swimmer's belt redux
Just so my point is clear:
There's nothing wrong with wearing a swimmer's belt while you are kayaking. As FLL points out, there are many ways it can be put to good use, but it does NOT satisfy the PFD law by itself. You still have to have a USCG approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD for each person aboard and if it's Type V, it must be worn regardless of your age. A child 12 or under must wear the PFD, regardless of Type. The swimmer's belt is a perfectly good supplement, but that's all it is - a supplement.
Personally, I believe strongly that anyone in a kayak, sailboard, or other similar craft should be wearing their PFD. Years ago, while on the Marine Patrol, I responded to a capsized kayak in 2-3 foot seas off Diamond Island. I was around the Ames Farm area at the time, so it was a quick trip to the scene. I spotted the kayak (bright orange) and soon spotted the person about 50 yards from his boat. He was semi-conscious, floating face-up wearing a bright orange PFD, and had a developing bruise on his forehead. To make a long story short, he recovered just fine. He likely was tossed out of his boat by wave action and the boat struck him on the head on the way over. If he had not been wearing a PFD which could float him and turn him face-up, he would have been done. He was an experienced kayaker, but just caught the wrong wave at the wrong time. Seems to me that common sense dictates what the law does not.
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