Home › Forums › West Seattle Rants & Raves › Life Jackets? NOT!
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July 11, 2013 at 11:37 pm #608185
KatieHParticipantJust about every kayaker wears a life jacket. EVERY person on one of those stand-on paddle boards doesn’t. Why not? If they’re renting the boards, shouldn’t this be *required* gear?
July 12, 2013 at 12:46 am #793399
JanSParticipantyes
July 12, 2013 at 1:04 am #793400
pattileaParticipantI agree, they should be wearing life jackets. My husband is retired Coast Guard, and we don’t even let out little boy on a dock without one!
July 12, 2013 at 4:00 am #793401
WorldCitizenParticipantAs an avid kayaker, I would have to say it would be a great idea for paddle boarders to wear a PFD. If the water were warmer…well then that’s a different story. Also, how far off shore makes a difference.
July 12, 2013 at 5:14 am #793402
velo_nutParticipantWhy do you care??? Leave us alone!
July 12, 2013 at 6:37 am #793403
JanSParticipantwould you let your child paddleboard without a PFD?
July 12, 2013 at 10:25 am #793404
mark47nParticipantAs the Sr Instructor at Alki Kayaking Tours I can assure you that all renter’s of Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) are required to wear a USCG PFD. Per USCG requirements, there must be a PFD on board any vessel for everyone on board. Notice that I don’t say that they must be wearing it.
Additionally, most SUPers wear an inflatable type PFD that contains a CO2 cartridge. This is an approved PFD and won’t be particularly visible unless you know what to look for.
As a point of interest; kayakers and SUPers are not required to wear “lifejackets” this type of flotation device has way more flotation than a USCG approved type III PFD, which is what is required. Also, a lifejacket must float you face up at all times. a type III PFD will float you but will not force you into a face up position.
As another point of interest, as someone who teaches paddlesports professionally, folks on SUPs and kayaks are frequently ignorant of the the rules that govern them. They have the same rights and responsibilities as a freighter. They do not have the right of way, they are not sailing vessels and are not exempt from the rules that regulate maritime traffic and COLREGS – such as the rules regarding PFDs. Tha said, all bets are off when that kayak or SUP is inside the surf zone, where PFDs are no longer required. I have noticed that SUPers won’t wear a PFD in the surfzone, like other board surfers, but surf kayakers will.
Quite honestly, I’m more often alarmed at how little thermal protection I see folks wearing on SUPs, but it’s easier to get back on a SUP after a swim than a kayak.
July 12, 2013 at 3:53 pm #793405
KatieHParticipantThanks for your reply. I’ve been really bothered by the lack of thermal protection too. I see these folks paddle by our house, thinking it’s totally calm, when the wake of a huge ship slams against the shore. If they fall in, they’re toast.
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