In a message dated 98-10-07 15:43:39 EDT, schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com writes: << John [Winters] mentioned the inflatable PFD's in a conversation we had earier. I will reiterate my thoughts at the time. I don't trust things with moving parts. I am sure the CO2 cartridge is pretty fool proof, but it is more likely to fail than a chunk of closed cell foam. At least with the foam a cursory inspection will reveal any problems. You can't test the cartridge. [snip] Airplane pilots may use the things but they probably need to get regular inspections that civilians won't bother with. >> While I intuitively agree with Nick's conclusions --- and while I won't get between Nick Schade and John Winters on any issue ---, as a pilot, I can speak with some confidence to the issue of checking CO2 cartridges. It's pretty simple to check them --- you just unscrew them from their housing and see if there's a hole in the end. Used to "pre-flight" my PFD a couple of times a day --- no big deal. 'Course, that doesn't guarantee there's gas inside, but you have to take things on faith some times. The integrity of the cartridge is not a major issue, and you have two cartridges in most of these devices, so there is a certain dual redundancy thing going for you, too. But I agree completely about the complexity and moving parts bit --- and, in most of the planes I flew, you didn't have your torso sitting out 'top of the fuselage, so the limits of space applied a lot more than in a kayak. And toggles hang up on stuff, and straps get in the way. I like my Lotus "Straight Jacket", and have no problem with the flotation volume --- which is always there! Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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