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

On 3/20/07, kiayker <kiayker_at_sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> >>I know it is much safer to have the PFD on at all
> times but as my skill level increases and as air temps seem to be going
> higher and higher, it's just more comfortable to stow the PFD in certain
> conditions.
>
>    Whoa there Mike! Your perilously close to committing blasphemy on this
> list!


I recognized the sarcasm <grin> but the key phrase is "in certain
conditions" which I happen to think is reasonable. I suspect you do too.

This is the crux of the issue, I think. Everyone has his-or-her idea of what
conditions warrant which reaction. The USCG mandates that a PFD be carried
but not worn except on children. Some states seem interested in adding to
that for their own reasons. Absent a method of quantifying judgement, the
easy way (the "paper solution") is just to mandate PFD wear for everyone all
the time.

Is this where we're headed? I really hope not. Wearing a PFD while paddling
Puget Sound (where the air temperature rarely exceeds 65F) is one thing;
wearing it while paddling the water off Corpus Christi, TX is quite another.
The second instance might actually be life-threatening.

Since we are never going to get 100% smart paddlers are we doomed to an
ever-increasing load of legislation just to stop one or two (or six) bozos
from killing themselves? All because politicians want to be seen "doing
something" about the "problem"?

The proliferation of kayak-fishermen is going to raise the bar dramatically
on these issues, I think. The kayaks are much more stable than what most of
us paddle but the skill level is dramatically lower. And the programs on
cable featuring kayak-fishing often show the participants paddling around
reefs and near serious surge while they lay their paddles down and
concentrate on reeling in dinner. This can be scary stuff.

Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************