In cold water.. most folks do not die directly from hypothermia, they drown. The hypothermia can in short order make swimming pretty difficult however, and also makes it diff to pull your self up on the rocks, etc.. and having a pfd on makes it easier to stay afloat when your swimming and dexterity is less than optimal. Assuming that for some reason you do not get back in the boat for some reason.... keeping the pfd is truly your best chance of survival... under most circumstances. Mike > From: Scott Hilliard <kiayker_at_sbcglobal.net> > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] swim for it? > > >> I would not abandon the PFD; I'd want it for insulation once ashore; > plus it has my E-gear in/on it. > > > That's providing you could even make the swim with the pfd on. > Personally, if I thought a swim was necessary then I'd ditch the pfd. > Oh, wait, that's right, I most likely would not be wearing it in the > first place :-) > > Scott > So.Cal. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Now that I'm (finally) learning how to swim(!), I do find wearing a PFD to be 'slowing.' But also, I of course recognize the need for it when and if you need to rest. Does anyone have any experience swimming while towing a PFD? Its just an odd notion that came to me reading all these posts. It would float very high un-burdened by your body, so could conceivably scoot along the water's surface while you swim. It may be nutty, but it seems a possible compromise between ditching the PFD altogether or trying to swim with one on. Best, Harvey --- Michael Orchard <mspadorchard_at_comcast.net> wrote: > In cold water.. most folks do not die directly from > hypothermia, they drown. > The hypothermia can in short order make swimming > pretty difficult however, > and also makes it diff to pull your self up on the > rocks, etc.. and having a > pfd on makes it easier to stay afloat when your > swimming and dexterity is > less than optimal. > > Assuming that for some reason you do not get back in > the boat for some > reason.... keeping the pfd is truly your best chance > of survival... under > most circumstances. > > Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Swimming with or with out PFD, what about those inflatible PFD's, a bit pricey, but would they be more swim friendly? RE fins, I've seen fins that fit over hands, they could also be valuable if a paddle was broken or lost, and wouldn't have the issue of fitting over bulky footware, as someone mentioned. gee, I learn a lot from ths list, thank you all Mike San Rafael, CA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Mike Euritt wrote: > Swimming with or with out PFD, what about those inflatible PFD's, a bit > pricey, but would they be more swim friendly? No. Worse. They hang off the body and do not conform as well as foam-based PFD's. I think one of the ski vests that is tailored to fit tightly would be the best for swimming, but not sure they are rated Type III. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
--- James Farrelly <JFarrelly5_at_comcast.net> wrote: > Perhaps use the PFD like a belly board to minimize > drag? I may play > with your idea this coming weekend. I suppose-- I had in mind towing it some distance behind one's feet. A belly board is a whole new idea (a better one I think). How well a PFD would work as such I'm not sure. . . sounds like you're about to find out. What about a real belly-board. . . stored beneath the aft deck-lines, as if a life-boat of sorts. I even got to thinking of an aircraft drop-tank shaped pod full of survival gear and a PFD to tow to shore while swimming: The tank would nest on the aft-deck with quick releases. . . . . But then I came to my senses and remembered that I'm probably the least innovative guy in the realm of kayaking ;-) Best, Harvey *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Turns out the news article which has been the basis for this discussion did not go into much detail. It is worth reading the complete description of the study's findings, which deals explicitly with the choice of PFD or no PFD in very cold water. Thanks to Mick Allen, of West Coast Paddler, for pointing this out. Link: http://tinyurl.com/22p8xk Pertinent excerpt: > In most cases, clothing that is worn prior to a cold-water immersion > should be retained or supplemented if possible. In very cold water (5 > 0C), the core cooling rate for people wearing woolen underwear, a > submariner sweater, trousers, and socks, was only 1/4 of that seen for > nude individuals in the same scenario (Hayward et al. 1973). However, > only a moderate amount of clothing is needed to attenuate the cold shock > response, with little or no benefit being gained from the addition of > exterior wind and (or) shower proof clothing (Tipton et al. 1990). > Clothing can have significant effects on prolonging the time until > hypothermia, and especially for reducing the initial traumatic responses > to cold-water immersion. Unfortunately, clothing will likely detract > from swimming performance by increasing both passive and active drag. It > is also highly advisable to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) at > all times. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:47 PDT