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Life Vests


jshaff

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Where does everyone store their required life vests? And are there any vests that may be CGA approved that are small and take up less room?

I have an 06 Iride and i feel like they are just stuck all over the place. I keep 6 in there and they take up so much space.

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You could get a few of the inflatable life vests used by paddleboarders & fishermen. Their definitely small, but spendy. I have a pair of them but use them on the paddleboards, not the boat. I keep the vests on the boat in the rear storage areas beside the engine (benefit of having a v-drive).

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I usually keep 3 behind the observer seat, then just bring what I need depending on how many we have on the boat. myself and 1 other buddy have non-cg vests so I make sure to have a couple on board for us, then my other friend has a cg approved vest. Ive been pulling out any extras to make room and lightten the losad, less is better :)

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If you just want stuff to keep in the boat and you don't care how well they fit for watersports. Then these bag up pretty tight and you could keep them behind the spotter seat

http://www.westmarine.com/recreational-life-jacket/west-marine--runabout-vest-four-pack-with-bag--7841729

I've seen those packages for the orange keyhole vests that you'd never use unless your boat was sinking. But never with regular vests. Looks like Overtons has them too.

So do any of you guys keep your throwable at hand all the time? A buddy of mine got a ticket for not having it easily accessible. I always thought it was stupid that these things weren't a part of the driver's seat cushion.

Edited by Bill_AirJunky
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I've seen those packages for the orange keyhole vests that you'd never use unless your boat was sinking. But never with regular vests. Looks like Overtons has them too.

So do any of you guys keep your throwable at hand all the time? A buddy of mine got a ticket for not having it easily accessible. I always thought it was stupid that these things weren't a part of the driver's seat cushion.

In my bayliner it was always in a gunnel pocket. In the Malibu I've got no idea where to put it if it needs to be out in the open. Was planning on just having it in one of the seat compartments.

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Yea, with all the cubholders in our gunnels, there isn't really room for the throwable. I've tried keeping wedged by the driver's seat but it's always in the way & doesn't really stay put.

Wondered about getting a bag of rope throwable. Not sure if their CSG approved or not. Definitely would be smaller. Probably more useful too.

Edited by Bill_AirJunky
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So do any of you guys keep your throwable at hand all the time? A buddy of mine got a ticket for not having it easily accessible. I always thought it was stupid that these things weren't a part of the driver's seat cushion.

Sometimes it is under my arse in the "CAPTAINS" chair, by my feet, or behind the "CAPTAINS" chair..... they make nice fenders too :)

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I've seen those packages for the orange keyhole vests that you'd never use unless your boat was sinking. But never with regular vests. Looks like Overtons has them too.

So do any of you guys keep your throwable at hand all the time? A buddy of mine got a ticket for not having it easily accessible. I always thought it was stupid that these things weren't a part of the driver's seat cushion.

My sister usually sits on it to get extra height to see out the windshield so yes... and it is our cushion :lol:

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My sister usually sits on it to get extra height to see out the windshield so yes... and it is our cushion :lol:

Yea, I used to do that before I had a boat with the lift up bolster. Seems like a boat manufacturer would make the thing in the right shape & materials & incorporate it into the seat design. Make it look good & be functional!

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We've had our house jackets from Gander since 2009. http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Gander-Mountain-Adult-Life-Vests-4-Pack&i=441569

Unfortunately the Echelon is such a shallow "low slung sports boat" they all had to come out of the bag to fit behind the observer seat. Add my jacket, my son's two, and even though my daughter usually wears hers, it gets full in there for sure. I also have not done the seat riser mod, so I also sit on the throwable. I may mod it like Bill said and replace the factory bottom cushion altogether so I still have some hip support on the sides. It's awfully close to fitting now.

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Just realized ahopkins and jshaff both have trunks. Quitcherbitchin'.

Back in my day we had no trunks. And we liked it. I've got a wakeboard, slalom ski, combo skis, barefoot boom, Fly High pole, spare prop, two batteries, 8 vests, 2 throwables, a soft sided cooler, amp, sub, two tool kits, spare impeller, two anchors with ropes, boat towels/rags, wake rope, ski rope, hats, sunglasses, suntan lotion, paper towels, a wife, two kids, and a dog in my boat EVERY time it goes out. Plus guests if we have them. I'd almost kill to have a trunk.

Some of that emergency use only stuff is tucked way back in the rear corners alongside the gas tank so the back seat has to come out to get at it, but it's all in there and we never have walkway clutter.

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ahopkins22LSV

Just realized ahopkins and jshaff both have trunks. Quitcherbitchin'.

Back in my day we had no trunks. And we liked it. I've got a wakeboard, slalom ski, combo skis, barefoot boom, Fly High pole, spare prop, two batteries, 8 vests, 2 throwables, a soft sided cooler, amp, sub, two tool kits, spare impeller, two anchors with ropes, boat towels/rags, wake rope, ski rope, hats, sunglasses, suntan lotion, paper towels, a wife, two kids, and a dog in my boat EVERY time it goes out. Plus guests if we have them. I'd almost kill to have a trunk.

Some of that emergency use only stuff is tucked way back in the rear corners alongside the gas tank so the back seat has to come out to get at it, but it's all in there and we never have walkway clutter.

Haha not bitching, just answering the question ;)

My boat list is about the same as yours though. After we get done skiing people are out with us just to hang out. And all of the ski vests are non CGA approved tournament vests :whistle: so, I have 9 orange vests in the boat at all times just to meet requirements!

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In the old SSLX, I kept all the general purpose life saving vests in the bow storage under the cushions. That was supplemented by the water sports vests that were stored behind the rear seat back. Granted, on that barge, I had no issues with storage.

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ahopkins22LSV

You ever pull it all out & have it all spread out on the driveway & see just how much s*** you really have in that boat?? It's unreal.

Its insane!! And a lot of it is in my car right now from cleaning out the old boat.

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I've seen those packages for the orange keyhole vests that you'd never use unless your boat was sinking. But never with regular vests. Looks like Overtons has them too.

n.

I have a 5 pk of the standard orange and just got a 4 pk of the Overtons vests. They are pretty nice and my plan is to have guests use those instead of using our good ones.

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You ever pull it all out & have it all spread out on the driveway & see just how much s*** you really have in that boat?? It's unreal.

I have a huge Costco steel rack that is chock full of boat stuff removed last fall and it still couldn't contain it all.

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I removed the front ballast tank on my LSV. I have 2 400# that I use along with the 750# to surf (on the rare occasion we do). I stuffed 8 orange vests under the front. I usually take 3-4 CGA ski vests as well.

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