Re: [Paddlewise] Now Over or Under PFD

Melissa Reese wrote:

[snip]
> Frankly, wearing the skirt tunnel over a PFD makes no real sense to
> me at all.  I can think of many reasons to wear the tunnel under the
> drytop, PFD, etc.  Since using a sprayskirt has much to do with
> keeping water out of the boat, wearing a tunnel on the outside seems
> particularly counter-intuitive and awkward.
> 
> I would be interested to hear an explanation of why anyone would do
> otherwise.

As a reformed tunnel-outside paddler, perhaps I can tell of my now-abandoned
evil ways:

The tunnel-outside crowd is seeking maximum ventilation, and is paddling in
waters where only a little slop on the deck is likely.

I quit a few years ago, and will not go back.  I agree tunnel inside is
better.  If conditions are so mellow I do not need a sprayskirt, I either leave
it off entirely or just loosen it from the coaming.  And, yeah, I know the
former can lead to problems if the water gets rough unexpectedly.  Gotta get my
thrills somehow!  <g>

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

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