Re: [Paddlewise] When in Rome - I'd wear a PFD there, too.

Scott wrote:

>>   How many people have actually been saved by wearing pfd's? I don't want
any anecdotal stories here, but actual documented accounts of people who are
alive today because they were wearing their pfd. There is NO WAY one can
determine unequivocally that the pfd saved their lives, or that a paddler
might be alive today had they been wearing one!
   We each must access our own capabilities and the conditions we paddle in
and dress/equip ourselves accordingly. There are not any hard and fast rules
here. Most sea kayakers cannot reliably roll or perform self rescues. That
does not mean that those of us who can should be condemned to the constant
ridicule of our fellow paddlers because we have taken the time to build on
our skills to the point of being able to rely on them rather then on the
equipment.

Scott
So.Cal.
<<

I guess the same thing could be said about seatbelts.  Why bother wearing
them if you know that you drive well.  In fact, I bet if you had kids, and
you might, you wouldn't think they would need to wear seatbelts either.
You'd be able to take care of them, 'cuz you're a good driver.

I don't know about you, but I've seen power boaters come extremely close to
paddlers.  What do you do if one of these boats hits you?  Sure you'll sue
'em later, but what are you going to do in the mean time?  While you're
unconcious how are you going to get that PFD on?  oh, too late, now your at
the bottom of the lake, river, ocean... no need for a PFD now.  Hope the
person that informs your relatives is nice enough not to mention that the
PFD that would have kept you afloat long enough for someone to rescue you
was still strapped on to your kayak.  Well, at least your boat is okay.

I'm amused that all these paddlers with good bracing skills, the ability to
rescue themselves ('cuz you know, they practice often), and a strong roll
would be concerned about hyperthermia.  I mean, if your hot and your wearing
a wetsuit or a drysuit, why don't you just roll to cool yourself down?   You
could even do a wet exit -- as long as you remember how to get yourself back
in the boat.  duh.

So I would supposed that you don't carry a VHF, or flares or any other
rescue gear either.  But then I'm sure you paddle right next to a coast
guard boat the entire time you're in the water.

My two cents of sarcasm.

-Shoni







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