Now that I have a high-performance non- breathable drysuit on order, I thought it might be time to switch to a new PFD. Stolquist has a nice unit that looks like it would interfere less with paddling, but we don't have any to view here in Victoria. I was thinking about the drysuit, and that it will be hotter inside than a Goretex one, plus I remember last summer how hot I got in my PFD and t-shirt. So...I went and bought an Mustang AirForce Manual Inflatable PFD. View at: <http://www.landfallnavigation.com/pfdkits.html> It is a radical departure for me. I believe we have discussed them before on PW (the dangers of drowning because you can't inflate them unconscious, etc.). But I really like the idea of the freedom of movement I'll have with the new articulated drysuit under this new minimalist PFD, along with the "cooler" design, low weight, and incredible buoyancy (35lbs) if I do need it. Also, I've had to call trips off part way through, or at least not reached destinations due to chaffing and attendant pain due to the thicker PFD's rubbing against the drytop. Now I'll duck under waves easier, swim easier, etc. I'll still have my old Lotus if I need it. I'll have to rethink how to carry emergency supplies, my Sea Seat, etc., etc., towline, and personal tether. Man, I feel lighter already though. Doug *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 10:48 PM 3/5/02 -0800, Doug Lloyd wrote: >. . . So...I went and bought an >Mustang AirForce Manual Inflatable PFD. View at: > ><http://www.landfallnavigation.com/pfdkits.html> > >It is a radical departure for me. I believe we have discussed them >before on PW (the dangers of drowning because you can't inflate them >unconscious, etc.). But I really like the idea of the freedom of >movement I'll have with the new articulated drysuit under this new >minimalist PFD, along with the "cooler" design, low weight, and >incredible buoyancy (35lbs) if I do need it. Good move. Inflatables are controversial -- but I made the switch a couple years ago and for most circumstances would not switch back now, although if I were doing whitewater I might rethink that position. I made the switch partly because inflatables are much cooler and more comfortable to wear in warm conditions than wearing an inch or more of insulating foam over the majority of the upper body. In addition, the Type III vest that most kayakers use will not turn a wearer upright or hold the head out of the water, where is an inflated inflatable for practical purposes turns into a Type II, and will keep the head out of the water. Most importantly -- for people my size, most Type III vests just don't work well. Most Type III vests depend being tight around the waist to keep the wearer from sliding down in the vest. This works fine if your waist is smaller than your chest, but in my case, and many others my waist is larger than my chest. Unless the waist is so sung as to prevent sitting comfortably, the PFD will ride up to the point where you're being held up by your armpits -- which may keep you afloat but is difficult to do self-rescues or much of anything else. Because of their horsecollar type II shape when inflated, an inflatable being snug around the waist is not anywhere as much an issue. Type III inflatables with manual activation have been USCG approved for a number of years, now. Automatic activation PFDs are not USCG approved, and most of us wouldn't want one anyway. The downside of most inflatables is lack of pockets, and places to clip gear. If you really have to carry stuff on your person, I suggest a fanny pack, perhaps riding high and in front. -- Wes --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wes Boyd's Kayak Place http://www2.dmci.net/wesboyd/kayak.htm Kayaks for Big Guys (And Gals) | Trip Reports | Places To Go | Boats & Gear --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Doug wrote: > So...I went and bought an > Mustang AirForce Manual Inflatable PFD. > > But I really like the idea of the freedom of > movement I'll have with the new articulated drysuit under this new > minimalist PFD, along with the "cooler" design, low weight, and > incredible buoyancy (35lbs) if I do need it. I have reservations about the suitability of this PFD to sea kayaking, but not because it is an inflatable. NZ standards specify minimum buoyancy ratings for a range of PFDs. Adult values start with a buoyancy vest at 53 Newtons (12lb), then progress through sheltered water lifejacket at 71N (16lb) to coastal lifejacket at 100N (22.5lb), and finally to the shipping regulation lifejacket at 155N (35lb). Presumably the US and Canada have something similar. Along with most kayakers and centreboard yachties, I wear a 12lb buoyancy vest. In the years when I had to earn a living doing hydrological survey work, there were problems working in small craft with restrictive conventional PFDs, so eventually we bought inflatable ones to the sheltered water standard (16lb). A neighbouring team also bought inflatables, but to the 22.5lb coastal standard. When we met up for a series of water safety exercises, we tried swimming out about 25 metres from shore, inflating the PFDs and swimming back to shore. With the 16lb models this was not a problem, the most stable position was lying on your back, but it was possible to roll over and swim conventionally. The 22.5lb PFDs were much more insistent about rolling you face up, and restricted arm movement. It was difficult to turn back over and swim. So I wonder about what happens with your 35lb PFD if you exit your kayak and set it off. Will you have the freedom of movement necessary for re-entry, or are you going to wind up lying on your back unable to turn over or do anything else very constructive? (Kiwis, of course, being naturally full of hot air, need less buoyancy) Allan Singleton *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:28 PDT