RE: [Paddlewise] Freezeup Questions

> > Most people I know that are paddling in extremely
> > cold water, use a solid
> > paddlefloat. I understand that it is very difficult
> > to seal your lips around
> > the valve when it is freezing outside.
> 
> My understanding with the foam style is that they
> don't have nearly the same boyancy as the inflatable
> variey.  If you need a paddlefloat during winter
> conditions, you are in danger.  It seems to me that
> you are going to want all the boyancy you can get. 
> Thoughts?
> 
> Derek

There are various sizes that the foam floats come in. If you're 
worried about buoyancy I'd say get the largest you can find. But a 
test in warm water would be called for, I think.

And less buoyancy is OK as long as there is *enough* buoyancy. <grin> 
I guess that would depend on your skill level.

The inflatables take longer to get into "working" condition. Several 
people have mentioned that it is difficult to control your breathing 
and to get a good seal on the inflation tube with your lips when you 
are in freezing water. So even if you can get the float inflated, 
it's still going to take several seconds longer to get the float 
ready. I've been in really cold water, once, and if it happens again, 
I want out of the water RIGHT NOW. I don't want to be wasting time 
trying to get an inflatable float ready for service.

Then there's the danger of the plastic splitting or cracking in the 
cold. An inflatable with a leak is of no use at all.

-- 
  Darryl
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