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PDF or Not is to Float or Sink!
One time I paid the high price of $45 for a PFD to use with my new solo $600 canoe and was
upset with the price of the PFD. I didn’t think the price of the canoe was so bad. The paddles
alone were costing over $70 each. Somehow $45 seemed too high for a PFD until I realized two
things:
1) $45 compared to $600 wasn’t so bad,
2) My life is worth far more than any $45 to me!
When sailing on keel boats PFD’s tended to be brought out of the bottom of some locker or other
if the weather conditions got nasty.
Today it is a different story. You do see PFD’s on people on all sizes of boats. The old horse
collar Mae West types were uncomfortable and you were lucky if they weren’t all mildewed.
Today the vest type PFD’s with foam linings are more comfortable, especially in colder weather
and/or waters. The biggest change is the inflatables that are far more comfortable to wear in
most any weather. They are more expensive than vest types usually but are worth the cost
compared to the value of your life. I own two now, one belt type and the other over the head
type. Both are manual inflatables. I have to be conscious enough to pull the cord. And, I hope
that will be the case if the time ever comes.
It seems as if comfort while wearing the PFD’s is the desirable attribute for use of the PFD’s on
a regular basis. It is for me, most certainly. When they are boob squishers or neck chafers, they
are not worn willingly and are more easily discarded in thought before wearing. An underarm
rash might mean the owner won’t wear the PFD again.
This past summer a varied collection of boaters found that their inflatable PFD’s CO2 cartridges
were loose or becoming unscrewed. It seems the PFD’s are shipped with the CO2 cartridges
that inflate the PFD’s are shipped with the CO2 cartridge not screwed in tightly.
The new owner has to do that. It pointed out to me that regular inspection of the cartridge is a
given in the future. I still have the directions/instructions for both inflatable PFD’s I own. They do
say to do regular inspections. I hadn’t been doing that. My bad as they now say! And it could
have been had I needed a PFD. Regular maintenance should include looking for weaknesses,
poor fit, wear, inflation pins, CO2 cartridges in place, sun damage and age.
I recently read about a man who died because the crotch strap on his vest broke due to rotten
stitching allowing the vest to ride up on his neck and strangle him. What a sorry way to die! We
need to pull regular maintenance on our PFD’s, and try them out. I did that with my first canoeing
PFD, a vest type. As a result of my ears being wrapped in part of the shoulder structure, I
tightened the belt and the PFD stayed where it should. After that I added crotch straps for
running white water in my canoes. Swimming with that PFD was instructive.
I did the same kind of swim test with the first inflatable I bought for Peapod sailing. I pulled the
cord and the inflation was instant and extremely cold! The chill of the CO2 going “off” was
amazing. I’m glad I tried it out so if I ever have to use it the sudden noise and chill won’t be
shocking. It’s worth trying and if the weather is hot, more the better. It took some time to find the
inflation tube to release the inflated PFD, and that was instructive too. Now I know how to do
that. I did find that the collar Mae West style PFD when inflated was great at keeping my head
well above water level. I couldn’t exactly swim with it but could paddle around good enough.
Some inflatable PFD’s come with built in harnesses for tethering yourself to the boats. Be sure if
there is a harness that the D rings are welded, not just shaped. Tethers should have welded
rings. Under load and sudden loads the unwelded rings will likely fail.
Be sure to keep your PFD clean and dry. You won’t want a mildewed dirt catcher around your
body or face. Dirt and sun can damage fibers by weakening or cutting them. Vest type PFD’s
may benefit from a regular application of 303 Fabric Protectant to slow UV degradation and help
prevent dirt staining. Check with the manufacturer’s directions about it.
Wearing a PFD is not my favorite thing when sailing,westlund@lighthouse.
netwestlund@lighthouse.netwestlund@lighthouse.net but I more and more am faithful about
wearing my belt type inflatable PFD. I want to go out as an old sailor not a foolish one. Give it
more thought and join in the trend to more wearing of PFD’s, especially on our tiny boats where
we are mere inches from the water. Things happen fast and you won’t always be able to grab
the PFD you have stowed below. To work it must be worn. I believe safety is prevention vs.
rescue. Prevent please. Wear that PFD.
Note: opinions expressed are those of the author only. The wearing of a PFD is the choice of the
user not the author, therefore outcomes are those of the choices of the user not the author. You
are on your own, folks.
Anne Westlund
westlund@lighthouse.net