Is it okay to wear a PFD under a shell layer?

Per chuck:
Is it okay to wear a PFD under a shell layer?

On the negative side, it makes it harder for the civil servants
to recover the body.

On the plus side, I'd think it would enhance the insulation
effect and be less prone to snagging on something.
--
PeteCresswell

"chuck" wrote in message
...
Is it okay to wear a PFD under a shell layer?


The only negative that comes to mind right away is the scenario where you're
bobbing in the water with your PFD doing its job like a champ and you see a
power boater roaring right at you, unaware and oblivious. You realize he's
going to hit you... you need to dive! dive! dive! (insert claxon horn sound
here.) Of course, your Storm whistle is attached to your PFD and you can't
get to it... can't get your PFD off in time and you get Ginsu'ed by his
prop....

But what are the odds? :-)

Happy paddling,
desmobob

On Feb 18, 5:59*pm, chuck wrote:
Is it okay to wear a PFD under a shell layer?

Put on your preferred PFD and a shell over it. Move about doing
ordinary tasks for a short while. This should tell you whether the
combination would impede your ability to move in an emergency. My
thought is the choice is entirely up to you.

On 2/18/2011 5:59 PM, chuck wrote:
Is it okay to wear a PFD under a shell layer?

Yes. I'd even encourage it. For one thing if you get hot tt makes it
much easier to drop a layer without removing your PFD.



//Walt

Well, you would have to have the cap off so that you can put the water into the jug. Therefore, when you put the cap back on, you could catch some air into the jug.

On Feb 19, 6:59*am, chuck wrote:
Is it okay to wear a PFD under a shell layer?

Might be hard to get it on. I'd suggest wearing a shell layer over a
PFD instead. :-)

But in general, if your shell is big enough....why not? But put the
PFD on a little snug...the straps tend to loosen when they soften as
they get wet, and it will be hard to adjust it under the shell if you
go overboard. Hmm, I guess one downside might be that a loose PFD
might want to ride up a bit, and that could lift the shell up into
your face. Personally, I always looked at my PFD as the thing that
'locked down' my shell layers, and even trapped a little air in the
shell to add a bit more buoyancy. But for the most part...I don't see
that there's any inherent disadvantages.

--riverman

On 2011-02-27, riverman wrote:
On Feb 19, 6:59Â*am, chuck wrote:
Is it okay to wear a PFD under a shell layer?

Might be hard to get it on. I'd suggest wearing a shell layer over a
PFD instead. :-)

But in general, if your shell is big enough....why not? But put the
PFD on a little snug...the straps tend to loosen when they soften as
they get wet, and it will be hard to adjust it under the shell if you
go overboard. Hmm, I guess one downside might be that a loose PFD
might want to ride up a bit, and that could lift the shell up into
your face. Personally, I always looked at my PFD as the thing that
'locked down' my shell layers, and even trapped a little air in the
shell to add a bit more buoyancy. But for the most part...I don't see
that there's any inherent disadvantages.

--riverman

The main reason I asked is because of the crazy Michigan weather that
changes from hour to hour and mile by mile as you get inland from the
big lake, and it is easier to peel of an outer layer. Finally, the
local river is thawed out and it's time to get in some paddling and
catch some steelhead out of the kayak.