>does anyone have experience with inflatable pfds? I know they're no good >for whitewater but I've seen several at West - both for "inshore" Type III >with 22 lbs flotation and for "offshore" with 35 lbs flotation. Most >everyone uses the usual bulky pfds but is there a reason other than custom >why the inflatables aren't used? >Alice Bennett I have only the experience of having worn one for the past two seasons. It has added tremendously to the comfort of paddling (or should that be, has removed a lot of the discomfort). I haven't tested it in a swim yet. So far I've found only two problems with using it, neither of which is directly a problem with the pfd. The first is that it can be a hassle to locate the kit to rearm it after it has been inflated. No, that was the second problem, because the first was that teenage boys can't resist pulling the bright red toggle as they ask "Daddy, what does this do?" I do keep spare rearming kits on hand. I also keep a spare non-inflatable pfd in the kayak just in case I should some day deploy the inflatable and find it won't. The next time I'm practicing self-rescue I will probably pull the toggle to reassure myself that thing will function for me and not just for my child. I make an effort to give it a little more care than one generally does the inert pfds. I don't leave it in closed cars in the sun, don't stack hard objects on top of it, don't let it get twisted up or folded, etc.. If it fails a test, you may be sure I'll post the news here, but I would hate to go back to the old bulky, uncomfortable kind. One shortcoming might be that the non-inflatable makes a better pillow. :-) Ira Adams\ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Feb 28 1999 - 08:15:25 PST
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