[Paddlewise] Safety gear on PFD's - will it work when needed.

Jolie Smilowicz wrote
>I am looking for a new PFD with LOTS of pockets on the front, where they
are
>easily accessible.  This would be for use in sea kayaking  only.

John Fereeira wrote
>*** a couple of years ago at a symposium I attended a "signaling devices"
>session and the question was asked if anyone had ever actually had the PFD
>examined while on the water.  There were about 40 people in the room, and I
>don't think *anyone* had ever been checked.


G'Day,

In the words of Gollum "What has it got in its pocketses". Strobes -
EPIRB's - Flares?

Occasionally there are comments to the effect that if safety gear is not on
a PFD then it might as well not be carried. That may be ideal but........

John's account of testing PFD's on the water applies even more cogently to
the rescue gear carried on the PFD. I've watched numerous night navigation
lamps fail, sometimes due to water penetration and sometimes due to lamp
failure. Then far worse two emergency strobe lights from different
manufacturers fail and one of the salesmen tells me that they are water
resistant not water proof - tell that to the poor soul in the water relying
on it! Then I learn that the self test facility in some EPIRB's does not
cover aerial connections, which might corrode, rendering the concept of self
test almost meaningless (Peter Rattenbury has an interesting story in this
regard). And how good is the packaging for flares after exposure to months
of high humidity, rolling and surf in a PFD!

I've concluded that safety gear carried by yachts and sold by Chandlers is
nothing like rugged enough for kayakers, who subject their equipment to much
harsher environments in terms of water pressure, shock, humidity and
temperature.

Can anyone tell me where reliable safety equipment for sea kayakers can be
bought that is suitable for carrying on a PFD? Or is the only safe approach
to design and build the gear oneself or carry the gear in hermetic bags in
the day hatch?

All the best, PeterO

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