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

Just to add some fuel to the burgeoning flames..

There is an article by Eric Soares (Tsunami Rangers) on this exact
subject:
http://www.watertribe.com/Magazine/July2000/July00Soares.asp

In it he outlines several situations where a pfd may be a hindrance.
The main argument seems to be that pfds impede your ability and speed
of swimming.  The first rule from the article is: this is only an
option if you are a *good* swimmer.

While I still wear my pfd for surf kayaking, I'm beginning to question 
the value of it.  As it stands, my roll is good enough that its not
really an issue.  OTOH, if I were to wet exit (hey, it could happen 8) 
the level of bouyancy it provides could be an impediment to swimming
my (WW) kayak back to shore.

This is either an argument for no pfd or for a lower bouyancy pfd, I'm 
not sure which.

I've also wondered about wearing a pfd in very calm flatwater,
especially when the shore is so close.

OB disclaimer: Obviously the general rule is 'when in doubt, wear it'.

For the record, I've been *very* grateful for my pfd when wet exiting
in rapids.  I learned first hand that a pfd makes for a good cushion
when slam dancing with rocks.

To skip around this topic a bit - I'm also thinking about the canoe
team that capsized and the two who swam to shore drowned, while the
ones who stayed with the boat survived.  I'm forgetting now, did the
two who swam don pfd's?  In any case, my suspicion is that in cold
water, swimming itself can assist the process of hypothermia as you
shed your radiated heat into the passing water.  Given this its a real
close judement call of whether you can make it to shore in time before
hypothermia gets critical (and thus the question of keeping the pfd
becomes relevant).  If your close enough, but the pfd would slow you
down (and lets assume that you are sans boat as well) then loosing the
pfd may be your best option.

Anecdotally, I've also heard of another situation for loosing (as
opposed to not wearing) your pfd.  In river running there are some
holes that are 'keepers'.  If you've wet exited in the hole and the
hole keeps recirculating you no matter what you do, one option is to
lose the pfd and swim *under* the recirculating water.

[By the Bye: I see that this topic has been debated before, but
speaking for those of us who joined up in the last year, we'd love to
hear the summary &/or new information.  Then again, I may be speaking
for just myself 8]


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snark_at_tulgey.org     aka Glen Acord	  http://www.tulgey.org/~snark
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