I'm not a big fan of highly buoyant PFDs because they make it more difficult for me to roll up. For example, I have a 15 lb PFD and a 24 lb PFD. I can roll easily with the 15lb, but have to think when setting up while wearing the 24 lb. It is even easier to roll with no PFD (I often don't wear a PFD at pool practice). The more buoyant the PFD, the more I have to fight it when maneuvering my body while under water. 15 lbs is more than I require to keep me afloat while swimming (I have often been confused with a beluga whale), so I do not care if even my 15 lb PFD loses some buoyancy, provided that it can keep me afloat. Also, any arbitrary number (such as a 15 lb requirement) becomes meaningless when one adds typical attachments, such as throw bag and rope, tow line, quick release harness, biners, and rescue/survival kit. Ultimately, one has to try out a PFD under realistic conditions and see how it performs, rather than depend on an MOT/Coast Guard certification. And then, of course, one must check both it and its attachments prior to each and every use. As far as polyvinyl chloride and ethylvinyl acetate foam PFDs loosing buoyancy over time, I'd have to say that the problem is so minimal as to be a non-issue. Quite simply, the stitching and fabric let go on old well used PFDs, forcing their retirement long before any significant foam deterioration takes place. Cheers, Richard Culpeper NEW ADDRESS: culpeper_at_tbaytel.net www.tbaytel.net/culpeper *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Aug 10 1999 - 11:21:44 PDT
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