I used to paddle with a guy that insisted on leaving his PFD unzipped. On the last trip he was wearing rubber hip waders and a loose PFD on a river with fast current and cold water. After some discussion, I told him that I was not paddling with him again.
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PFD avoidance issues
- Thread starter Iskweo
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Up here you would be a bit crazy not wearing your PFD at all time, water is really cold even in the warmest of summer!! It is on every time we hit the water, and a lot fo time we wear our drysuits when river running!!
Just a quick note here that the inflatable is still fully inflated. Age has apparently not killed it yet.
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I was really impressed with the idea that somebody falling into cold water will involuntary do a "gasp" for air and there by get water into their lungs. In my own experience that's sure been true. I guess I always figured that, what with everything that was going on at the time, I forgot to hold my breath when I went under.
Now the Coast Guard tells us that it's a normal involuntary reaction. I do know that with water in my lungs I'm not doing much of anything but trying to get the water out and air in.
Here at home, I can think that if such and such happens, then I'll do thus and so........yeah, well maybe....but I find that events have a way of taking charge over my optimistic plans.
As far as the idea that PFD's being restrictive and uncomfortable; I do believe a coffin is probably going to prove not all that comfortable over the long haul.
Best Wishes, Rob
Now the Coast Guard tells us that it's a normal involuntary reaction. I do know that with water in my lungs I'm not doing much of anything but trying to get the water out and air in.
Here at home, I can think that if such and such happens, then I'll do thus and so........yeah, well maybe....but I find that events have a way of taking charge over my optimistic plans.
As far as the idea that PFD's being restrictive and uncomfortable; I do believe a coffin is probably going to prove not all that comfortable over the long haul.
Best Wishes, Rob
I like Oldie's post. The gasp reflex is pretty well known among rafters maybe because of the cold water they travel on. There was a story at Lake Tahoe a few years ago that is worth repeating. A Sheriff's deputy was on patrol in a large aluminum power boat on the lake which is always pretty cold. It was spring time like now in May when he ended his shift. He put the boat on an anchor buoy and stepped into the tender to go ashore. He fell out of the small boat and disappeared in about 8 feet of water. He was not wearing a PFD and drowned in front of several other people in broad daylight. There is little doubt that the cold water that time of year caused the gasp reflex.
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In the West, the water is usually cold. We run lots of rivers and some big lakes. I refuse to paddle with anyone that does not wear a life vest.
Inflatables are not dependable. People get thrown in the cold water when they don't expect it. They may inhale some water involuntarily. The vest has to be ready to do its job.
Dressing for immersion is important under some circumstances.
Inflatables are not dependable. People get thrown in the cold water when they don't expect it. They may inhale some water involuntarily. The vest has to be ready to do its job.
Dressing for immersion is important under some circumstances.
I have two Mustang inflatables and an NRS Ninja PFD. The plus for inflatables is that they are comfortable to wear on a hot day, not so for the Ninja. On a colder day I appreciate the extra warmth even though it takes away from paddling comfort. The Mustang comes in the manual "pull the lanyard" version and if you are worried about that, buy the auto-inflate model which is water pressure actuated. I have to admit to this canoe friendly group that I'm glad this post came up and made me aware of something important. I didn't know that the Mustangs were botth out of date for use. I thought that as long as the green showed on the co2 actuator I was legal and safe. Thanks for saving me some embarrassment and a ticket with the water cop and maybe even my life. They probably will work but the law reigns supreme!
Since the beginning of the Adirondack 90-mile canoe race, for the first 35 years (before the Northern Forest Canoe Trail acquired the race), PFDs had to be carried, and encouraged to be worn, but were not required to be worn unless weather and race officials so dictated. With up to 275 boats in the race, along with numerous volunteer and DEC official safety boats all along the race route, it was not a requirement to wear your PFD. I do recall seeing several "pro boats" (very fast, but inherently unstable) overturned when afternoon wind and waves kicked up on broad downwind stretches of Raquette Lake. It was always at a particular commonly windblown shallow area rounding a bend next to shore, so there was ready self-rescue or assistance from other nearby passing boats (a rules requirement of fellow racers). Since then, the route has long ago been changed to avoid that area. After NFCT takeover, due to insurance and common sense necessity, it is now a requirement wear a PFD at all times, but inflatables are acceptably legal.
Of course, on the Yukon River races, the water is glacial melt temperature (<40F), the river is mostly smoothly although fast running at an average speed of 6 mph in most areas, though there are a couple of sections of much faster water with rough tall standing waves and tricky currents, though no real white water. 35 miles on Lake Laberge is often stormy and can be very windy pushing large deep trough rollers. Therefore, we are required to wear our PFD 100% at all times on the races and to remain closer than 200 meters from the eastern lake shore. Too far to swim in rough cold water IMO, even with a PFD given conditions I have experienced near that limit.
I use a Kokotat Orbit model as one of my several choices of PFD, which has a couple of pockets necessary for carrying a list of required emergency safety gear on my person during the Yukon races. Since I took a state swiftwater rescue techhicians course, I have purchased a Mustang rescue grade (25 pound buyancy) PFD that I would use for SAR rescue incidents, but not for general recreational or race use.
If you want a real test of PFD use (or not), try a controlled warm water capsize without wearing your PFD, and then try to put it on while swimming in deep water. Doing so reminds me of a famous Mark Twain quote: "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."
Of course, on the Yukon River races, the water is glacial melt temperature (<40F), the river is mostly smoothly although fast running at an average speed of 6 mph in most areas, though there are a couple of sections of much faster water with rough tall standing waves and tricky currents, though no real white water. 35 miles on Lake Laberge is often stormy and can be very windy pushing large deep trough rollers. Therefore, we are required to wear our PFD 100% at all times on the races and to remain closer than 200 meters from the eastern lake shore. Too far to swim in rough cold water IMO, even with a PFD given conditions I have experienced near that limit.
I use a Kokotat Orbit model as one of my several choices of PFD, which has a couple of pockets necessary for carrying a list of required emergency safety gear on my person during the Yukon races. Since I took a state swiftwater rescue techhicians course, I have purchased a Mustang rescue grade (25 pound buyancy) PFD that I would use for SAR rescue incidents, but not for general recreational or race use.
If you want a real test of PFD use (or not), try a controlled warm water capsize without wearing your PFD, and then try to put it on while swimming in deep water. Doing so reminds me of a famous Mark Twain quote: "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."
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