I read an article in today’s Globe & Mail on drowning in Canada that really made me think. It said that fishermen are more likely to drown than swimmers, sailors, kayakers and other water enthusiasts. It also remarked on the low PFD-wear rate in the fishing community. While I don’t doubt the stats, I’d like to believe the aversion to PFDs is changing. I admit that I used to be one of the weak-swimming, non-PFD wearing fishermen referenced in the article, but I - and many around me - have changed. In the last few years I have seen a dramatic increase in PFD wear within the fishing community. Many are moving to inflatable PFDs which allow them to maintain mobility and comfort in warmer weather, and many are wearing flotation suits as protection from the elements in open boats. While we still have a long way to go, I believe fishermen are realizing how easy it is to become a statistic and how equally easy it is to put on a PFD and stay out of the stats altogether.

The full Globe & Mail article can be found online..

I was out paddling last night when a fellow paddler got caught by a bad combination of wind and waves that capsized her boat. Thankfully she was wearing a properly fitted PFD and popped up to the surface right away. She’s not a strong swimmer, but with the assistance of the PFD and another paddler she was able to get her boat flipped back over and haul herself out of the water within a few minutes. Crisis diverted, right? Wrong. It didn’t take long for the effects of shock and hypothermia to set in. With intense shivering and difficulty breathing, she was helped out of the boat, re-dressed in dry clothes and wrapped in blankets. A call to the ambulance and a trip to the hospital later, she is now at home recovering from the incident. She was lucky, though her experience should serve as a reminder to us all to always be prepared for the unexpected and to never underestimate the effects of cold water. It’s worth noting the paddler had just purchased her new MV5801 Deluxe Paddling PFD on Thursday of last week; it sure didn’t take long for it to pay off. Paddle safe and have fun OutThere!

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and the phone lines will be burning up and restaurants will be packed as kids (young and old) mark a day just for mom. If your mom likes to get out on the water one of our limited edition Inflatable PFDs with HIT in hot pink might be perfect for her. You can find a dealer on our main website.

If you are far from home or have some time Sunday check out the Toyota Texas Bass Classic on CBS. Two Mustang Survival sponsored pro-anglers are featured in the show. Dave Mercer of Facts of Fishing is the event emcee and also provides color commentary. BassMaster Elite Series Angler Mike McClelland is one of the anglers and was part of the top pro-am team in the event.

We were really excited to hear the F3 Fishing Inflatable Vest PFD that we launched late last year received the North American Fisherman Club Member Tested & Recommended Seal of Approval. The NAFC has nearly half a million members and the panel members each received a PFD to try and give feedback. The vest was ranked a 9.3 out of a possible 10 points.

I thought I’d like to share a couple of comments from the reviewers:

“This high-quality product comfortably combines a fishing vest with a quick-inflating PFD. Plus, it has plenty of storage pockets.” Ethan Ball Rexburg, ID

“This vest is a must-have. It’s not bulky and is very comfortable. The 10 pockets, breathable mesh back and attachment for a landing net are it’s best features.” Joey Trammell, McAlester, OK

A new dragon boat season is upon us and teams are out practising on Vancouver’s False Creek in preparation for the region’s biggest festival of the year - the Rio Tinto Dragon Boat Festival. Since my team’s practices commenced in February we have endured rain, wind and even snow, all in the effort of having fun and becoming as strong a team as we can be for the festival. Training however is just part of peak performance; the other part is equipment. I figure my part in ensuring my team is well-equipped is to make sure they all have the best new paddling PFD on the market: Mustang’s MV5801 Deluxe Paddling Vest! I wore prototypes of this vest last season as it progressed through its design stages and have to admit that I have completely fallen in love with it. It is without a doubt the most comfortable paddling PFD I have ever worn. The tapered sides allow me to bend and twist, the comfort features on the shoulder straps, waist and armholes keep me chafe-free and the Dri-Lex (R) lining keeps me dry and comfortable all day. I haven’t even gotten to the pockets big enough to fit my camera, keys and pretty much anything else I could ever want to throw in there, the good-looking style lines or the contoured fit yet, but I think I’ve probably boasted about it enough for one day (Plus if I go on anymore I’ll ruin the surprise you’ll have when you try it on for yourself, realize just how comfortable it is and wonder how you’ve ever paddled in anything else.)