PFD Promise.... (personal flotation device) (life jacket) (Insurance policy)

I have a friend who sits on his PFD and never wears it, he always says "why do I need to wear it I'm a good swimer" I keep telling him if you get hit and knocked out you can't swim my goal now is to nag the crap out of him till I get him to wear it


I Jason aka Vanilla Gorilla promise to wear a proper PFD So that I can give others time to rescue me, or, in the event of my death on the water, no one will have to search for my carcass wasting time, money, energy, not to mention endangering themselves to find me... I owe this to others in the community in the pursuit of my recreational pleasures. Don't be mad at me When I badger you if you get on the water without one, because I care about you and your family. Seriously and sincerely Signed, Jason aka Vanilla Gorilla

Good thread guys!
I wear my PFD every time I am on the water, I have been doing so for a long time.  I grew up in canoes and learned at a young age that no life jacket = high chance of dying.

Never without it otw.  It never comes off otw.  If I forget it, I drive home and get it or do not go out.  I'm not a great swimmer in the first place.  I'm one of those that will tell strangers to put it on if their out on a yak - I don't really care if they think I'm a stooge.

Excellent thread.

I have been swimming since I was 4 and I swim like a fish but I will always wear my pfd I would rather always have it and never need it than need it and not have it

I wouldn't go out without my PFD anymore than I would go without my paddle. It is all part of the gear I need to go kayaking. It doesn't take long for even good swimmers to have problems in 45 degree water. I still need to figure a good way to attach my VHF radio to my person. The one place I found seems to be in the way of my paddle stroke. 

Not sure how I missed this thread the first time around.

Always have, always will.

+1.  Made a promise to my wife the day I purchased my kayak.

And won't allow anybody to use my buddy boat without wearing one either.

Great story Tote!

I alway wear mine even on our 30 footer, and on the cattle boat.

I suggest starting now, if any NCKA member get caught  (on camera or video) on a yak in the ocean not wearing a PFD, he/she will be posted on NCKA's hall of shame 

I started kayaking many years ago and had no problem going out without my PFD. Than I got the opportunity to join the Current Design crew. They made us sign a contract that states that being photographed in their boat without PFD and other basic safety equipment would be open for termination from the team. Since that day, I have always worn my PFD when on the water. I feel naked without it. Glad I learned this before it became an issue.

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

I suggest starting now, if any NCKA member get caught  (on camera or video) on a yak in the ocean not wearing a PFD, he/she will be posted on NCKA's hall of shame 

That should be a minimum $100 fine payable to PIF for a first offense.

I suggest starting now, if any NCKA member get caught  (on camera or video) on a yak in the ocean not wearing a PFD, he/she will be posted on NCKA's hall of shame 

That should be a minimum $100 fine payable to PIF for a first offense.

I like it! Just don't fine the divers!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

I suggest starting now, if any NCKA member get caught  (on camera or video) on a yak in the ocean not wearing a PFD, he/she will be posted on NCKA's hall of shame 

That should be a minimum $100 fine payable to PIF for a first offense.

I like it! Just don't fine the divers!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Unless they're caught red handed with a weight belt on! lol

No fines, no laughter, no joking.... I'll be floating somewhere if the unthinkable happens. Glad this post has resurfaced...

I always wear one but don't always zip it up outside the surf zone. I was crabbing last month and it was hot so I unzipped my PFD. Then I went for a swim helping a newb chase down some dungies. When I was climbing back in I was thinking it seemed harder than it should be. I got back in but had to work harder. The bottom line is an unzipped PFD is almost as bad as no PFD so keep it zipped.

Make sure it is adjusted properly too. Anybody see Jim Salmons river fishing adventure where he almost drowned because his PFD was too loose?

I have always had my PFD on while on the water. When I first joined NCKA, I did unzip it once when it was hot. I was told by a couple of members (A-Hulls) that it being unzipped wasn't safe and wouldn't do me much good if I fell in! After that, I've always kept it on and zipped while OTW.