I was surprised to learn, and some of you may be, as well, that, as Jay outlined, you should NOT be wearing an inflatable PFD when it's cold...or when the water's cold. Don't believe it? Check your owner's instructions manual.
It probably spells out that when temps are below 40 degrees (or in some cases, freezing), the PFD inflates "very slowly" (with the CO2 cartridge). And further, if that PFD is stored outside in your boat when air temps are below freezing, it may not work at all until the cylinder warms.
It's worth noting that inflatable PFDs "are not to be worn when the air temperature is below freezing," according to inflatable-PFD-maker Onyx Outdoors, unless the PFD "is partially inflated" manually. But that could cause another issue. Check this out from a Mustang PFD owner's manual: When the temperature is below freezing, a fully discharged cylinder may not adequately inflate your PFD. Do not use your PFD under these conditions unless it is already partly inflated. Warning: CO2 inflation could over-pressurize and damage your PFD if already fully orally inflated.
Above freezing, still in cold temps, the PFD will inflate...but slowly...the colder, the slower. And it's likely that a partially inflated PFD won't support a fisherman in the water. In case you're tempted to warm your PFD inside your jacket, don't! The manufacturers say that an inflatable PFD should be worn only on the outside of clothing or rainwear.
There are reports of PFDs failing to inflate when wearers were dumped in the water. Onyx says it rigorously investigated all such situations involving their PFDs, but Mustang did not respond to repeated requests for interviews.
Onyx investigators didn't find any issues of a properly armed and maintained automatic inflatable not working when needed; however, they did find some fishermen who were wearing manual PFDs without knowing they weren't auto inflatables. It's imperative that you check to see what kind it is, as well as the status indicator of the PFD. To check this status, you need to look at the bobbin...a moisture-sensing device found in the inflation mechanism. The bobbin has a date stamp on it and should be replaced every three years.
When an inflatable is properly maintained (check the owner's manual), and its "working conditions" are met, it should work fine...but again, cold weather/water makes it function slower or not at all. And further, Onyx says people under the age of 16 should not wear an inflatable.
I also would encourage you to check out what the Coast Guard has to say about PFDs at this link: https://www.uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php.
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