PaddleWise by thread

From: <AgentOrange05_at_aol.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] PFD
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 14:43:24 EDT
Ive been using this water-skiing PFD for the summer and although not 
uncomfortable, it slides up and down which gets annoying.  Can you recommend 
a good PFD with flotation for a big guy like me.  Im 5'11 225 pounds.  I had 
looked at the lotus Rio Grande when I purchased my kayak, but didn't have 
enough $$ to finance it at the time.  Can anyone of my size tell me what they 
have?  Also, how many pounds of flotation is needed to keep me floating?  I 
used to be a beach lifeguard for my junior and senior year of high school, 
but I realize that when I need my PFD it will most likely be in a rough area 
where my swimming ability will not help such as me banging my head and 
knocking me out.  

Thanks for your time,
Tom
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************
From: Wes Boyd <boydwe_at_dmci.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] PFD
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 16:15:52
At 02:43 PM 7/29/02 EDT, AgentOrange05_at_aol.com wrote:
>Ive been using this water-skiing PFD for the summer and although not 
>uncomfortable, it slides up and down which gets annoying.  Can you recommend 
>a good PFD with flotation for a big guy like me.  Im 5'11 225 pounds.  I had 
>looked at the lotus Rio Grande when I purchased my kayak, but didn't have 
>enough $$ to finance it at the time.  Can anyone of my size tell me what
they 
>have? 

I'm 6'0", 300 lb. Although I can find people that will find fault with my
decision, I've taken to using a Sospenders inflatable. When inflated, it
turns into a type II, and will keep your head out of water, which the type
IIIs won't do. It also has 22 lb flotation instead of the 15 lb. of the
type IIIs.

You might be interested in the article, PFD's for big guys, on my website
listed below. 

-- 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/
***************************************************************************

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:30 PDT