[Paddlewise] Inflatable PFD

This is a response to the posting from Alice Bennett.

In Minnesota an inflatable PFD is listed as a Type IV PFD, which means 
that by law use must always wear it while you are on the water. I 
personally wear a Type III PFD for the foam floatation helps retain my 
body heat when I am paddling or beach coaming in cold or windy 
conditions. Most of the Type IV PFD's that I have seen provide their 
floatation only to the front of the PFD when they are filled with air.  
This might pose a small obstacle when trying to perform a self rescue. 
At the point of a self rescue when your chest is laying on the stern 
deck a Type IV PFD would increase your center of balance or gravity a 
bit more than the slimmer Type III PFD. I have heard of some sea 
kayakers wearing a Type III PFD with a Type IV over it for big trips. If 
you do get an inflatable PFD I suggest that you carry some extra CO2 
cartridges, if the inflatable uses these for inflation. Also be sure 
that the inflatable PFD has a manual inflation tube like paddlefloats 
do, preferably one with a one way blowtube. Be sure to bring a patch kit 
along for trips just in case at some time in the future you get a hole 
in it for some reason.

Good Paddling and floating in a Type III or Type IV PFD,
Don Dimond

P.S. It might be a guy thing, but my Type III PFD has a lot of pockets 
for me to put all sorts of techie things in and has a knife clip.

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