Take a look at all the equipment that GIs are wearing/carrying in Iraq. How much do you think an armored vest weighs? How much air circulation do you think it allows? Compare that to the weight/fit of a typical pfd.
How many GIs would you guesstimate have died as a result of heatstoke in Iraq? I'm sure untold numbers have experienced heat exhaustion, but how many have died from heatstroke?
A typical paddler doesn't wear, or carry on their body 1/10 of the clothing/gear that a typical infantry grunt wears/carries. Very few paddlers are paddling in temps rivaling Iraq. Paddlers are sitting on their ass, pulling on a paddle. GIs are humping all that gear through the heat.
Compare the number of paddlers who have drowned as a result of not wearing their pfd vs the number who have died as a result of heatstroke.
I have paddled about 50 years; I don't know of one person who died of heatstroke "because they were wearing a pfd". As a matter of fact, I don't know anyone who died of heatstroke; no matter what they were doing. That includes my many years of canoeing, backpacking, caving, search & rescue, baseball, softball, and humping the jungle.
I don't know of one GI in Viet Nam (also humping beau coup gear in very high heat & humidity)who died of heatstroke. I was there for 36 months.
If you don't want to wear a pfd; don't wear one.
Don't give us all that heatstroke crap as an excuse for not wearing a pfd!
I already sent Sandy a personal e-mail giving her some suggestions and recommendations then telling her to ignore what I was going to post on the board. Sorry, you got rooked.
Read the "Sandy, you got mail, should have warned you.
GK I like you But I resent that your ego in advocating non PFD use on the web’s most popular paddling site is unhelpful to everyone.
Increased regulation of paddle sports is coming soon. The growth in the “sport” (especially the fishing and rec kayak end) is too rapid for continued self-regulation. And big, mis-directed egos will only speed the regulatory process.
BTW, before you posted here, GK only meant one thing to me: Greene King. If you get a chance, try the Abbot Ale.
as an example you should explain to the guy that as an experienced kayaker, you’ve cultivated the ability to choose your paddling wear and the judgement and skills to account for that choice.
Not A Lot Of Differance I am reminded of an off-hand remark I made two summers ago to a friend who was moving to the FL Keys. I said something to the effect, why would you want to move to a place that is even hotter and more humid than it is here. The next day he showed me the mean temp diff between Wilmington and the Key Largo area and the air temp and humidity were not more than a couple of degrees differant which surprized me.
Some non-racers paddle hard too I did an 18 mile loop 2 weeks ago at over 5mph average. Not super fast - but it’s still a pushing sort of pace. I wore my PFD, but I really find myself wondering why - particularly this time of year. Other than crossing Port E I’m never more than 50 ft from shore on this route and the water’s mostly flat and all very warm.
An insulated vest is just a poor choice of exercise attire in our summer weather.
but My suit vest was dirty. And it just doesn’t go with my kayak.
Seriously, I’m not in FL, but I’ve said elsewhere that I just don’t notice mine anymore. 90 degrees? Doesn’t seem to matter, I have a wide range of temperature tolerance. I go shirtless but still almost always have a spray skirt on and I don’t notice that either, even on fitness paddles. Come to think of it, I’m not sure why either, but I just do. Routine, I suppose.
COME ON FELLOWS----FOUL I didn’t say anything about not wearing a PFD. Go back and re read my posts. I did. The first thing I said was no comment. The second was about learnind or practice swimming. I didn’t mention the word PFD.
Read my post above and then tell me what I said was wrong.
Get you facts in order !!! Do you understand? ! Do you really understand? !
Are you sure you understand? Have I made myself clear?
This message is sent without a hyperlink. The respondent paddles a kayak and does not spend his time saving and storing hyperlinks however he commends you for the last one with a hardy SALUTE