[Paddlewise] Always wear a PFD?

I paddle a lot on a shallow, muddy-bottomed river with no rocks. [DesPlaines 
River, Chicago suburbs] I never wear a pfd when I'm doing that.  If 
something knocks me out, not one of the many pfds that I own would float me 
face up anyway, so it's
remain conscious or die.  The river is shallow enough to stand in if, for 
any reason, I'm out of the kayak.

When the river floods and I surf the little wave by the little dam, I wear 
the pfd mostly as a good example, since people often watch, and because 
there is a bit of danger in surfing the flooded river.

I think a good example is really important, but not enough to make me wear a 
pfd on a hot day on a two foot deep river with no rocks and no measurable 
current.

Jim Tibensky

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