Re: [Paddlewise] PFD Zippers

From: Shawn Baker <shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 09:16:54 -0800 (PST)
KiAyker_at_aol.com wrote:
>I have often seen the zipper on front zip pfd's come undone while 
>the wearer was performing a rescue...

I've heard of whistles being attached to the zipper pull on a PFD
causing the zipper to unzip in the surf zone.  Having a whistle, or any
sort of "grabber" on your pull would probably be a problem in rescues
as well.

The newer Lotus Lola's have an elastic band at the top of the zipper to
tuck the pull into, thereby preventing unzipping.

"Ron Dunnington" <rbdunningtons1_at_charter.net> wrote:
>I have a front zip style and my buddy has a side zip. In very hot 
>weather I can un-zip mine and let some air come in the front ...

Only some Kokatat PFD's are USCG approved for use with the front zip
unzipped (they have a redundant side-release buckle inside the front
zipper flap).  If your zipper is unzipped and you take a swim, can you
zip it while swimming to keep the PFD from floating over your head? 
It's worth checking out...if you can't easily re-zip it, it's worth
considering always keeping the thing zipped.

Shawn

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Received on Tue Feb 18 2003 - 09:16:58 PST

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