Here’s a great idea from the book 100 Fast and Easy Boat Improvements – a PFD storage bag that can also act as a boat cushion or throwable flotation device. It’s an inventive way to store them while still keeping your PFD’s at the ready.
A Duckworks article, which is no longer available, had this to say about them:
The cushions are unexpectedly comfortable, much better than the normal square cushions sold in marine stores. The reason is that the collar cutout on the life vests provide some contouring to that sometimes hard to fit part of the human anatomy.
Now you have a way to stay Coast Guard compliant while putting those standard life jackets to better use.