Re: [Paddlewise] Kapok

From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:15:13 -0700
On Sun, Oct 18, 2009 at 3:58 PM, <gypsy_trillium_at_yahoo.ca> wrote:

> I've been paddling (and rolling) with an Astral PFD for two years and it
> uses
> Kapok for flotation. Over 1000 hours of use, hardly ever gets a chance to
> dry, and it's just now starting to wear out. Nothing wrong with Kapok.
> ~daniel~
>

I suspect that there are several issues with Kapok.

1. They are mostly stored - for years - on ships.

2. They are not what you might call "kayak" quality in the first place.

3. I'm pretty sure they cost a lot but their actual manufacturing costs are
very low. They only cost a lot because shipping companies *must* buy them
and put them aboard the ships and in all their lifeboats.

I would not trust the kapok PFDs they have on commercial ships to last very
long in a seaway filled with debris and leftover fuel after the ship sank.

Craig
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Received on Sun Oct 18 2009 - 21:15:20 PDT

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