Starting Out
They're Called LIFE Jackets for a Reason!
By
Tamia Nelson
"Life jackets," "Personal Flotation Devices" (PFDs), or "life
vests"—whatever you call them, if you're going paddling, you need
one. In fact, it ought to be just about the first thing you buy. And
don't ever leave home without it! It's a matter of life and death.
Why? That's easy. Every year, canoeists and kayakers drown
needlessly. They die because they're not wearing a PFD, and because cold
water, big waves, strong currents, or injuries take their toll, leaving
even "good swimmers" exhausted and helpless. If you don't wear a life
vest each time you go out, you're betting your life that the odds
won't catch up with you. This is a bad idea. It never pays to bet
against the house.
Convinced? I hope so. Here's the deal. With the exception of a few
"buoyancy aids" and "swim floats," the only PFDs offered for sale in the
United States are those approved by the US Coast Guard. And they're the
only ones worth considering. Period. So far so good, but not all Coast
Guard Approved PFDs are equal. Some are intended for blue-water sailors,
some are intended for river-rescue team-members, and some are just
designed to sell as cheaply as possible.
Chances are you don't want any of these. Specialist requirements
aside, there are really only two good choices for adult canoeists and
kayakers. For river-running and general recreational paddling, get a
short, form-fitting foam panel vest. You'll find examples of this type
in every catalog. They'll have a label identifying them as "Type III"
PFDs. (Vests intended for rescue personnel, big-water boaters, and
rafters may carry a Type V label, but these special-purpose PFDs aren't
a good choice for most recreational paddlers.)
Some foam vests have wide panels and some narrow, but this doesn't
matter. Fit does, though. A good vest will be comfortable enough to wear
all day. It will adjust, so that you can wear it over either a t-shirt
or a wetsuit. And it will stay put when you're in the water. It will
also make it easy for you to float on your back with your face up and
your legs extended. (This is the recommended position for "swimming"
rapids.)
Unfortunately, the only way to determine if a vest fits you is to put
it on, go paddling for a couple of hours and then jump in. (Pick
someplace warm and safe!) Does the vest chafe you as you paddle? Does it
ride up when you're in the drink, leaving your head low in the water?
Does it make you fight to stay face-up? Then it's not the vest for you!
You'll have to try again. So get some assurance from the seller that you
can return any vest you buy if it doesn't fit. This is asking a lot of
an outfitter, by the way. He (or she) won't be able to resell a PFD
that's been used and brought back. But there's really no other way. If
your dealer agrees to a try-out, therefore, be sure you return the
favor. Give him first crack at all your business.
I said there were two good choices, didn't I? The second choice is
for sea kayakers and inland boaters who paddle big lakes and flatwater
rivers. It's a Coast Guard Approved inflatable PFD. Paddlers in
the UK and elsewhere have used these for a long time, but inflatable
vests were approved by the Coast Guard only a few years ago. They're
not a good choice for whitewater paddlers, but they make a lot of
sense for boaters who often make long, open-water crossings. For one
thing, they're tremendously buoyant—some have more than twice the
buoyancy of foam Type III vests. And many will turn an unconscious
paddler face-up in the water. You'll be glad of that if you ever find
yourself out of your boat with no hope of a quick rescue. Just remember
that inflatables don't provide much protection against hypothermia.
Dress accordingly.
Here's the bottom line: PFDs aren't cheap and finding one that fits
well isn't always easy. But you're worth it, aren't you? It's a matter
of life and death, after all. 'Nuff said.
Copyright © 2001 by Verloren Hoop Productions. All rights
reserved.