PFD?
Published July 26, 2006 | 
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can’t drive 55!
Oh, yea!
- sammy haggar
Should you always wear a PFD? Well, Yes. But I don’t. I’m sure I’m tossing chum to the sharks on this topic, but here we go. . .
The problem I think is with our “Careful Coffee Is Hot Culture”. Too many people these days do not have the ability to understand their environment or to make rational decisions regarding their own safety. “People can drown in 2 inches of water” as they say. Not bloody likely, but it can happen. Sometimes it’s just easier to tell people then to wear their PFD at all times. Most parents can well understand why rules are rules and exceptions are not easily discussed. A young child has somewhat of a struggle with shades of grey. In our padded cell, protective culture many adults have now come to share this problem. They expect others to think for them. What’s worse is that they then feel they should blame someone within society for not saving them from their own ineptitude.
Now we also have to recognize that most drowning victims do not have on a PFD when they die. I believe it’s like 80% don’t. That isolated fact alone suggests you’d better wear a PFD at all times unless you’re a total fool. However in truth, there are many variables. We would feel pretty stupid wearing a PFD in a swimming pool or playing on the beach. With or without a “lifeguard on duty”. Undeniably there are shades of grey. The issue is can we trust the average person to make good judgments? Sadly the answer is often, “no freaking way!!”. We also wonder who pays the price for the person with poor judgment? That person’s demise does not happen in a vacuum as some may wish to believe. Society pays the cost one way or another. So I see no problem then with society making a law. Since then we cannot freely trust the “common sense” of our students, readers, etc., people in a position of perceived authority such as an instructor, writer, etc., it’s in our best interest to harp on PFD use regardless.
That all being said, It is still true that some of us do know that coffee is served hot. We can understand that a PFD should always be worn when paddling any distance from shore. Yet at the same time when relatively skilled people practice in a pool or next to the beach where we could easily swim in or just stand up we are in no more risk than the guy right next to us on his big inflatable lounge chair. (notice I did NOT say NO risk) In fact we’re probably drinking less as well. Personally I don’t wear a PFD on a float toy, and I don’t like wearing one when I’m in exactly the same environment and practicing traditional rolls.
For myself my main practice spot is in a state park on a nice sandy beach. The location is just a few yards from a road constantly patrolled by the park rangers. Sure, they all know me and my flipping kayak (literally and figuratively) by now. But I’m not sure they know me well enough not to bust me for not wearing a PFD. I could strap the pfd under my bungies, but it’s in the way where ever I put it. I could put it in a hatch but then I’m not really making it “readily accessible” as the law allows. Thus my need for the inflatable system.
Ok, so since this nice inflatable PFD is so perfect why not wear it all the time? Well, there’s where common sense comes in again. You have to inflate it. If I fell out of my kayak a mile from shore in 45f water, it would be stupid to put my life in the hands of a PFD I have to get out of a little bag and put around my neck and inflate. In rough conditions I bet that could be a challenge in of itself, let alone holding onto the boat and paddle! No, if I’m beyond where I can easily (notice I said EASILY) swim in under any conditions (notice I said under ANY conditions) I know I need to wear a standard PFD. Preferably a black one if I can ever find it!!! (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) However, if I’m on the beach working on rolls in the same conditions where children next to me are floating on big inflatable alligators I’m quite happy to wear no PFD. However, I also must comply with the law. I am a good kid after all. 
In this case, and ONLY this case in my opinion, the belt style inflatable PFD is worthwhile. Will it save my life? No. But it is a viable insurance policy against fines.
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20 Responses to PFD?
You got a different kind as mine. Mine puts the floatation on my stomach with a loop of webbing around my neck.
http://www.wisconsinpaddlers.org/videos/lifejackettest.mpg
Of course with these PFDs, they have to be worn to be considered Coast Guard approved. You can’t store them in a hatch and be legal like a standard PFD.
Oh and I was practicing flatwater playboating last night without a PFD. A guy I was helping his roll seemed shocked that I didn’t have one on.
A black PFD.
http://www.stohlquist.com/dyn_prod.php?k=29467&p=STO5217
I have always worn a PFD, even in pool sessions. I’m afraid that I would feel terribly under-equipped without it. I even had a black Lotus at one point, but I like the idea of being seen, especially with all of the powerboaters on my lakes.
So what is this new “obsession” with a “black” PFD? Advantages? Looks? Leon has one……
I wear a pfd most of the time. The only time I don’t is when I am practicing rolls in the shallows with a wetsuit on. My suit is so thick it just feels like too much. However, I did learn to roll with a pfd and a tuilik on. I felt very secure, warm, and bouyant. I always where one paddling by myself.
I don’t know if this relates totally but your post reminds of my family. Whenever my mother’s side gets together, my sports always come up. “Motorcycles Matthew? You know people get killed on those! Do you where a helmet (it’s a law in Michigan, Duh)?” or “Kayaking?!? You could drown out there! Those things tip you know…you could be trapped…or drown even! I hope you where a life jacket!”
Coffee is hot! Watch out!
Do people talk just to talk? I think people say these things to us because, subconciously, they know nothing about our sport and they don’t want to NOT know, so they WARN us. Hmmmmmm. I love em all anyway.
Well, the black pfd is something I’ve seen for a few years now. PeakUK made a very nice sea vest in Black and I really liked the looks of it. But now the updated version is mulit-colored.
Black just goes with all the other black gear I have.
I’m not sure if you remember but there was an article some time back in a magazine about how kayakers were eyesores. . . So, just like a nice pair of “pumps” – Black goes with anything. LOL!!
Hey Matt,
I think sometimes they are just looking for something to say related to what you are into AND tell you they care. Not a bad thing at all.
Wow, that stohlquist is a monster. It looks massive don’t cha think? I’ll have to see if I can find one anywhere around here to try. You know I still have a 5 year old one that has held up better than some of my others. Interesting.
There is a nice Astral as well, I emailed them a few weeks back with a question and have not heard back.
Looks like 3 of Stohlquist’s vests come in black. I think Jack Roberts has that Stohlquist rescue vest. It’s a really nice whitewater PFD. Speaking of whitewater, you gonna run some with me and keith?
http://www.stohlquist.com/dyn_prod.php?k=29467&p=STO5213
http://www.stohlquist.com/dyn_prod.php?p=STO5215
http://www.stohlquist.com/dyn_prod.php?p=STO5217
Of course like keith I don’t have a clue with ww. . and you’re probobly the last guy someone should trust with their life!!! LOL! Sounds like a good time! when and where??
next friday on the wolf river. even though you may have no clue about ww, i know that you have a strong enough roll to be fine on section 3 and still have a great time. Maybe if you guys want to save on driving (and are going only for the day), you and keith could meet up somewhere and drive to Appleton. From Appleton, I can easily take 3 boats on my car and drive to the river.
Oh and here’s a couple more black PFDs.
http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product_list.asp?deptid=1682&src=front&refer=LeftMid_NRS_PFDS
Accidents can still happen during rolling practices in protected water. You never know if somebody is going to offer a bow rescue at an inappropriate moment and your head hits their bow so hard that you lose conciousness. The shoulder straps would come in handy if someone needed to do a Hand of God rescue. Plus, the buoyancy would benefit the rescue.
Yes, I certainly can’t argue your points. And I think if I were with a group I would again wear my regular PFD as my risk just went up.
Especially if Alex is near by. 
Boy, I wish you guys would get over the colour black! Like it’s been done. You’ll never catch her! Just accept your fates and move on to another colour, make your own waves, or other acrobatic thingie, whatever, just not in black! LOL
As for actually wearing a pfd, I’d be lost without all the pockets for my candy treats etc. I’m planning on getting one of the so-called ‘fishing’ vest ones. Yum, yum, more gum!
Hey Michael!
Yeah, I’ll never catch her, or look as good, or be as talented, now that I think of it I’m going to sell my kayaks and buy a waverunner!!
You’re right about all the pockets though. That’s the big problem no one who does make a black PFD makes one with enough pockets!
sigh… it’s gonna be a long time until i live down the whole “alex the impaler” thing.
As for black, it’s surprisingly visible depending on the water and light conditions. When we were doing our Winnebago crossing and our boats were seperated, it was nearly impossible to see the yellow boats/yellow pfds/yellow drytops. However, the black drytops stood out really well from a distance in the bright sun and reflecting water. Granted in darker conditions, the lighter colors are obviously more visible but there really is no one “best” color for all types of water and light conditions.
I chose not to wear a PFD in our 10 day paddle around the OSA peninsula in Costa Rica. At 90-95F and 100% humidity I found it would be harder to stay cool and increase the risk of heat exhaustion. We deemed that a higher risk than failing a roll, failing a reenter and roll and failing group cohesiveness to put another back in the boat.
That said I almost always wear one in cooler environments. I like the body armor aspect of foam pfd’s when paddling among rocks and all the pockets for my things. The inflatable thing means you actually have to be conscious to activate it unless it is automatic. If you bump your head you may not have that option. We didn’t opt to bring inflatables on our trip as the cartidges will likely get yanked by homeland security at the airport and finding them in Costa Rica would be a challenge. We satisfied the US law of having one on board, not knowing if there is a law down there that is the same. I think it is good to know the risks of what medicine you are taking rather than merely swallowing whole what the doctor prescribes without asking.
Cheers,
Rob G
Hi Rob,
Good Points. As I had said in my post I choose the inflatable in 4 feet of warm water on a sandy beach where there is no current,waves or rocks to speak of. In fact we don’t even have power boat traffic. Otherwise as you mention it would be silly (IMO) to depend on an infatable that requires you to take action for it to be of any use for all the reasons you and others have mentioned.
Not to sound like too much of a prude, but I think it’s important to always be wearing a PFD to set a good example as much as anything else. To go with the whole ABM (always be modelling) dictum, it seems like safety should be part of it too. We might be able to judge situations where a PFD isn’t really ‘necessary’, but we never know when some jackass is watching us and making a justification for being unsafe.
Nathan
No, that’s a fair judgement as well.
For the sake of conversation then, would wearing coast guard approved Type V to type 3, inflatable pfd pouch be setting a good example in the conditions discussed?
To play devil’s advocate a bit, my guess would be that beginners would assume that a PFD is a PFD (or rather, ‘a lifejacket is a lifejacket’). I doubt that they draw too much distinction between types or styles. They would probably assume that if you were wearing an inflatable on the beach that you could also wear it in any condition. Of course, there’s also the fact that the pouch might not be visible at all (especially if it’s under your tuiliq), so whether or not it’s setting an example is a question in itself.
Nathan
I agree, they probobly would’nt understand the pouch as a PFD. I don’t wear a (tuiliq myself). So IF your goal is to set an example to the guy on the beach we would have to wear a standard PFD, even if there are other “legal” options.
Then again, for discussion, I could add that we must always wear a helmet, tow belt, knife, ARC Light, and any other visible safty gear. even when just rolling next to shore.
Then I wonder if there would ever be an “ok” situation to wear a Tuiliq?” I’d think most people seeing a Tuiliq would have no clue what they were looking at and just assume that it’s some sort of wet suit and see no PFD. Not that Tuiliqs are legal as it is.
Nice discussion!