Re: [Paddlewise] Transport Canada PFD regs.

On Mon, 02 Mar 1998 Dave Kruger wrote:
>
>Enforcement in my area is nonexistent for paddlecraft, except whenever
>the Sheriff's Marine Patrol is out.  Informally, USCG personnel say they
>are happy people wear ANY PFD, in lieu of none.  Same is true in Canada,
>in my experience.  Used to be a restriction on the color of PFD in
>Canada -- I was paranoid because my USCG-approved vest was the wrong
>color.  Nobody notices.
>

I am a Canadian in the market for another PFD, so was interested in the
recent submissions.  I receive a bi-annual catalogue of a major Canadian
outdoor recreational equipment co-operative.  In their Spring/Summer 1997
catalogue they listed four models of a Canadian PFD manufacturer.  Of the
four, one was not Transport Canada approved as it had a number of pockets,
with the potential to be overfilled, another was available in both Teal and
International Orange, with only the International Orange being Transport
Canada approved.  A third was also not approved, with no reason given.

I understand that expensive tests are required in order to get US Coast
Guard approval.  I am interested in an inflatable PFD, manufactured in
Washington Stat, a Storm Seas unit, but they either were not US Coast Guard
approved, or else were not subjected to the test.

As $1.47 Canadian purchases $1 US currency, the Canadian products look
attractive.  

Rick Brundrige
British Columbia, Canada 


P.S.  I am a few days behind times with the volumes of e-mail now received.
 I look forward to the weekend to get caught up.  What will happen when the
ice melts and paddling season returns?
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