Post by kenmorrow on Mar 5, 2011 7:35:44 GMT -5
AFFI, Inc. endorses USCG-approved inflatable PFDs and requires 100% of our event participants to wear them at all times when on the water.
This week I did quite a bit of research on the best deal for purchasing the belt-style SOSpenders PFD, which is a USCG-approved Type II PFD when worn and Type III PFD when carried. The institute buys quite a few of this model. Coleman owns Stearns who, in turn, owns the brand name SOSpenders these days. Coleman has a non-profit purchase plan that we buy through in bulk, but to purchase a small number of these and other SOSpenders PFDs, I found that the best prices were through Amazon.com.
On Amazon, you can get free 2-day shipping if you are a new Amazon customer. And the belt-style SOSpenders were $67.50...about $2 cheaper than the next best price. I ordered 1 on Wednesday afternoon and it arrived Friday about noon.
The reason AFFI, Inc. endorses USCG-approved inflatable PFDs is because we are a fishing org. The USCG endorses them for fishing, too...strongly encouraging anglers to use them. Why? Because virtually NO angler wears a conventional PFD and nearly ALL anglers who drown are not wearning a PFD...a fact leading directly to their deaths. When surveyed, nearly all anglers say they don't wear them because they get in the way and are uncomfortable during fishing activity. Inflatable PFDs defeat this objection. The belt style of inflatable PFD 100% defeats this objection! And while the belt-style isn't the best protection in the world because it won't protect you if you are knocked unconscious or your arms are rendered useless, it is FAR better than nothing. And that is what about 95% of anglers are currently wearing. The belt-style is our BEST CHANCE of changing that.
This week I did quite a bit of research on the best deal for purchasing the belt-style SOSpenders PFD, which is a USCG-approved Type II PFD when worn and Type III PFD when carried. The institute buys quite a few of this model. Coleman owns Stearns who, in turn, owns the brand name SOSpenders these days. Coleman has a non-profit purchase plan that we buy through in bulk, but to purchase a small number of these and other SOSpenders PFDs, I found that the best prices were through Amazon.com.
On Amazon, you can get free 2-day shipping if you are a new Amazon customer. And the belt-style SOSpenders were $67.50...about $2 cheaper than the next best price. I ordered 1 on Wednesday afternoon and it arrived Friday about noon.
The reason AFFI, Inc. endorses USCG-approved inflatable PFDs is because we are a fishing org. The USCG endorses them for fishing, too...strongly encouraging anglers to use them. Why? Because virtually NO angler wears a conventional PFD and nearly ALL anglers who drown are not wearning a PFD...a fact leading directly to their deaths. When surveyed, nearly all anglers say they don't wear them because they get in the way and are uncomfortable during fishing activity. Inflatable PFDs defeat this objection. The belt style of inflatable PFD 100% defeats this objection! And while the belt-style isn't the best protection in the world because it won't protect you if you are knocked unconscious or your arms are rendered useless, it is FAR better than nothing. And that is what about 95% of anglers are currently wearing. The belt-style is our BEST CHANCE of changing that.
