: I do not go out of my way
: to avoid the Coast Guard, I have stopped to talk with them several times.
: They are happy enough to see people actually wearing their PFD, that they
: not going to stop you or question whether it is approved.

To John's comment: how many of us in the US have been in direct contact with the Coast Guard, in our kayak, wearing a PFD or a British BA or whatever Canadians use for approved flotation devices, and have been asked if the flotation device we're wearing is a Coast Guard approved "PFD"? Show of hands here, please.

Okay, how many of us have seen or heard of a kayak being confiscated by the Coast Guard or a DNR-type police organization for an alleged violation of a Federal or state --- or provincial --- law? Anybody?

Anybody have any urban legend or anecdotal information from their cousin's sister-in-law about kayak cops checking for paddlefloats? Anybody?

Yes, Sean is in violation of a federal law if he uses his terrific looking flotation device and doesn't carry a Coast Guard approved PFD in the boat. Is he better off in the device he made? He certainly thinks so. Can he prove it? Probably, if he's got a spare $10K or $20K lying around to get it tested and approved. Should we all report him to the local kayak police --- or risk being cited for complicity in the perpetration of a federal crime? Yes, absolutely! But what's the sense of it all? Are we going to see a wave of kayak confiscations in the near future? Probably not.

Neat thread --- interesting ideas.

Jack