Viva Baja

March 13, 2013
Jon Rombach

Paul asked me to go down to Baja Mexico to investigate reports of a new way to wear personal floatation devices. I found the inventor of the ‘over one shoulder’ technique and went out for a day on the water to see him in action.

A man wearing an orange life jacket is sitting on a boat

We won’t be adopting the method. I won’t bore you with all the technical data, but the upshot is there are better ways to wear a life safety jacket. The proper use of life jackets & vests is essential, and a poor fit or unsafe design can compromise your safety. That’s why a proper life jacket inspection is always recommended before heading out.

Here’s my mom demonstrating proper PFD use—no gimmicks, no shortcuts. Just a trusted coast guard approved life jacket with solid life jacket buoyancy chart ratings. And yes, we also remembered to check the PFDs to see if they were up to regulation and safely fitted.

A woman on a boat wearing an orange life vest that says cormor

You know, that Mexico is all right. Except for all the sun and warm weather, which was a shock to my system.  I missed my whitewater rafting in the Pacific Northwest and was honestly wondering how long do life jackets last in saltwater environments. Not to mention the important routine of service life jackets, especially after every trip.


While down there, I asked myself, what's the best way to maintain your inflatable PFD in such a hot, dry place? Proper care includes checking the M24 rearming kit, knowing when you should replace the CO₂ cylinder in an inflatable PFD, and running a flotation test regularly.


I even packed a CO₂ life vest, but between the humidity and the tacos, I was more concerned about how tight my life vest waist had gotten. Don’t forget: if you’re using inflatables, always carry rearming kits for life jackets and check inflator type V life jacket settings before use.

I did discover a possible new line of work while down there: life jacket market investigator. From the streets of Baja to the beaches, there were questionable knockoffs like the Mambobaby dupe, and I couldn't help but wonder, is Mambobaby Coast Guard approved? (Spoiler: It’s not.)

If anybody needs a skip tracer to look for Wallowa County residents who are abroad, let me know. Here’s my last operation:

Chris Geyer and I run into each other in Joseph. He says he’s heading back to Baja. I say I’m going there too.

He says we should meet. I agree. But then it doesn’t look like it’s going to work.

Then I’m driving a rental car through a town and see Chris Geyer drive by in his Rhino. What the what? We had chile rellenos to celebrate.

He and Christina have a lovely place down there. Really a nice spot.

Two women are standing on a porch talking to each other

So Mexico was great but I can’t tell you how relieved I am to be back in the land of overcast skies and the possibility of bad weather. Keep your margaritas and t-shirt weather, Mexico. I’ll take tire chains and possible frostbite any day.


And let’s be honest—nothing beats floating the rivers in Idaho.

O yeah, and I hear the steelhead are cooperating.

I’ll be getting on the water in the next couple days to find out, but call Paul if you’re looking to get out there and exercise your steelhead rod—or just want to ask, Where can I find a life jacket?

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