicer Reservoir, and they have a 10MPH limit on the whole lake, and one part of it is actually no motors at all, so I think I am unlikely to get run down.

I *will* go get a vest today though. REI has a couple that actually combine a PFD with a fishing vest. They're tan though, not Int'l Orange.[/quote]

Spicer reservoir looks like a nice place to fish. Best
of luck up there and remmeber to report after you done please.[]

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12" x 12" orange flag required 12" above your tube... hmmm... why hasn't anyone marketed a wide brimmed hat in blaze orange? A hat would be more visible than the flag and would provide comfort and sun protection as well.
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[quote peter805]Spicer reservoir looks like a nice place to fish. Best of luck up there and remmeber to report after you done please.[]
[.img][url "http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/3052249316_a8c47b8a13.jpg?v=0%5B/img%5D%5B/quote%5D"]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/...g?v=0[/img][/quote][/url]

Thank you. Usually when I go to that area I go to Utica Reservoir (very close by and looks very similar, but it's smaller than Spicer), but I am meeting some friends up there who want to go to Spicer.

Spicer is reputedly much better fishing than Utica, but the most successful guys are trolling for Kokanee salmon with downriggers. I hope to get some action working the shoreline from the tube for smaller fish.

In any case it will be several days in the high Sierra with old friends, so how can it be anything but great?
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[quote Steve_IA]12" x 12" orange flag required 12" above your tube... hmmm... why hasn't anyone marketed a wide brimmed hat in blaze orange? A hat would be more visible than the flag and would provide comfort and sun protection as well.[/quote]

I have seen a guy wearing orange hat (hunting hat ? ).
It was not wide brimmed.
Hey, maybe you are unto something.......................[]

Peter
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Sorry TD Idaho requires that you are wearing your PFD while using a float tube or a pontoon. I will look up the regualtion and post Idaho's.

[url "http://boat-ed.com/id/handbook/pfds.htm"]http://boat-ed.com/id/handbook/pfds.htm[/url]
[li]Each person riding on a personal watercraft must wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type I, II, or III personal flotation device. [/li]
It's the Law: Required EquipmentWhen preparing to go out on a vessel, the operator must check that the legally required equipment is on board.
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
[ul][li]All recreational vessels must have at least one Type I, II, or III personal flotation device that is U.S. Coast Guard—approved and of the proper size for each person on board or being towed. Sizing for PFDs is based on body weight and chest size. [li]In addition to the above requirement, vessels 16 feet in length or longer (except canoes and kayaks of any length) must have one U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type IV PFD on board and readily accessible. [li]Children 14 years of age or younger, on board vessels 19 feet or less, must wear an approved life jacket when the vessel is underway. [li]Seaplanes, sailboards, and certain racing vessels are exempt from the above PFD requirements. Fly-fishing float tubes do not require PFDs on lakes with less than 200 surface acres. Fly-fishing pontoons do require PFDs on all Idaho waters. [li]Each person riding on a personal watercraft must wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type I, II, or III personal flotation device. [li]Each person being towed behind a vessel must wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved personal flotation device. [li]Besides being labeled USCG—approved, all PFDs must be:
[ul][li]In good and serviceable condition. [li]Readily accessible, which means you are able to put the PFD on quickly in an emergency. [li]Of the proper size for the intended wearer.
[/li][/ul][/li][/ul]
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[cool][#0000ff]You are mixing up "Personal Watercraft" with float tubes and pontoons. The requirement for WEARING PFDs is pertinent to motor powered jet skis and similar. Float tubes and pontoons are required to have them but not to wear them. That is the same in most states.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I went through that a couple of years ago before going up to Idaho on a tubing trip. I confirmed it with an officer at Mackay Dam.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]By the way, we are still planning to hit Salmon Dam about the first or second week of September. Will let you know for sure when we get a schedule.[/#0000ff]
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Well maybe that has changed or another officer interpeted the part differently cause a personal friend had to leave CJ Strike because he was not wearing a PFD. So maybe it is a up to their own disgression on when to enforce that or not.

[url "http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/recreation/boating/regulations/pfd.aspx"]http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/recreation/boating/regulations/pfd.aspx[/url]

Exemptions: Seaplanes, sailboards, and certain racing boats are exempt from these PFD requirements. Fly fishing float tubes do not require a PFD on lakes less than 200 surface acres. Fly fishing pontoons do require PFDs on all Idaho waters.

Maybe this is the part of the law or rule that is not real clear.
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[cool][#0000ff]You are completely correct in your observation. Just because someone is in a position of authority does not guarantee that they always correctly interpret regulations. And, when it comes to matters of float tubes and pontoons it is sometimes amazing how wacko the interpretations can be.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A good example is the requirement for registering a tube or toon that has an electric motor on it. We have that in Utah. I have lost count of the number of stories I have heard where state officials have no idea how to process such a registration, or what fees to charge. It is not uncommon for the state employee to request a VIN number for the pontoon. Or to charge the same amount they would charge for a large boat and inboard motor. One newbie toon owner had to make three trips to different offices of the Utah licensing offices before he found someone who could get him a registration.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]And, on some lakes in some states, the rangers and lake administrators actually treat float tubes as "swim toys" and require that they be kept inside the swim area buoys...and no fish hooks allowed.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If your friend had a PFD in his possession, he should not have had any trouble...anywhere in Idaho...unless he was under 12 years old. If a ranger tells you differently you need to go to the rangers office and get a clarification. Unfortunately, many waters hire part time or seasonal help and these people are not always up to snuff on the exact interpretation of the laws.[/#0000ff]
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[crazy][#0000bf]SWIM TOYS!!!!! They gotta be nuts!!![pirate][/#0000bf]
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I got a Stearns XXL PFD this morning. I will carry it onboard, but I'm not gonna wear it unless I'm sinking.
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mine is a stearns fishing vest that I can hang on the back of the pontoon seat.
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