Where can i get hold of one of those bumbag lifejackets?? With these new laws making it compulsory to wear a jacket now in force in NSW i wouldn't mind one.
The compact ones you can get now that go over your shoulders are a pain in the bum, and i'm not gonna buy a 5m boat just to avoid wearing one!!

shit mate i meant to awnser that question for ya but must have missed it. i got mine of ebay was around 70 bucks

Cappers on Thomas Mitchell Drive Wodonga have them
Rob

got mine from Ray's Outdoors mate.

Hate to spoil the party fellas but unless its out of the bag and over your head its not gunna meet the new law. The inflatable yokes are the only option that will get you out of wearing a standard jacket in NSW with some degree of comfort in the heat. I have worn one for ages in my yak and they are not that bad. The bum bag(in the bag) is a stored pfd.

I have spoken to Water Police regarding these PFDs. As long as they meet Austrlian Standards and have that on they will pass. Ferret I know what you are referrring to as PFD 1 are suppose to keep head support but there are certain brands of these bumbags that have been approved as PFD 1.

Cheers

GALVO

Mate, no argument that the bum bags are a pfd1, they are. The problem is the regs say they must be worn. They are not classified as being worn(in NSW) unless they are out of the bag and over your head. Think about holding a regular pfd1 in your hand, it meets the criteria but its not being worn.

Its gotta be out of the bag and over your head or it may as well be on the floor or stored, my local Waterways Inspector reckons he might give one warning.

read bottom line

from this link http://www.oztion.com.au/buy/auction.as ... id=3998133

A Australian Standards AS1512 approved inflatable lifejacket with manual CO2 gas inflation
easy adjustable to suit chest sizes 55 - 140cm
oral inflation/deflation tube as well as gas canister
whistle
Ultra Light Weight and very comfortable to wear !!!
Adult Multifit 40kg and over
Colour - Blue only
Must be out of its bag and over your head to qualify as a PFD1.

Here,s a pic with the yoke on in the yak, got a few nice little cod this day

Sorry to butt in Ferret but reading the Australian standards AS 1512 it says quite clearly that the PFD "must be worn on the body" not how, that would be up to the manufacturer to establish when gaining AS1512 accreditation.

If the instructions on your unit say as you've quoted then that may have been a requirement for them to pass the AS1512 accreditation - i've seen other bum bag setups which dont have those same instructions.

The water police who whoever can say and warn all they like but if you are following the manufacturer's instuctions in the use of your AS1512 approved PFD they dont have a leg to stand on.

Also found out that they dont have to be serviced each year if the manufacturer has stated otherwise.

cheers

Dont get me wrong - i hear what you're saying about the bum bags being not ready for use when you need them. I'm not a fan of the bum bag style PFD but those that are shouldn't be stuffed about by uniforms not in the know.