Re: [Paddlewise] What's the difference between a touring PFD and a ww PFD?

><< A WW pfd is probably more strongly built, and usually has more
> flotation because the water could be heavily aerated, thus less buoyant.
>>
>
>It ain't necessarily so.  Maybe ww vests SHOULD be stronger AND more
buoyant,
>but the former doesn't seem to be the case within the same manufacturer;
and
>many ww _kayaking_ vests are actually built with less buoyancy to minimize
>coverage and bulk.............

        You're right.  Some WW PFDs are built to minimum specs to make them
class III and legal.  One manufacturer offers a pfd for serious squirters
from which you can remove the flotation!!!  So you have the appearance of
complying with the laws but no protection at all.  They're called zero
buoyancy vests.
        I've noticed the NRS now lists buoyancy figures in their catalog.


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