Sospenders

[Jim Clevenger]

Anyone have any experience with Sospenders?



Went fishing Friday on Degray Lake with my wife. I was wearing an automatic Sospenders PFD. I had been tied up to a stickup and we were leaving that area. I always have several rods and reels rigged up and laying on the deck. I was standing up untying from the stickup and trying to not step on my rigs (knew better than that anyway). Managed to push off from the stick and went over the side.



Sospenders didn't inflate but somehow 4 of my rods went over with me. I was trying to hold onto the boat and grab my gear at the same time. My wife was holding onto me and I kept telling her to grab the rods. She wouldn't let go of me but I managed to save three of the rods. I lost one and of course it had to be my most expensive one...a Curado.



I pulled myself around to the back of the boat so I could get back in by stepping on the lower unit. About the time I got my foot on the fin, the Sospenders inflated. Talking about a rush! I can guarantee one thing...you won't drown with one of those on if it inflates. Felt like my head was stuck in an innertube. Had to take it off to get in the boat. Thankfully, the water was in the mid-50's and the air temp was around 80.



I went completely under and it didn't inflate for probably 5 minutes. I don't trust the manual ones since if I get thrown out while motoring, I might not be conscience to pull the rip cord. I think I'll go back to my regular vest!



Jim

 

[Dan J.]

Of the many I've had over the past few years, they've usually inflated within 3-5 seconds of submersion. If yours took that long, return/exchange it pronto. The wafer holding back the plunger pin should dissolve in half the time of an Alka-seltzer tablet. Occasionally, they ignite on their own. My buddy and I rooming at the Old Hickory Bassmaster came in after a solid day of pouring rain and we were beat. An hour or so after turning in we heard a loud boom! (You never saw a couple of rednecks move so fast!) My jacket popped without warning making us think we were taking incoming! After laughing too hard, too long, I changed the arming kit and went back to sleep. Later on I gave it to one of my associates when I was given another. Overall, I like them. I'm a 6'3", 300lb man and traditional jackets are very confining. These little things are very unobtrusive and are highly effective. Don't settle for one that doesn't work perfectly. Good luck and stay safe!

 

[John Foster]

How old were they. According to thier web site you need to change the bobbin every year. But I found this in the FAQ section of the site:





- Why didn't my unit go off when I got it wet?



If you have a manually activated unit with a backup automatic inflation system (automatic) and the unit does not inflate when it is submersed in water, please call or e-mail to make arrangements to ship it back. We need to check the unit to see if there is a problem with it. Please try to leave everything in the condition it was when it came out of the water. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE WATER ACTIVATED BOBBIN OR CO2 CARTRIDGE.



I were them All the time. I feel that if I fall In I can always pull the string.




http://www.sospenders.com/faq.html