JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com wrote: > It's not the addition of retroreflective tape that's likely to violate >the Coast Guard certification of the PFD, Shawn. It's material >modification --- like adding another pocket or something --- that's >going to compromise the manufacturer's certification. I know, Jack, it's the letter of the law that says that you should not materially modify the jacket, whether it be reflective tape, a pocket, or a 50 lb. anvil. Technically, anything you add will compromise the certification. The spirit of the law is keeping PFD's in a serviceable condition to save lives. If I...er..or that guy I know..adds a strip or two of retroreflective tape, and a pocket (PFD came with one, but for argument's sake) to hold flares and a mirror, I'm..um, he..is not breaking the spirit of the law. I'm sure the law has been written this way since life jackets used kapok floatation that was contained in heavy plastic bags. Sewing anything to the jacket would risk puncturing the plastic and reducing the jacket's bouyant properties. This isn't so much the case with PVC and PE foam floatation. I am thinking about adding a small zipper to the top of the mesh panel between the front and back panels of my Lotus Rio Grande, to make a spot to store my space blanket and survival kit. It's not a highly accessible location--I figure I'm not going to need bandaids, matches, and a space blanket if I'm floating around. They might be nice to have if I wash up on shore. Besides, I want to have that stuff with me, and putting it in one of the front pockets already cramped with flares, whistle, mirror, chap stick, spare compass, and sunscreen not only takes up extra room, but I could risk losing something IMPORTANT while I'm digging in there for the chapstick. I realize I'm opening a small can of worms here, but by bending the law, I believe I'm actually being safer than by strictly following the law. >White's brightest --- colors are okay, but not as bright. And it >coordinates and accessorizes so well! And remember to not rely solely on the tape; the person seeing the tape must have a light source fairly near their eyes for the light to be reflected back. Your suggestion for a strobe and mirror is a good one. Shawn -- Shawn W. Baker 0 46°53'N © 1999 ____©/______ 114°06'W ~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\ ,/ /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^ baker_at_montana.com 0 http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Oct 27 1999 - 13:37:47 PDT
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