With all this talk of pfd's and concern for hyperthermia and wet/dry suits, etc, I was wondering how many folks have tried using the inflatable pfd's during this sweltering summer? If you dump and want the flotation, just pull the tab. If not, you've got your pfd on yet are not wearing insulation you don't need in 90-100 degree temps, and have plenty of freedom of movement. Then you still have the foam pfd for cold weather, when that insulation is appreciated, and it hasn't suffered through a blazing summer of uv sun damage. Seems like the best of all worlds. Regards, Leander leander_at_worldnet.att.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Sun, 8 Aug 1999 leander_at_worldnet.att.net wrote: > With all this talk of pfd's and concern for hyperthermia and wet/dry > suits, etc, I was wondering how many folks have tried using the > inflatable pfd's during this sweltering summer? I thought it was a good idea, too, but then the only one I saw was dark blue. Do they exist in white or yellow? e *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The inflatable PFD's are only blue until they are inflated, then the yellow portion is exposed. They come in "auto-inflation" when wet and manual which seems to work better for kayaks, as we frequently get wet. I sometimes wear mine, in the appropriate conditions, but they are potentially useless if wearer is hit by lightning. I didn't think of that negative feature when I bought it, however I find it very comfortable and nice to wear on watch in the middle of the night on a sailboat. Pat --- Elaine Harmon <eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu> wrote: > On Sun, 8 Aug 1999 leander_at_worldnet.att.net wrote: > > > With all this talk of pfd's and concern for > hyperthermia and wet/dry > > suits, etc, I was wondering how many folks have > tried using the > > inflatable pfd's during this sweltering summer? > > I thought it was a good idea, too, but then the only > one I saw was dark > blue. Do they exist in white or yellow? e > > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: > paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** > Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Pat Moss wrote: >The inflatable PFD's are only blue until they are inflated, then the yellow portion is exposed. They come in "auto-inflation" when wet and manual which seems to work better for kayaks, as we frequently get wet. I sometimes wear mine, in the appropriate conditions, but they are potentially useless if wearer is hit by lightning. I didn't think of that negative feature when I bought it, however I find it very comfortable and nice to wear on watch in the middle of the night on a sailboat.< I thought I heard somewhere that these were not Coastguard approved for kayaking. Also, I think they would be easily puntured by oyster, barnacles, etc. thus rendering them useless. Are they multi-chambered? That would help. Cheers, Dave Dave Williams paddler_at_loxinfo.co.th http://paddleasia.com Phuket, Thailand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, 10 Aug 1999, Dave Williams wrote: > Pat Moss wrote: > > >The inflatable PFD's are only blue until they are inflated, then the yellow > portion is exposed. They come in "auto-inflation" when wet and manual which > seems to work better for kayaks, as we frequently get wet. I sometimes wear > mine, in the appropriate conditions, but they are potentially useless if > wearer is hit by lightning. (Dave:) > Also, I think they would be easily puntured by oyster, barnacles, etc. thus > rendering them useless. Are they multi-chambered? That would help. Re the color, since my concern right now is heat reflection, the yellow when inflated doesn't help. Of course you're more visible in the water - good. Lightning? I try to stay out of it, and don't go that far offshore in Fla. Very rare in the Hebrides. Re puncture, that too is only likely to occur when it's inflated, which should be almost never, and only in deep water. So in sum, I still think I might get one if it's light colored as worn, and if I paddle much in sunny climes in future. Which doesn't seem likely, but who knows? (Also an inflatable would be better to travel with.) e Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave Williams wrote: > Pat Moss wrote: > > >The inflatable PFD's are only blue until they are inflated, then the yellow > > I thought I heard somewhere that these were not Coastguard approved for > kayaking. I don't know about the US or any other jurisdiction, but they have been approved for use in Canada. But only the Canadian approved ones. The US approved aren't legal in Canada (though the Coast Guard usually will accept a US approved in preference to none at all). If you're visiting from the US, they are legal if approved in the US. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>I thought I heard somewhere that these were not Coastguard approved for >kayaking. USCG Type Approves different PFDs in different categories. It does not explicitly limit useage to any particular kind of vessel. So far as I can tell, kayaks or canoes are of no importance to them. Individual states tend to accept the USCG recommendations at face value. A few, such as PA now allow inflatable pfds for such uses as waterskiing. > >Also, I think they would be easily puntured by oyster, barnacles, etc. thus >rendering them useless. Are they multi-chambered? That would help. That's one of my great concerns about them. Add also sharp rocks and logs in fast-moving water. Then how about a dud co2 charge? USCG considerations are predicated on the user being on something like a cabin cruiser or larger sailboat. Their regulations state that a pfd must be accessible within 30 seconds. --Not worn, just nearby. This is unrealistic for a smaller boat such as a kayak. I suspect that the USCG mindset is for deeper water as well, where oysters won't be (barnacles on the hull, maybe). *************************************************************************** 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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