For 2017 MTI Adventurewear an American personal flotation device manufacturer released the new Neptune Auto Inflatable Life Jacket. With comfort and safety in mind the lightweight Neptune auto inflatable PFD is able to be worn in comfort all day long. Being a flat water PFD the use in kayak fishing, hunting, and touring is to be its main use but can also be used in power boating as well. The PFD is a one size fits all with 29 lbs of buoyancy!

Use:

After purchasing your new MTI Neptune PFD be sure to follow the instructions on the attached card thoroughly. You will need to arm the inflator device prior to use. If you fail to arm the device the PFD will not be buoyant in an emergency. Although there is a oral tube for manual inflation it will not be useful in the event you are unconscious.There are three ways to inflate the PFD. One is as is mentioned the manual oral tube. The second is the manual jerk tab which will activate a pin that will pierce the CO2 canister. The third is the automatic bobbin which when immersed with water will dissolve the chemical in the bobbin after a few seconds and release the pierce pin opening the CO2 cylinder.

Arming the PFD:

It’s necessary to arm the device prior to your experience on the water and disarm it when not in use. To arm the inflator device find the CO2 canister in the left side under the tab tat says “Cylinder for Arming”. You will find it wrapped in a plastic bag with instructions. Arming the PFD is pretty simple. Push in the CO2 canister while holding the lever arm to retract the bayonets. Turn 1/8 clockwise turn and the indicator will turn green. If it stays red then you will need to purchase a rearming kit. The Kit is model #V86000-84204Z which includes CO2 Canister and new bobbin.

When the PFD is not in use you should disarm the CO2 canister. This is important since you don’t want the PFD inflating during normal maintenance while cleaning or an accidental pull on the jerk tag while storing. When you clean your Neptune be sure to remove the cap and bobbin. Water will degrade the bobbin and make it fire therefore a rearming kit will be necessary.

The cost is US $159.95 msrp

For more info visit the MTI Adventurewear Website

Live. Love. Life [Jackets].

A necessary piece safety gear for kayak fishing open water is a Marine Very High Frequency (VHF) Radio. Personally I have had great experience using a Standard Horizon Handheld HX209 VHF Radio. The MTI Dio F Spec PFD has a built-in pocket for the handheld VHF. Along with the VHF radio I like to use an external microphone/speaker. The radio fits inside a zippered pocket designed with a built in antenna port allows it to protrude through the pocket. Attatching the mic to the shoulder strap of the PFD easily allows monitoring the radio along with keying up to speak. The external mic is submersible which works best for us kayak anglers. The speaker/mic also has a clip making  it easy to keep on my shoulder area. it is necessary to access the radio only when switching channels and changing the volume.

Marine Radios vs Cell Phones:

Marine radios are the primary device for on water marine communication including distress. Cell Phones are primary land based communication devices that contact land based telephones. So they both have their own uses. A Marine Radio is able to be heard by anyone in ranged dialed into the same frequency.  A cell phone is a person to person connection which will not enable assistance from other vessels in the area.

That being said, they are not comparable since they both do different things. A VHF Marine Radio is best for on water use due to ability of multiple vessels hearing your transmission. This greatly reduces arrival time for assistance.

HX290 Features

• Floating
• Submersible IPX8 (1.5 meters or 4.92 feet for 30 minutes)
• Slim form fitting case
• Selectable 5 and 1 Watt transmit power output
• Supplied with a 1140 mAh Li-ion battery, AC and DC chargers and a charging cradle
• Glow-In-the-Dark strip
• Huge channel display
• Optional speaker microphone or headset capable
• All USA, International and Canadian Marine Channels
• Programmable Scan, Priority Scan and Dual Watch
• NOAA Weather channels and Weather Alert
• Key lock
• Squelch level on display
• Low battery indicator
• Preset key used to recall up to 10 favorite channels
• Optional FBA-42 Alkaline battery tray available
• 3 Year Waterproof Warranty

Great features of this model VHF radio are the Key Lock for in pocket use. The additional external mic ability. Rechargeable Li-ion battery. Weather alert.

Manufacturers website http://standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=85&encProdID=43176D11CC8DF3B49149D8AF658C0CC3&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

Gear Review: Thermos Water Bottle

An essential piece of kayaking and kayak fishing gear is a water bottle. Its imperative that you stay hydrated through out the day of being in the sun fishing and paddling. I prefer ice cold water on those hot days. Most water bottles will not keep water cold or even cool for long sitting in the sun. The only option is to carry a cooler in this option until i invested in a thermos.

The Thermos Vacuum Insulated 24-Ounce Stainless Steel Hydration Bottle is special because it keeps water cold all day! On a hot day of fishing I typically will consume (2 bottles) or 48 oz of water. The Hydration Bottle is important to avoid Heat Stroke. This Thermos works with both Hot & Cold but for hot it recommends you do not drink from the bottle.

Description:

• Rigid stainless steel construction
• Thermos vacuum insulation technology for maximum temperature retention
• Keeps beverages cold for up to 18 hours
• Sweat proof design eliminates water rings
• Hygienic push button sip through lid with locking mechanism
• Locking Lid but allows 1 handed operation
• Wide opening for easy drinking
• Screw off top for ease of filling and cleaning
• Dimensions 10.25 inches x 10.25 inches x 3 inches

Cost: $25.00 + Free Shipping on Orders over $35.00 on Amazon.com