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Posts: 41
Location: KC-BBQ | Heads up for all who have bought the SOSpenders harness style - auto inflate- life vests. Had my lund out workin on it the other day in the hot sun. Had my SOSpenders (2) stowed in a dry storage space with other coats. Was out about 3 to 4 hours and went inside to get a cold beverage. Came back out and noticed the dry storage space lid was lifted up about 3 inches. Opened the lid and found that both life vests had auto inflated on their own. 
Emailed company about getting replacements for free due to non negligence on my part and nothing stated in manual about storage and here's what they said....
These life vests are highly sensitive to high humidity and will auto inflate under these circumstances. We will not replace them but will give you 25% off of your purchase of new rearming kits.
These rearming kits run $18.99 apiece times 2 life vests.
I asked them where i am supposed to store them when not in use and they have not gotten back with me yet on that issue. I've also told them that this is unacceptable and would like full replacement on the rearming kits 
For high dollar vests, i'm very disappointed on this situation considering it says nothing in manual about "Do not store in boat"!!!!
Has anybody else run into this prob??? | |
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Posts: 32944
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'Store your bobbin (water sensing elements) in a ventilated package, do not store in a sealed container.
Store in a cool, dry area
Do not store bobbins in high humidity or high temperatures (over 100 degrees) for an extended period of time
Do not store bobbins for more than 18 months before use.'
It appears all the models owners manuals have the 'store in a cool, dry place' warning, something boat storage compartments are not known to be which is probably why they are denying a warranty in this case. | |
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Posts: 8845
| Hmph. Seems like a novel concept that fails miserably in real-life application. Not to overstate the obvious here, but what good is a life jacket when you can't use it in the rain, or store it in the only place where you'll ever need it?
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Posts: 32944
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | One of the Pros at the last PWT told me he got a good soaking out on the big water and it set off his PFD inflater. Not sure of the brands, but I see LOTS of them on the tournament rigs lately. | |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | I was seriously thinking of getting an auto-inflate, but now I'm not so sure. Running through reefy areas in MN in the pitch black can be a bit unnerving...I insist that those in the boat with me wear a jacket when we run in the dark....even so...if we go flying and get bonked on the head, being face up sure would be nice...hmmm.... | |
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Posts: 41
Location: KC-BBQ | Update on the SOSpenders situation.
Talked to company and were nothing short of "Suck it up and deal with it" attitude. Spoke with persons supv. and she worked a little better but bottom line is their company will not stand behind the product. My option now is to take it back to Bass Pro as defective and swap it for a cheaper manual inflate. Here are some key points told to me from the company for all of you to be aware of if you currently have them or are thinking of buying one:
1) You can not wear it in the rain, mist, drizzle, or fog
2) You can not wear it during a high humidity day
3) You can not store them anywhere in a boat compartment or in direct sunlight
4) You must store them in a cool, dry, climate controlled area when you are not using it (garage and boat don't fit this criteria)
5) The bobbin (device that is sensitive to humidity) must be replaced atleast once a year preferrably twice (manual states suggest as the key word and not "must"
6) They suggested converting it to manual mode inflate instead of auto inflate if i am to store in boat (i could have bought a manual inflate for $20 cheaper)
7) You can not get water spray on it while running across lake or it will auto inflate
8) Coast guard requires type 3 life vest which these are only if worn and not stowed
9) If your vest inflates on it's own or you have a situation where it inflates, it costs $18.99 per rearming kit to get it back in service
Company said they would give me a 25% discount on rearming but I feel that is unacceptable.
My question to them and everyone else out there that fishes is this:
If i can't wear this life vest in the rain, fog, high humidity days, no water spray over the boat, can't stow it in my boat while i'm fishing if it gets too hot too wear or starts raining, have to wear it all the time to conform to Coast Guard regulations, than exactly what purpose does this serve as a life preserver and to be so much better than a regular (much cheaper) life vest???
I can't say don't buy these auto inflate life vests but I will be exchanging mine out for a manual inflate. Problem solved!!! 
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Posts: 32944
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I think everything you indicated above was covered in the PDF manual I read yesterday on the vest. The vest can be set for manual inflate if conditions look like that's warranted, and if conditions are right, auto-inflate, weighs nearly nothing and has almost no bulk.
I see quite a few of the Pros on the Walleye trails wearing these, and they express the vest is worth it to them because they are required to have a vest on when the engine is running, and the comfort factor is worth the 'bother' to them. If it's wet out, they switch to a manual inflate or regular vest. If they get the vest wet and it auto-inflates, they say something like, " I wasn't thinking and got it wet, startled me big time." | |
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Posts: 67
Location: St. Germain, Wi | What brand do you have. I was going to get the mustang Bass Competition inflatable life vest MFR# MD3183BC. It says in the ad {Will only auto inflate when submerged in 4 or more inches of water and not prematurely due to rain, spray or humidity.. Jim | |
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Posts: 160
Location: Carney, Mi (in da UP eh!) | I just had the same thing happen to my wifes SOSuspeneders, had them stored in the dry compartment on the Ranger 617, fished the WMT on Three lakes last weekend where things got wet had propped open the compartments for things to dry out with the boat cover on, when I took the cover off was suprised to see a bright yellow thingy sticking out of the compartment. I switched it over to a manual mode only and put on the new CO2 cyclinder was dissapointed that it went off with just humidity not actually being wet. | |
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Posts: 41
Location: KC-BBQ | The Manual I rec'd with my life vests does not state all that I have stated and even the company said that it does not put all of that in the manual (in fear of chasing off potential buyers. With you being a sales rep for several different products, I understand your stand on the company's side on this issue but i'm giving information to the rest of the fisherman who have or are possibly going to buy an auto inflate life vest. Purely information so they can make their own choice.
As someone who fishes quite often and thinking of the PRO's who have this particular brand of auto inflate, I have too many things too concentrate on to think about whether I should change my life vest from auto to manual back to auto every time it rains, mists, fog, running across the lake, high humidity, and so on, and so on, and so on, etc........
People pay good money for a product like this and want to be satisfied and not have to think about all this stuff......but if we all had sponserships of some sort.....money vs. quality of merchandise might not be as important.
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Posts: 41
Location: KC-BBQ | Let me know if you need their phone #. If you plan on keeping, they'll atleast cover 25% of the rearming kit for you. I'm taking mine back to Bass Pro today to exchange for different type. Might check into the Mustang's to see if their's does same thing. | |
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Posts: 41
Location: KC-BBQ | Skunkburt,
I have the SOSpenders, model 24ASPT-1
I might have to look into the Mustang in Bass Pro today. | |
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Posts: 32944
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I read the owners manuals PDF for the product, and posted it. This product definitely isn't what I'd buy, but the owners manual I read does state cool, dry storage, nothing in direct sun or high temps, replace bobbin after a certain period of time, etc. Problem is, most folks wouldn't read the manual and think it meant NO moisture, for all intents and purposes. It's pretty muddled, that's a fact.
You CAN do everything you said if you disarm auto-inflate, the owner's manual goes through that, too. By the way, I don't know anyone with a life vest 'sponsorship'. I'm simply making sure all the facts are out there so folks read this and see more than a disgruntled customer.
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Posts: 578
Location: Sheboygan Falls, WI | Cowboyhannah - 6/16/2008 9:58 PM
...if we go flying and get bonked on the head, being face up sure would be nice...hmmm....
Just remember, those life inflatable jackets WILL NOT turn you face up in the water. The ONLY life jackets designed to turn an unconscious person face up is a Type I life jacket and I am not aware of any inflatable Type I life jacket. Those Type I jackets are also required to have a certain amount of reflective material on them so it is easier to find you. If you are fishing big water with a lot of reefs and such, a Type I is not a bad idea. They are not pretty as they are the bright orange, but they are well worth it for safety.
For those guiding on the Green Bay or other Coast Guard regulated waters, you may want to check the regulation requirements. I know that charter boats are REQUIRED to have a Type I jacket for each person on-board. There are also regulations about a throwable floatation device. I believe that those same boats are required to have more than a cushion as a cushion can absorb water rendering them useless. A solid foam ring buoy with a covering is usually the required floatation device. I believe a rope connected to the ring buoy is required as well, even though most charters don't do that.
Before new captains chime in saying I am wrong, check with the Coast Guard as to the requirements and regulations of what you must have. You may be surprised at what you find. I don't see why "guide" requirements for safety equipment would be any different than a charter, particularly when the boats are usually smaller than most charter boats.
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Posts: 412
Location: Waukesha, WI | I'm interested in a comparison to the Mustang Bass Pro product when someone has it. | |
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Posts: 41
Location: KC-BBQ | Disgruntled...sure! Well educated now on auto inflate life vests.....extremely!
This example is on the extreme side but thought i would throw it out there:
Every time the weather changes throughout the week, should you change your vehicle tires from snow studs to standard highway tire. Of course not.
Should you have to change your life vest from auto to manual back to auto just because the weather changes while your on the water or your making a run across the lake. How many folks are going to remember to put it to manual for a possible wet run across rough water but then when they get to a windy point to fish, change it back to auto. And yes, the whole purpose of auto inflate is in case you fall overboard, you aren't frantically searching for the manual rip cord. Come on!!!
And Steve, not throwing daggers at you about sponserships but reading your comments in the past, you definately side on the company, no matter what company it may be (Unless they disgruntle you) I do believe it would not be a false statement on saying that you've rec'd kickbacks, sponserships, and/or free gear due to your salesman career. Not a bad deal. But what I'm saying is, for those of us that have to pay hard earned money for everything we stick in our boat, we want to know what works and what doesn't......or atleast have the information to base a decision on.....which is what i've provided for the readers. (and what I thought the purpose of this blog was for)
Edited by MuskyBergy 6/19/2008 8:55 AM
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Posts: 41
Location: KC-BBQ | Update on situation:
Company finally gave up on phone and said "Fine we will send you 2 free rearming kits at no cost" after they had an unpleasant conversation with Bass Pro over return policy on the phone.
I decided to try taking them back to Bass Pro yesterday and see if i could get money back to purchase different type of life vest due to product being defective.
Wah Lah....Bass Pro said no problem with my receipt in hand....gave me full refund and sent junk back to company as being defective.
Also noticed while I was there that the same life vests are $45 cheaper now than they were when I bought them last July. That should tell you something right there.
Lady at return counter said she's had alot of those brought back by "Disgruntled"
customers due to same problem.
Solution to life jacket problem:
1) Mustang auto inflate has same problem with their auto inflate life vest, however,
they have a new one out with HIT technology (Hydrostatic Inflatable). The life vests has to be submersed in atleast 4 inches of water before it will activate due to pressure change. Thus, their fix to the rain, mist, fog, overspray situation.
Model # is md3183 and cost is more at $229 each but have found them for $183 plus s/h on net.
Downside - rearming costs $57 each time but there is no maintenance for 5 years each time you rearm it unless fall overboard.
2) or buy the manual inflatable and be done with it and hope you can find the rip cord when you fall overboard.
Hope this was informative to everyone so that if your thinking of upgrading to an auto inflate life vest from the old standard......you can make an educated decision.  | |
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Posts: 66
Location: Onalaska, WI | Wow!
I appreciate the information I learned here--
As a fatty 325 lb. Muskie Hunter I've contemplated these more comfortable (are they really?) and assumed cooler to wear units vs. my standard run of the mill big man $30 life vest, but I'm glad now that I've resisted the urge.
My vest keeps my fat butt afloat (I've worn it tubing a few times) and has never blown up when stored in the boat, the garage or when hung out on the line to dry after 5+ years!
Other than being a tad warm to wear in the peak of the summer they're not really that uncomfortable--especially when one considers the fine life saving qualities.
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Posts: 32944
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'And Steve, not throwing daggers at you about sponserships but reading your comments in the past, you definately side on the company, no matter what company it may be (Unless they disgruntle you) I do believe it would not be a false statement on saying that you've rec'd kickbacks, sponserships, and/or free gear due to your salesman career. Not a bad deal. But what I'm saying is, for those of us that have to pay hard earned money for everything we stick in our boat, we want to know what works and what doesn't......or atleast have the information to base a decision on.....which is what i've provided for the readers. (and what I thought the purpose of this blog was for) '
All due respect,
This isn't a 'blog'; not even close.
MuskieFIRST is a fully copyrighted, fully moderated, content based publication, and we do NOT encourage 'product bashing' of any kind; fine line between educating and bashing. Call any product 'junk' here, and the thread is gone or off to the recycle bin, not because it is or is not 'junk' but because...and this is important for one to grasp... MuskieFIRST PUBLISHES that comment as soon as even an anon poster hits 'submit'. It becomes OUR position as soon as we acknowledge the thread is there, so if we see one, we do due diligence as soon as is possible. Getting ALL the facts out isn't 'siding with the company', it's responsible journalistic practice and buffers what most times is little more than a rant about a bad product experience that in many cases not even much more than a minority of owners have experienced. Some cases are worse, some better, and the fact this thread is still here after your paragraph in quotes above speaks volumes.
If this was 'just' a bashing thread, it would already be gone, and I did say this isn't a product I'd buy, didn't I?
I pointed out facts about the product and the posted excerpts from the product's owner's manual I found with a cursory search on the website, that's all, and did so so folks could make their decision based on ALL the facts
I pay for EVERYTHING including the rig, power, and all that ends up in my boat one way or the other, so that comment is not even close, misses the point, and is just plain so inaccurate as to be easily taken, if I had never met you, as rude. There's no 'free ride' out there. None.
I know several walleye anglers who own these vests, and haven't seen or heard much complaining...I'd guess mostly because they accept the downside as acceptable when balanced against the upside of comfort when working hard in the rig. NO, they are not 'sponsored' by that company, so perish the idea.
Bottom line:
We run a pretty tight ship, for obvious reasons, and we are careful to make sure all the facts are out there when a discussion like this one shows up. | |
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SOSpenders issue!!!