I'd like to add one more element to the PFD equation that has been on my own mind for a few years. When we sold our farm a few years back the buyers demanded that all the old equipment be removed. Now, some of this stuff had been around for 30 years (before we owned the farm) and quite a bit of it was big. No matter, I had to take a tractor and drag it to the shop and then cut it up. In the process I managed to hurry-along some arthritis in my hands. I already had it in my feet and hips but that didn't bother me kayaking. But arthritis in my hands does affect my paddling. Arthritis is a strange thing. My grip has always been strong and it still is unless I'm having pain in my hands. At that point it no longer matters that I have a strong grip. So I take meds to keep the pain down (thank God they took that stuff that causes heart attacks in otherwise healthy arthritis sufferers off the market) and they mostly work. But recent experience has taught me that I can do something with my hands that will suddenly cause excruciating pain (especially the thumb joints) even on a day that is pain free. I know that this is going to impact almost every aspect of my self-rescue skills. The average type III PFD offers something like 18lbs of buoyancy and I got to thinking that maybe a little more wouldn't hurt if I got caught in some big water and a couple missed rescue attempts. So I bought a Kokatat inflatable combination PFD (I think they call it a SeaO2). This PFD has only about 11 or 12 lbs of flotation but when you pull the rip cord you get about 23 lbs. I figured 23lbs couldn't hurt. One plus was that the PFD was actually less bulky when not inflated. Of course, when it's inflated (and you could do that with a mouthpiece, too) it was REALLY bulky. But it sure did hold me up high in the water. Unfortunately that PFD died in the shop fire last February and I've been looking for another one on sale ever since. (If you have one you don't want, email me!) I guess the thrust of this posting is that stuff changes as we grow older. I'll be 67 years old for next paddling season and, while I draw the line at growing up, I have been forced to deal with some circumstances that make me stand back and think. Like another Paddlewiser, I try not to be stupid. This doesn't stop me from being stupid, of course, but at least I'm trying. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA www.nwkayaking.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jan 06 2010 - 09:41:19 PST
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