Bob, please forgive me but are you trying for the "stupidest poster award"?
What if, What if? Here are the facts:

1. MLB used the raft years ago.
2. The taught and approved mechanic was to set up behind the catcher.
3. The inside protector allowed them to move to the slot.

When I started umpiring, I was trained by two retired MLB umpires who ran an amateur training camp here in the Northeast almost 30 years ago. This is exactly how they were trained in MLB in the old days.

Sorry to say, but around here, youth umpires who try to use the slot while sporting a raft suck!

LDUB, see above! Are you even old enough to know what we are talking about?

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Arguing about this subject any further is just a waste of time so you guys are on your own.

Enjoy each other!

I might be way off in this estimation because we are a huge association and I do not see everyone, but I would guess maybe 5% of our guys use the raft for high school games, and some of them are very good umpires.

Once summer ball comes around, I bet another 10% go to the raft to beat the heat.

I started with one, but switched in my second year and never looked back.

You can not dispute the fact that the "Raft", "Balloon", "Mattress", "Barge" protector or whatever else we can name it, reduces bodily exposure, provides more protection. I assume we all have real jobs to go to after we umpire the next day, so I have been contemplating, after reading these posts, that for the sake of safety and protection, self-preservation, that the "Balloon" protector, outside protector, may be the way to go for Rec and youth baseball. We are for the most part, amateurs, or as one fellow ump stated, "it's a hobby", and is it worth the risk of injury, broken bones,bruised muscles - potential dr bills etc, to "get in a better postion", " or look more professional, for the sake of spending more money on inside protectors and sweat like all get out.

Inside Protectors for HS, College, higher level ball, may very well be the best way. I enjoy the game very much and enjoy the competitive youth environment, I enjoy bringing my best game to each level of competition, and looking sharp and presenting a professional appearance and knowing, understanding and applying the Rules of baseball to the best of my ability. I do not have aspirations of doing higher level games, so I may very well seriously consider using the "Raft" again, as I did in 1966, in my first LL game. For my own safety and protection. I just will have to face a little music from my fellow umps. I may then have to post my new Wilson Plat. on Ebay.;)

Sorry, I don't care what level I'm working, I am NOT using a balloon. Not even during "turn back the clock night", I'd rather go as an NL umpire and wear an inside protector. This may be a hobby but it is one I take seriously and I have a hard time taking a balloon seriously in this day and age.

This.

But I would need a plate coat. Any generous souls out there? ;)

Well, there is a major COLLEGE assignor in our area who still uses the outside protector when he works NCAA and NAIA games. In fact, he is the only one whom I know still using this.

This is a film about Bill Kunkel's fight against cancer. However, it shows him in action and you can see how he uses the outside chest protector.

YouTube - Safe at Home