[Paddlewise] (Paddlewise) Spray Skirts/PFD's/Dry Tops

The recent issue of Canoe & Kayak has reviews of a half-dozen spray skirts and
as I looked at the accompanying pictures of paddlers in their kayaks, I noted
that none of the paddlers were wearing PFD's   I am assuming that was because
the pictures were posed and intended to show the whole spray skirt, including
the features of the tunnels.  The paddlers dry tops were all worn inside the
tunnels of the spray skirt, I assume for the same reason, however, that
brought some questions to my mind.

My first instructions in what to wear, and how to wear it, while  kayaking
were to don the spray skirt first, then the dry top with its tight waistband
down over the skirt's tunnel, and then the PFD on top.  This  manner of
wearing these has always shed spray and splash and rain very nicely and kept
me dry inside.

On a recent tour I was chastised by a professional guide for wearing my PFD
over the spray skirt and instructed to put on the PFD first and pull the
tunnel of the skirt up outside of it.  We were paddling on very calm water on
a warm day, so in order to keep peace (and with very skeptical second
thoughts),  I did so, though the pockets in my PFD were covered up.

So, my sea kayak paddling  Paddlewise colleagues,  how do you wear these
items?  What do you put on first, second, and third?

Ol' Dave
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