Andy, 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 ...., he can't, and always comments about how hot it is. Ron in MN *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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 __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day http://shopping.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I put a whistle on my kids PFD zipper. I noticed over the summer that their PFD would unzip a few inches over the course of the day. I removed the whistles and put them on a different part of the PFD. No more unzipping. I removed mine from the zipper of my PFD (Lola LOcean) after it caught for a few seconds during rescue practice. Now it is tied into a pocket. Jim et al ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shawn Baker" <shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com> > 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. *************************************************************************** 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 09:16 AM 2/18/03 -0800, Shawn Baker wrote: >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. I've even had some nose plugs attached to the zipper unzip my PFD during a reentry. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
My Lotus Strait Jacket has an elastic thingey that the zipper tucks into when it's zipped up to keep it from catching on anything. A pocket has a loop INSIDE it to tie a whistle lanyard to. That way there's no whistle-line floating around until you're ready to use it. It's been my experience that ANY line, rope or lanyard floating loose will, while submerged, find something to wrap around, guaranteed! Having been upside down, under water and unwrapping the pump from my ankle I had tied into my boat before I could get all the way out I discovered my great idea of securing the pump wasn't so great after all. The strength of the smallest nylon lanyard is amazing. I'd humbly suggest one should check every line that could possibly wrap around something while turning upside down under water. I'd rather loose the whistle than get drowned by it. Paddle lots, but be among the first to chicken out and live long Bob *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> I put a whistle on my kids PFD zipper. I noticed over the summer that their > PFD would unzip a few inches over the course of the day. I removed the > whistles and put them on a different part of the PFD. No more unzipping. I > removed mine from the zipper of my PFD (Lola LOcean) after it caught for a > few seconds during rescue practice. Now it is tied into a pocket. We were rafting in some big water and one of the rafts flipped. When we rounded everyone up we noticed one women's lifejacket was unzipped to her waist; the jacket was held on by the clip at her waist. It was the last time any of us put a whistle on our zipper. I put it on a tab just below my shoulder. I do like whistles especially in white water we had several flips on my trips the Grand Canyon and the boats ahead were alerted by the whistle. I have used them many times to warn of boating trouble. -- MZ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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