A friend is a test engineer for Consumers Union and a few years ago they did a comparative study of PFDs, primarily the Type III designation -- what we paddlers normally wear. He said that the buoyancy of these jackets was somewhat over 15 pounds, perhaps a bit more. This level was selected for recreational activity to allow enough flotation to keep one's head and one arm above the water. The former so you can breathe and see, the arm to wave with or grab ropes... Joe P. -----Original Message----- >From: Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> >>A PFD is your back-up buoyancy should you remain in the water for any length >of time. A human body is mostly water so weighs little when in the water. >Add a human's fat content (more for Mark) which has inherent buoyancy and >only a small amount of redundant buoyancy is needed to support a body in the >water. Around 30 pounds or a little more is reasonably sufficient in jumbly >water. *************************************************************************** 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 Feb 16 2011 - 19:56:23 PST
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