What's on your PFD?

demonick,
I have my PFD set similar to yours. Same model PFD in fact.
 
I did some testing one evening and found that I could not function properly due to being blinded by the stobe flashing in my eyes. It's on my list to find a more suitable place for the strobe.

Maybe yours is ok for you. Just an observation.

I did some testing one evening and found that I could not function properly due to being blinded by the stobe flashing in my eyes. It's on my list to find a more suitable place for the strobe.

I like the Stohlquist PFD a lot.

I do not routinely use the strobe.  It's for emergency use.  If I need a running light I'll wear a headlamp or duct tape my spare strobe to a half rod I use for a flag mast.

The only problem I have with the setup is that when reentering it is helpful to remove the VHF.  Also I believe I will be spray painting parts of the VHF day-glo orange.

Did you guys ever test the "auto on" feature of those strobes? I put mine in a big bowl of water...nothing, then a 5 gal bucket...nothing. I wrote the company, they said "warm saltwater" activates the auto on feature. I said "good to know I need to manually activate it, cause we're a little short on warm water here in the Pacific Northwest."

Taking off the VHF, or partially tucking it inside your PFD is a good idea, I've got some nice gouges on my display from dragging it across the deck while scampering back aboard.

My strobe is manual only. Its one of the Hydro Stars from Seattle Sports.

Thanx Demonic. You reminded me i need to hit some local garage and yard sales. Need an old rod to turn into a flag pole/ light mast

I chose the manual model with the utility light/strobe combo Firefly 2. I figured I didn't care for the extra attention of a strobe with my usual less than graceful surf landings.

My VHF is short tethered to my PFD. In addition to belt clipped. When needed out of the way I can toss it over my shoulder yet it stays with me. Works ok. There's probably a better solution though.

Here's whats in mine. In the pockets are glasses, license,camera, hook file.

just so we dont get carried away with overloading our flotation, here's a really helpful link to determine if you already did...

http://boatsafe.com/kids/buoyancy.htm

All these pics of clean shiny vests are hurting my eyes. IMO they look much nicer with some blood spatter (hopefully not your own), smelly jelly stains, cabbie/ling puke, squid ink, dried salmon scales. Get out there and get some war paint on those things fellas. 

All these pics of clean shiny vests are hurting my eyes. IMO they look much nicer with some blood spatter (hopefully not your own), smelly jelly stains, cabbie/ling puke, squid ink, dried salmon scales. Get out there and get some war paint on those things fellas. 

I can bring my old one out if it makes you feel better Ling?

Touche, Ling Banger. My drysuit and pfd get sooooo dirty and stinky from crab, crab bait, Pinks, Herring scent, etc I have to wash them every few trips. I forgot my own sweat.
VHF,chapstick,knife,clippers are about it. Pic smelled too bad to post. Hit the water and look
like someone sleeping under an overpass. Wish I was still able to contribute to the odor on a more regular basis.

Well, as a big fan of Archimedes I decided to weigh my fully loaded PFD:

It came in at 5lb 10 oz. The VHF alone weighs 11.8 oz. I'm thinking Ling Banger's weighs more than mine in blood and guts alone!!

I have no idea what the PFD weighs naked and can't find anything online. Maybe tomorrow I'll remove everything and find out.

I'm not sure what happened to my whistle, I need to get that back on. Thanks for the reminder and I appreciate all the other comments.

As for the concerns about the magenet messing up my compass, I'll make sure to hold it away from my right side. And as for hooks in the face, if I'm banged by a breaching whale I still don't think my face can reach the hooks.

All these pics of clean shiny vests are hurting my eyes. IMO they look much nicer with some blood spatter (hopefully not your own), smelly jelly stains, cabbie/ling puke, squid ink, dried salmon scales. Get out there and get some war paint on those things fellas. 

Here's a pic of my fish slimed PFD for you LB.  The air horn is for when I catch a fish so everybody around me knows I've got a fish on.
 

All these pics of clean shiny vests are hurting my eyes. IMO they look much nicer with some blood spatter (hopefully not your own), smelly jelly stains, cabbie/ling puke, squid ink, dried salmon scales. Get out there and get some war paint on those things fellas. 

Here's a pic of my fish slimed PFD for you LB.  The air horn is for when I catch a fish so everybody around me knows I've got a fish on.
 

Now that's more like it!

Imagining the smell coming off Yaksurf's beautiful Coast Guard approved lifesaving apparatus is giving me early morning wood in the late afternoon.

It matches my Underroos Waders 

Ling Banger. If that early morning wood lasts more than 4 hours, GO FISHING or serious
consequences may bend your rod