Dave wrote; >John, as you well know, it depends. Actually I don't know. Chuck Sutherland (and others on Paddlewise) has forgtten more about paddling and kayaks than I will ever know. So if he says I should wear my PFD all the time then maybe I should. Of course, Scott and you have forgotten mor than I will ever know and you suggest something else. That is why I asked the question(s). The "answers" have not helped much. On the one hand it seems we should all be allowed to use our heads for better or worse. On the other hand it seems we should all do what makes other people comfortable. What a bummer. I talked with Dr Inverbon and he provided some insight into the PFD-on-the-deck thing. He said this originated with the Labrador Inuit who built boats with long overhanging bows. These long over hanging bows tended to ride high when they were traveling via crotch dirigible to Colombia to pick up cocaine and this caused directional control problems making the round trip so long in duration that they were cut out of the business by short bowed King Islanders who could make two trips in the same amount of time. Rather than re-design their boats they strapped seal bladders on the aft deck to raise the stern. This worked but the King Islanders had entrenhed themselves solidly and the Labrador Inuit remained small players in the Arctic snow trade. Of courtse, now cocaine is flown in by missionaries at lower cost and tehInuit have been cut out completely. So, all of these things have their roots in Inuit culture. Tradition is a rigid taskmaster. Cheers John Winters *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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