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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Shoni Blue wrote: > MAJOR SNIP< > 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 > and don't forget the helmet, cuz you might bump your head on the boat or the bottom..., and the list goes on. I agree with most of this safety stuff, but each has to draw his/her own line and make a judgement call. Sometimes you call wrong, maybe even dead wrong, but it should be your call. I don't condenm a person because they don't do things my way. I do take my family and life very seriously(and that encludes kayaking), and I do wear a PFD all the time. Partly for warmth, partly because I feel good with it on(been mak'n memories for a long time with it), partly to help me float if I do go in, and maybe so my body can be found quicker and my wife can go nuts with the insurance policy(instead of waiting for a year), but a BIG reason is so the local rangers will look at me with their binoculars and see I have it on and maybe just leave me the heck alone. As for what you carry or wear, that's your buisness. If you feel safer with a wet/dry suit on, then by all means you should wear one(with or without the darn thing zipped up).<G> I only asked the question because I see too many people heading out into lakes, seas, woods, and mountains with a "I got this cool gear" and with it and my cell phone to call 911, I can do anything attitude. When I lived in Alaska, I was asked many times what kind of gun to carry. I used to answer, none, or atleast a light pistol, as you can climb a tree faster with nothing weighting you down. Same thing applys to kayaking maybe. More gear don't alway mean more safe..?? You decide. think. James *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>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 wonder how many people paddle with a PFD that will support your head in the proper position if you are unconscious. I don't believe mine will, but at least I'll float to the surface. Brian. -- =============================== Brian Heifner Senior Technical Writer Rational Software Corporation Email: bheifner_at_rational.com =============================== *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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