Kayak incident in yesterday's storm

Lucky1 · 06-13-2011, 02:02 PM

The type of vest for Kayaks. They are quite comfortable and not hot in the shoulders at all. FLL is acting irresponsibly in my opinion if he is advising ANYONE to be in a kayak without the proper floatation device. I do not go in any boat without a vest. I go out alone in my kayak and am not really much of a swimmer. BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT SWIMMER. IF YOU ARE FORCED OUT OF THE BOAT FOR ANY REASON YOU SHOULD BE IN A APPROVED VEST. Thus in my case, if I am in a boat I am in a vest.

Seeker · 06-13-2011, 03:00 PM

Funny to me but under NH law sailboards are not required to have pfds (unless a 12 year old is operating). This isn't referring to the old type of sailboards I grew up with just the type where you stand up to operate it and if you fall off the whole rig, sail, mast and boom, falls into the water.

Misty Blue · 06-16-2011, 02:34 PM

SKPRBOB, you are dead nutz on in your post about PFD requirements on a kayak. Thanks.

In Massachusetts they have, what I consider, a very good rule. You must wear a PFD when operating a canoe or kayak between Sept. 15th and May 15th. This is to reduce the risk of drowning in cold water. Yea, I said drowning, not hypothermia.

BoatUS foundation did an indepth study of hypothermia with a group of "volunteers" in lake Michigan. They concluded that if you die from hypothermia it is because you WERE wearing your PFD. Here's why.

With your PFD on you should remain floating and can survive for 20 to 30 minutes in 45 deg. water before hypothermia takes you out. Without the PFD your muscles will fail you and you will drown in less than 10 minutes.

It's a good law and a good idea.

Misty Blue.

LIforrelaxin · 06-16-2011, 04:42 PM

Styles of vest... Note every vest is made for every activity in the water. There are plenty of vests that are very comfortable to where while paddling. I wouldn't use them to water ski, But I also wouldn't use my water skiing vest for paddling....

ApS · 06-16-2011, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seeker

Funny to me but under NH law sailboards are not required to have pfds (unless a 12 year old is operating). This isn't referring to the old type of sailboards I grew up with just the type where you stand up to operate it and if you fall off the whole rig, sail, mast and boom, falls into the water.

A PFD can force you up under the sail, which has just excluded your air supply.

The World Olympics changed their mandatory PFD rules when one twin brother of the two-brother crew drowned under the sail—unable to get any air!

VtSteve · 06-18-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

A PFD can force you up under the sail, which has just excluded your air supply.

The World Olympics changed their mandatory PFD rules when one twin brother of the two-brother crew drowned under the sail—unable to get any air!

It's always different for them isn't it?

Yes, that can happen. Same argument people used to use with seatbelts, being trapped in a burning car. If the sail trapping people is a common issue, then perhaps a large, circular flotation device needs to be mounted at the top of the mast to allow for air space when the sailboat tips.

But you know, when all kinds of people are making all kinds or rules for everyone, they're generally too busy to listen to common sense, or even discuss alternatives. Maybe the twin brother could have had no PFD, fallen into the water, hit his head, and drowned. There are lots of scenarios, as there are with any boat on the water.

ApS · 06-26-2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VtSteve

It's always different for them isn't it?

...There are lots of scenarios, as there are with any boat on the water.

More so, among sailors.

1) Below, "the tramp" referred to is the language of sailing catamarans: "Turned-turtle" means a slow, but total upside-down overturning following the initial capsize.

Quote:

"...The wind pressed against the vinyl coated tramp just like it was a sail and we were all instantly beneath the tramp with the Hobie turned turtle. This took no more than 10 seconds to occur.

"Alex had his PFD on and was trapped against the tramp. I grabbed him and pulled him out..."
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/seaman...ailing-39.html

2) I have nothing against inflatable PFDs: popular elsewhere for years, they only achieved Coast Guard approval in 1996. That approval was conditional.

Inflatable PFDs were viewed as "scrimping on ultimate safety" in favor of comfort. It continues to be too easy to load an exhausted cartridge into one's inflatable PFD.

Some advise checking Inflatables very year:

Quote:

"Please come to the pool event on Sat nite of the convention. Bring your vest and jump in with it. You will be surprised on many will not function from corroded valves, etc. You should test them every year."
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=285441

3) Now that I've read the Coast Guard's Inflatable conditional approval, I think I'll stick with my old-fashioned vest!

06-13-2011, 02:02 PM	#1
Lucky1 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Moultonborough and FL Posts: 459 Thanks: 318 Thanked 123 Times in 53 Posts	meadow brook or whatever the name is sells.... The type of vest for Kayaks. They are quite comfortable and not hot in the shoulders at all. FLL is acting irresponsibly in my opinion if he is advising ANYONE to be in a kayak without the proper floatation device. I do not go in any boat without a vest. I go out alone in my kayak and am not really much of a swimmer. BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT SWIMMER. IF YOU ARE FORCED OUT OF THE BOAT FOR ANY REASON YOU SHOULD BE IN A APPROVED VEST. Thus in my case, if I am in a boat I am in a vest.

06-16-2011, 02:34 PM	#3
Misty Blue Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 658 Thanks: 121 Thanked 283 Times in 98 Posts	You got it right! SKPRBOB, you are dead nutz on in your post about PFD requirements on a kayak. Thanks. In Massachusetts they have, what I consider, a very good rule. You must wear a PFD when operating a canoe or kayak between Sept. 15th and May 15th. This is to reduce the risk of drowning in cold water. Yea, I said drowning, not hypothermia. BoatUS foundation did an indepth study of hypothermia with a group of "volunteers" in lake Michigan. They concluded that if you die from hypothermia it is because you WERE wearing your PFD. Here's why. With your PFD on you should remain floating and can survive for 20 to 30 minutes in 45 deg. water before hypothermia takes you out. Without the PFD your muscles will fail you and you will drown in less than 10 minutes. It's a good law and a good idea. Misty Blue.

06-16-2011, 04:42 PM	#4
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,919 Thanks: 1,050 Thanked 900 Times in 530 Posts	Styles of vest... Note every vest is made for every activity in the water. There are plenty of vests that are very comfortable to where while paddling. I wouldn't use them to water ski, But I also wouldn't use my water skiing vest for paddling.... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

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06-13-2011, 03:00 PM	#2
Seeker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Effingham Posts: 408 Thanks: 37 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	Funny to me but under NH law sailboards are not required to have pfds (unless a 12 year old is operating). This isn't referring to the old type of sailboards I grew up with just the type where you stand up to operate it and if you fall off the whole rig, sail, mast and boom, falls into the water.