Re: [Paddlewise] Helmet Stowage/PFD

    So what you're saying is that always wearing your pfd is simply a =
matter of convenience?
    Well, no. Convenience is part of it. I actually meant this as a real =
question to you. If you concede that a PFD is useful sometimes, and you =
want to have it available at those times, but take it off at other =
times, where the hell does the thing go? Paul Caffyn, when he paddled =
around Australia, seemed to have kept his PFD in a large net deck bag =
for a lot of the time.
    I wear mine always, as it happens. It's a habit, like putting on the =
seatbelt before I drive off.
    I've just read "Extreme Sea Kayaking" by Eric Soares and Michael =
Powers. One of the authors, I forget which, agrees with you, on the =
basis that a PFD might prevent swimming under waves in large surf. I =
think Matt Broze got it right here, saying that it's easier to take the =
PFD off in the water, than to put it on.=20
    When would you take it off? Some extreme situations may require it, =
but I think I'd rather keep mine on and body surf than take it off and =
dive.

    My beef is with these people who say "if you don't wear your pfd =
then you can't paddle with me."
    I've never had the problem, as everyone here just wears them. I =
think it's important on club paddles when inexperienced people turn up, =
to make an unarguable rule. Whether very skilled, experienced paddlers =
in extreme situations might prefer no PFD has nothing to do with the =
average punter.

    Whether or not I wear my pfd should be MY CHOICE! Not yours.=20
    Maybe, just as it's my choice if I paddle with you or not. If I =
perceive that you'll be more difficult to rescue, or your attitude to =
safety is to drown while arguing that this can't be happening to you, I =
might freely choose not to be there. If I thought that you were highly =
skilled and the conditions were tame enough, I probably would paddle =
with you, as long as you didn't start this debate.=20

    If you could show me that wearing a pfd has a significant impact in =
a sea kayakers safety then I would be more then willing to reconsider my =
position here.=20
    Just from rescue practicing, "Hand of God" rescues are done by =
grabbing the paddler's PFD shoulder strap. Re-entering a boat in an =
assisted rescue seems to be easier when floating higher. Re-enter and =
roll likewise. The floatation of the buoyancy vest is probably assisting =
in rolling. You last longer in the water with less energy expended if =
the PFD helps you float. Overall, I think the PFD makes me safer, even =
leaving aside long swims and cold water. If you could show me that the =
precaution of wearing a PFD is unnecessary, I would also be prepared to =
reconsider whether I wear one. And the pockets! Where else would I put =
Mars Bar wrappers?

    PT, Melbourne, Oz.



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