Well you can take it from me that you do not need a boat to get involved to be knocked semi unconscious by your kayak, about a 1 to 1.5 meter wave was enough for me when I capsized the AI. Because of this and other issues at the time, including lines/leashes/legs (3 x L's
), hand caught in rudder etc etc, if I was wearing a manual inflate, I have no doubt I would have drowned. Lucky for me I was wearing both PFD type 2 and my drysuit as if I had not been wearing them I would have also been contending with hypothermia and exhaustion for all the exertion of energy trying to save myself + the energy being sucked out of me from cold water, and I spent a good 30 minutes in the water.
After reading about the encounter between the boat and kayak
http://www.yakass.net/index.php?option= ... &Itemid=50 it also drives home just how vulnerable we are out there sitting so close to the water.
My opinion, No one should wear a manual inflate Type 1 PFD unless it is being worn over a foam filled PFD type 2 so it can inflate properly if needed, no good down some hatch somewhere because there is just to many other things going on and by time you actually open a hatch to get it out, if you know what you are doing and have practiced re-entry's, you could have easly righted and mounted your kayak in the same amount of time, if not less.
Auto inflates are fine but I have witnessed one go of from a heavy bow splash while on a boat, and you must leave it inflated until you reach dry land, or for that matter, until you have a new canister fitted
. Foam filled Type 1 or 2 for me.
Another thing that I get the feeling from reading this thread, how many of you actually practice deep water (where your feet won't touch the bottom) re-entry's. It could be just me, but the way some of these reply's sound, some of you guys have no idea if your PFD's are actually sufficient, if you have been practicing re-entry's then you should also have some idea as to how your PFD really works (whether it keeps you afloat, whether you can swim in it). I can understand to a degree, why people do not practice re-entry's in winter (well no I can't), but hey we are just coming out of summer and the water is still 14 degree's, NO EXCUSE unless you just bought your kayak. Even if you always travel with a buddy, you MUST be self sufficient and not have to rely on others because they may not be able to reach you in time to be of any assistance. Training and commonsense will save you before your PFD will in most cases, so get out/off your kayak, into the water and find out, practice your re-entry's. Talk about it with your buddy's, put a plan together, learn how to approach a stricken possibly panicked kayaker, learn how to assist them; right, drain if need be and re-mount their kayak. Its not just about the PFD.
As for the Stolquist Fisherman PFD's, as far as I have been able to find out, they are "NOT APPROVED" here in Australia, sure they are US approved and a trusted and proven PFD over there (would love one myself), but to my knowledge, you can be fined for using them on their own when on a kayak or boat where a PFD is required by Australian law.
and for you others that carry a pfd1 and 2 if the situation gets that bad that you want to change your pfd I think getting off the water would be the better option.that just a cents worth 
