> PS - I think the overheating effects of a PFD are exaggerated. > I wear a PFD and farmer john in any but _very_ warm water > conditions. Me, too. I've read this whole PFD thing with some interest. Of course, it's as big a debate in the sailing community as it is here. IMO, a PFD is far more essential in a sea kayak than on a sailboat, although I consider it pretty important gear on a sailboat, as well. I *always* wear my PFD kayaking. It has occurred to me that I look pretty silly, launching into a shallow pond to go bird watching wearing my full safety gear setup. I can live with that. OTOH, I have very mixed feelings about people telling me I *have* to wear one, especially other boaters. For some reason, it really bugs me, pisses me off, to have some boater come up to me and sanctimoniously lecture me or "inform" me of the "proper" way to do things. I'm not sure why this is. I'm willing to consider that it may be my own shortcomings that make me feel this way. But my general feeling is that boating is an individual thing, and I resent someone purporting to impose their own personal views on me as to how it should be done. .... On the other other hand. . . I'm not necessarily opposed to regulations requiring the use of PFD's by boaters (even all boaters, maybe especially all boaters). A carefully considered societal determination that a rule is appropriate is different from some individual taking it upon himself to be the self-appointed evangalist of the boating community. . . . It's not really a simple issue. Not at all. Goes to the very heart of our basic political philosophies. Well, anyway, I always wear my PFD while kayaking. Always. Mark *************************************************************************** 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 22 2000 - 18:18:58 PDT
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