Re: [Paddlewise] How Would You: Change to. . . .PFD

KiAyker_at_aol.com [Scott] wrote:
> 
> [snip] I
> will give you a couple of typical scenarios where I chose not to wear my pfd.
>    I grew up body surfing the waves of Southern California. I am quite
> skilled and comfortable swimming in large waves. I am now an avid kayak
> surfer. Now please understand that I never come out of my boat. But in the
> event that I did end up swimming in large surf I would feel MUCH safer
> without a pfd on. The pfd would impede my ability to dive under said waves
> leaving me at the mercy of the nastiness on top. Please understand that this
> applies to me. Certainly someone who does not have any experience swimming in
> surf should probably be wearing a pfd.

Sigh.  We have indeed been through this before.  Scott and I both feel that an
**experienced** body surfer/surf swimmer is impeded by a PFD, and for the
reason he states succinctly above.  (For the record, my times as a body surfer
date back to the '50's and ended in the late '60's, while Scott is still doin'
it!)  I suspect that unless a person has considerable experience in surf, our
conclusion seems nutsoid.

I suggest that before anybody rails against Scott's assertion that a PFD in
surf is a liability for an experienced surfer, they *do* a few tens of hours of
swimming in 6-8 foot surf (even 4-foot surf can thrash you, but 6-8 foot stuff
"teaches" you what to do faster <g>).

It might be useful for us to find out what the bulk of kayak surfers wear:  PFD
or no PFD.  How many folks on this list surf 4-8 foot waves in their kayaks?  I
bet not too many.

Note:  1. I am *not* claiming that a PFD should be avoided in WW.  I have no
experience as a WW kayaker or WW swimmer.  2. In all of the sea kayaking I do,
I *always* wear the PFD.  I do not kayak in surf.  Too old and treacherous.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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