2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comfortable, reliable, and worth every penny, August 22, 2011
This review is from: Mustang Deluxe Inflatable PFD with HIT (Auto-Hydrostatic) with Sailing Harness (Sports)
I have three of the MD3184 Mustangs, two of them West Marine labeled, and one exactly like the one for sale here. I also have a SOSpenders automatic PFD. I have worn this PFD for two weeks straight, removing it only to change clothes or jump in the water intentionally. I've owned this model for over a year and used it for day sailing, offshore racing, buoy racing, and every other sailing trip on my boat.
These PFDs are great for any water sport that does not require you to jump into the water. They are NOT for kayaking, water skiing, jetskiing, etc., as it WILL inflate as soon as you submerge it just a few inches. They are light, comfortable, reliable, and well built. Some of the nice features that distinguish this product from other manual and automatic PFDs:
+The light weight and small profile make it completely unobtrusive and comfortable to wear all day every day even on long sailing trips. I have slept in a berth with this on and it doesn't get in the way. How well does the very best PFD work for you if it's so uncomfortable that you don't wear it? This one does not have that problem. It's also much cooler to wear than any vest-type PFD since there is no back. Guests on my boat don't mind wearing it since it is so small. Try to get a guest to put on the big orange PFDs.
+The design is very well thought out and manufactured. It has a clever closure that is basically a zipper which pops open when the inside chambers inflate. This makes the closure secure and snag proof, which is a huge improvement over the SOSpenders that I also own. Most PFDs of this type use velcro as the air chamber cover closure. The velcro on other PFDs weakens with age and snags on things around the boat.
+The harness is strong, comfortable, and easy to use. It is MUCH more comfortable as a harness than a dedicated harness. It's also much less bulky than adding a harness underneath your PFD.
+The West Marine-branded model has a zippered pocket in front that is a great place to store a flashlight or leatherman. The Mustang version doesn't have this pocket.
+The hydrostatic inflator has been flawless for me. Although it hasn't happened to me, I know people that have had the soluble tablet type automatic inflators activate in rain, spray, and even when left in a damp environment (e.g. on a boat) for a while. This PFD seems to be impervious to unintentional inflation in rain or spray.
Now the -1 star features:
-Price. This PFD is 2x more than an automatic PFD with the soluble tablet inflator.
-Price of recharge kit. The recharge kit is 3x more expensive than a soluble tablet inflator.
-Size range. The PFD says it is not designed for people under 5'6", so technically my wife shouldn't wear it, but it does fit her fine. They should either be more realistic in their sizing, or provide small versions.
I really like this PFD, and so does everyone on my boat who has worn one. I don't know why people would buy the manual inflating models, or the belt pouch types. Every time I've ever heard of someone needing a PFD, they have either not had the time to put one on, or they were injured or disoriented and would have had a hard time activating it manually. This is a great PFD for non-swimmers, since they don't need to do anything but fall in the water for them to work. It is also worth the extra 20 bucks to get the model with a harness, as any harness will set you back much more, and it really doesn't add significant weight or bulk. The very best feature of this pfd is the fact that it is comfortable for constant wearing, which means it will be there when it's needed most: When you fall in the water after getting hit in the head with a boom. Think about it, if you knew when you needed a PFD and had time to put it on, then you wouldn't actually NEED a pfd, as you would know enough to avoid that situation.
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