<< ... Makes me wonder whether a practical pfd could be made that would keep one from going under or bring one up to the top ... << I think it's easier, safer, and better in the long-term to *GET* a bombproof roll, or as near to one as possible. ... Ralph Hoehn here AGAIN on the subject with a little clarification. Firstly, I agree fully that continual practice towards achieving the ideal of a "bomb-proof" roll is no less than proper and responsible behavior on the part of any paddler. Hey, I'm the guy who practices and advocates practicing rolling in folding kayaks even and that over howls of protest here on Paddlewise recently (and somewhat less noisily on a German discussion forum)! I previously mentioned the "stand-up" PFD used by white water paddlers in the early part of the 20 century. The guy who invented it actually was a highly accomplished and respected paddler, one of the first that could boast a "bomb-proof" roll in a folding kayak in white water (Hans von Alber), a roll which saved his skin on numerous occasions and probably his life on a few more. I believe that his main concern was not that he could not rely on his "bomb-proof" roll under normal circumstances, but rather two-fold: 1 - Running white water presents the inherent risk of encountering rocks in shallow, fast moving water. Even a helmet cannot always totally prevent the potentially negative consequences of such an encounter. Back then they did not have the marvelous materials that make helmets for white water kayakers today so easily feasible. (I've been known to use a highly buoyant bicycle helmet in surf myself. :-) 2 - Even an accomplished practitioner of something close to a "bomb-proof" roll must be conscious to perform one and is that much less likely to be able to do so if his (or her) abilities are impaired by some other incident prior to needing to rely on one. Once this point is reached, it is certainly more likely that a stricken paddler will survive if he is floating on his side rather than hanging upside down waiting for death by drowning or mutilation by impact. It is a useful human trait to search for useful devices to help us survive and prosper. Without the device of the kayak itself, certain peoples would have found themselves swimming after seals, whales, seaotters ... The concept of the "stand-up" PFD has been tried, was successfully used by people like Ernst Kauefer and Ernst Becher (mostly long forgotten of course, but important pioneers of kayak-based exploration of the Scandinavian countries in their day), but has disappeared again. Perhaps there's a good reason for that! Ralph C. Hoehn Ralph_at_PouchBoats.com www.PouchBoats.com *************************************************************************** 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 Thu Oct 05 2000 - 12:04:41 PDT
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