I raised this very same point about using a paddle float or any rescue stuff for anything but its intended purpose, i.e. safety. Looking back at my statement about this plus my suggestions about using a paddle float for a whole lot of other purposes, I think it is best to remove vital safety devices from gear serving double or triple duty. A related issue, sitting on your PFD. While innocuous enough, sitting on one will eventually break down the foam and lead to an early demise in the vital flotation. Also wear and tear on the nylon or cordura covering material. Rock climbers carefully take care of their climbing ropes. They don't use them to play tug-of-war, tie down ladders to their car roofs etc. We should be doing the same with PFDs and paddle floats and tow ropes, among other things. For example, I have a set of lights that I have with me for night paddling. I tend not to count them in the inventory of camping lights, i.e. I have sets for both. Of course, if need a light for seeing something and don't have another light around, I will use one of the ones from my kayaking lighting system. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Aug 15 2000 - 10:14:12 PDT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:30 PDT