Re: [Paddlewise] PFD questions

> 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 

For the swimmer, assuming he's there voluntarily, the PFD would most 
likely be more of a hindrance than a help. He entered the water in 
the knowledge that he was going to sink or swim by his own efforts 
alone. While the possibility of injury while swimming along is not 
completely impossible, it is much less likely than might happened to 
a kayaker who gets dumped.

For the kayaker, the PFD really shouldn't be much of a hindrance, 
regardless of what he's doing or where in the world he's doing it.

Add to that the fact that -- in my observations, limited as they may 
be -- most kayakers who swim do not do so voluntarily. Some, like 
myself, may not be strong swimmers to start with. Factor in the 
possibility of injury during the process that resulted in them 
swimming, or in the process of trying to regain their boat, and I 
can't think of any good reason *not* to have a PFD on (or *very* 
handy).

Should the kayaker be confident in his swimming ability, and should 
the air and water conditions be such that he feels the risk is 
minimal, I would be the last to want to mandate PFD use. But too many 
of us are prone to over-estimate our abilities and under-estimate the 
conditions. And even those whose powers of estimation are good, do 
they account for the unforseen?

-- 
  Darryl
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