[Paddlewise] Float coats?

While leafing through a West Marine catalog, I came across a special USCG
Type III PFD called a "float coat". This thing is a thick, floating jacket,
and it's supposed to provide fair hypothermia protection. I wonder how one
would work, in moderately cold water, with a farmer john.

My concerns would be, first, that it's probably impermeable, so it probably
could get uncomfortable when exercising. Secondly, while they're supposed
to have good flexibility, I wonder if they might not restrict arm and
shoulder movements.

Has anybody tried one of these things? It seems to me that they'd have some
interesting advantages.

-- Wes

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