[Paddlewise] PFD questions

Nick wrote;


> This example is not as simple as it seems.

Didn't think it was. :-)

> Board surfers use the ability to duck under waves to deal with the  surf 
> more safely. By their estimation the ability to dive underwater  provides 
> more safety than the ability to stay afloat. Boat surfers do  not have 
> this option. Since they are locked into a high buoyancy  boat, they can 
> not dive underwater with or without a pfd. When a boat  surfer does become 
> separated from their boat, it is often after being  harshly worked by the 
> waves. Because they are locked into the boat,  boat surfers are more 
> likely to get heavily trashed by the waves than  board surfers. After 
> being worked over, they are much more likely to  need the assistance of a 
> PFD than a board surfer. In their  estimation, the buoyancy of the PFD 
> provides more safety than the  ability to dive underwater after being 
> forcibly removed from their boat.

Really good point. What about surf kayaks. Looks like a lot of them are 
Sot's with quick release thigh straps. Maybe this is a question of using the 
wrong kind of gear and trying to make the best of it.

Of course, it leaves the question of, would it be OK for a swimmer to not 
have a PFD if he were just swimming along and not surfing and, would it be 
OK for the surf kayaker to not have PFD if he wasn't surfing. In other 
words, is it only this specific instance when the PFD is essential to 
safety?

Cheers

John Winters 
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