Re: [Paddlewise] What's in the PFD?

Rob,
I like your list. I have a watch-styled compass I wear instead of another PFD
item. Other than that, many of the items you carry on your PFD would render my
inflatable vest too bulky/heavy, defeating the purpose. I do carry most of the
items you carry that are not on my own PFD, but keep them in the foredeck's
"daylocker."  I do have a flare pocket on my drysuit I use for extra flares.
If I only had my bare PFD (no SeaSeat), paddling attire, and say the PFD was
under my bungee cords and had nothing else other than body, boat and blade
(and skirt), I'd still pursue the sport and specifically the kind of waters I
enjoy. For surf kayaking, I usually wear my old PFD with a Sea Seat in the
back pocket, and that's it.

Your inclusion of accessible water, relatively hands free, for deteriorating
conditions is not something to overlook (mines in a net bag on the back deck
with a flow tube/bite valve to me).

I guess when it comes to PFD pockets, it's a llitle like "build it and they
will come." Or in this case, give 'em pockets, and they will fill them. That's
okay though - at least you are thinking about the other guy as well as
yourself, with your PFD carried items.

You had said (snip list):

Guiding philosophy: things to communicate, fix folks, boats or stuff on the
body.
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