Re: [Paddlewise] What type of PFD-options

From: John Kirk-Anderson <jka_at_netaccess.co.nz>
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 07:38:53 +1200
on 20/3/07 14:04, John Horrell at seajohnkayak_at_yahoo.com wrote:

. Except the sailing is
> self-inflating and the kayak style is manual inflating.

Last year I was coaching a paddler who wore an inflatable PFD. She told me
it was self-inflating, a claim I, being the all-knowing instructor,
corrected, pointing out that those used for paddling had a manual inflating
tab.

She had been paddling for several years, but had never capsized or done a
wet exit, something she wanted to try. I stood alongside for support as she
took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and gently capsized.

Suddenly there was a great flurry under the water as her, indeed
self-inflating, PFD roared into life, after waiting dormant all these years.

Far from it being a smooth wet exit it became a panicked struggle, as she
was hauled to the surface, twisted half out of the cockpit.

I learnt a couple of lessons that day.

Learning to listen was one of them.

Cheers

JKA
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Received on Tue Mar 20 2007 - 12:39:08 PDT

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