JEM Watercraft

Dang
I hate to do this but I agree with Jack(ohhhhhhh that hurt) Both our pfds were rigged about the same and on our trip we both wore them any time we were on the water.
Ron

hey Mick...

Are there likely to be any problems with that lifejacket from cabela's that you want, as far as Australian Standards are concerned? Or whould that only come into it if you wanted to sell one to someone here?

G'day Andrew,

I don't think they comply with Australian Standards, but it is not compulsory to wear a PFD in a kayak or canoe in Queensland anyway. Only strongly advised.

Yet another one of our absurd Queensland laws. I can go pretty much anywhere in Hervey Bay waters in a power, or sail boat and it is compulsory to at least carry a PFD that complies with the latest Aust standards. Yet, I can go to exactly the same place in a kayak and not even carry one.

The reason I choose not to wear one is the heat and dangers of dehydration. In a sea kayak, there is only so much water one can carry above the deck or in the cockpit. More water is just to hard - near impossible to reach in the hatches from the cockpit. In tmes past, I was up to 3 hours from shore and that is a very bad place to be dehydrated or heat stressed.

Now, I paddle much closer to places I can get out of my boats, and my boats that I am building have better access to places to store water/refreshments/food so apart from the heat thing, iI don't really have an excuse not to wear one.

When I was running across the bay to the islands, I allways had a PFD within reach on the decks and wore it if things looked like getting a bit ugly.

tx river rat wrote:...I agree with Jack (ohhhhhhh that hurt)

Mark this day on your calendars!

I wear my PFD, similar to this one.
http://tinyurl.com/6x6mvn

I live in Florida, paddle year around, would say that I always have my PFD on while paddling, even in the hottest months, July-Sept. I have never found that it was to hot to wear it. I also use a full spray skirt about 60% of the time and a small splash deck the rest of the time. for cooling off, I carry a dish towel, that I dip in the water then drape that over the back of my neck and tuck it into the PFD. Or I just do a roll and get cooled off fast. I grew up around the water and am a excellent swimmer.

I took a self-rescue class a long time back, one of the first things the instructor did, was have us jump into the deep end of the pool and tread water for about 15 minutes, then he threw our PFD's to us and told us to put them on, while still treading water. Not as easy to do as you would think. Same thing as having to swim after your PFD which is strapped on to the back deck of your boat. Easier in the pool because there was no waves, wind, current, alligators or other stuff to worry about.

Accidental drownings are just that, accidents.

DM

Well, got two of these coming.

http://tinyurl.com/5eocvx

Coogs

That PFD came and the sizes run on the small side. I got an "XL"
cause that's normally what fits. Gonna return for a "2XL" an see
how that works out.

Coogs

How did the PFD turn out?

I bought two of them. One for me and one for my wife. I'm 6' and 200lbs, and an XL fit me. However, if I was much larger, I think it would be too tight. I bought the XL because the reviews on Cabelas website said they ran a little on the small side. I really like it. Its the one I am wearing in the out and about section of the forum.

Craig

I ended up keeping the one I got. Lost a few inches around the
gut and it fits pretty good now. LOL