Re: [Paddlewise] PFD questions

John Winters wrote:

> 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?

John, as you well know, it depends.  What follows is restricted to "warm" 
water, in which hypothermia is a very remote hazard.

In my misspent youth, my friends and I did quite a bit of "offshore" 
swimming [to the kelp beds about a mile plus offshore my home beach in 
Southern California] almost all of it using swim fins, a mask, and a 
snorkel.  But, no PFD.  A PFD, in fact, would have been a hindrance, 
impeding our ability to swim, wearing us out, no doubt _increasing_ our 
risk of fatigue, and therefore increasing our risk.

However, we always towed along (or, one of us paddled out) a surf mat, to 
rest on.  The surf mat gave us a platform needed for hauling gear, also. 
And, some measure of backup in the event one of us cramped up or became 
disabled.  So, John, I'd say that the swimmer might need some sort of 
bailout system, depending on where he/she is swimming, and the same goes 
for a paddler.  Either, if faced with a long, demanding swim to reach 
safety, might need some sort of flotation support as backup.  Otherwise, it 
is do or die.

Getting back to swimming on warm water: did we feel we needed a surf mat 
while swimming just outside the breakers?  No way.  And, no way did we need 
a PFD.  Why?  Because we had a high degree of confidence in our ability to 
get to shore safely, through surf.  Like Nick says, experienced surfers 
scorn PFD's when surfing (body or board), because they dodge the effects of 
breaking waves by heading for the bottom, popping back up between waves to 
breathe.  In fact, a PFD would be hazardous for a body surfer or board 
surfer ... the flotation exposing the surfer to maytagging in breaking 
waves.  [Been there; done that.]

These experiences are the basis for my resistance to laws mandating PFD use 
for all boaters, despite the fact that on cold water, when paddling a sea 
kayak, I _always_ wear one (I don't surf my kayak in larger waves).  The 
legal system has no business messing with the habits of surfers and 
paddlers who know what they are doing.  Children, OK.  Adults, no.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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