Jack,


If you're primarily a warm water fisherman, take a look at the Lotus line of PFDs. They make a number of models that are essentially "swimmer vests" (there's no float collar around the back of your neck to support your head in the event you are floating unconscious).

Don't be fooled by the short waist and small size of these vests. My Lotus Rio Grande will float 16 pounds of lead, which is twice what the typical human body body weighs when immersed. The vest lets you keep your head lifted out of the water, and you can tread water and swim slowly with a minimum of physical effort.

The swimmer-type PFDs don't have any floatation foam on the sides of your torso, just on the chest and back. This feature lets your arms and elbows hang naturally at your side while paddling (and casting).

On hot days, swimmer vests are good to wear because those modest foam panels on the chest and back will insulate you against the worst heat of direct sunlight. On these hot days, you can manipulate the side straps to get a slightly looser fit that enables better airflow between the foam panels and your torso.

I've never worn one of the PFD float coats. If these coats are designed so that a man overboard can adjust the fit tighter to reduce the movement of water between body and material, that feature would certainly buy you enough rescue (or self-rescue) time before hypothermia and cardiac arrest punches your ticket.


Joe

"Better small than not at all."