> Peter O wrote: > > >Sometimes worry about how thin some well used PFD's are - Old ones can look > pretty crushed. Do they wear out? I imagine the thin sad looking ones must > have lost some buoyancy. Yes, PFDs do lose their buoyancy over time as the foam ages. How fast depends on the quality and type of foam as well as the amount of use and at what temperature ranges. Heat deteriorates foam as does sun exposure. So does sitting on the PFD (Bring a Crazy Creek chair or pad for sitting if you regularly find yourself sitting on your PFD at lunch breaks, around camping sites, etc.) PFD color fading is one sign but the foam may still be good even with a faded cover. If the PFD has elastic anywhere, when the elastic loses its stretch/recovery, then the foam may likely to have too. You might want to feel the foam carefully when you first get a PFD to sense how it should feel. Later if it is a lot softer, then it may be too old. Or compare to the feel of a new PFD of the same type and brand. If you are looking for some figure in years, I would say that a PFD that is over six years old has probably beaten the dust in its effectiveness. But this may occur sooner. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Aug 09 1999 - 06:43:29 PDT
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