Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board

Ocean Parkas

Posted By: Brianne Corbett
Date: Friday, 1 March 2002, at 6:04 p.m.

In Response To: PFDs, here I go again (Al)

Al...

A class 3 PFD does not guarantee floating you face up. What you might want to try is a CO2 inflatable like a Sospenders. They will float you face up and with quite a bit more flotation... usually 35 lbs vs 16 lbs. Since you wear it uninflated, it may be more comfortable.

But here is another alternative that I am pretty hot on right now. There are some manufacturers who make ocean parkas or vests with built in inflatable PFD's. A couple of examples are Sea Safe Systems Mariner or Stormy Seas OF9000. These are great products. I am considering switching to an Ocean parka with an inflatable PFD. They are expensive but they have several pluses... comfort... storage... warmth... safety... and hi-visibility.

This last point is important to me. Our kayaking gear manufacturers suck when it comes to hi-visibility. Take drysuits... none of the US brands have an ANSI 107 Class 2/3 or an EN471 Class 2/3 visibility option. They throw on a few square inches of reflective tape and think that this will be sufficient. We need 100 + square inches not 10. We need hi-Viz day colors. It's about safety not fashion.

Consider the Sea Safe Mariner BSi IV... EN471 Class 2 hi-visibility (day or night visibility)... waterproof... breathable... interchangeable liners including fleece... auto or manual inflation... 40 lbs bouyancy... water switched light option... internal harness... strobe light pocket with strobe...handwarmer pockets... concealed Hi-Vis hood... neoprene storm cuffs... fleece collar... facial splashguard... waist belt & clip... VHF pocket... Personal Locator Beacon/EPIRB pocket... PLB/EPIRB option... Hi-vis bibs available too.

This is some serious sea gear and I don't know if I can wait for US manufacturers to figure out what the Brits seem to have known for quite some time. Anyway... it's an alternative to my L'Ocean.

Safe Paddling!
Brianne

Messages In This Thread

PFDs, here I go again
Al -- Wednesday, 27 February 2002, at 6:14 p.m.

Re: PFDs, here I go again
LeeG -- Wednesday, 27 February 2002, at 7:47 p.m.

Re: oops,,this is the techniques board. *NM*
LeeG -- Wednesday, 27 February 2002, at 7:49 p.m.

Re: PFDs, here I go again
Ian Johnston -- Wednesday, 27 February 2002, at 9:25 p.m.

Ocean Parkas
Brianne Corbett -- Friday, 1 March 2002, at 6:04 p.m.

Re: Ocean Parkas
Don Beale -- Friday, 1 March 2002, at 7:43 p.m.

Re: Ocean Parkas
Brianne Corbett -- Saturday, 2 March 2002, at 2:28 a.m.

Do any of these jackets...
Brian Nystrom -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 12:20 p.m.

Useless for Paddling???
Brianne Corbett -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 7:02 p.m.

you're not wrong
mike allen ---> -- Monday, 4 March 2002, at 9:04 p.m.

Perhaps useless was too strong of a word.
Brian Nystrom -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 11:28 a.m.

Moving to the next level
Brianne Corbett -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 5:36 p.m.

Re: Moving to the next level
Brian Nystrom -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 6:14 p.m.

Kaizen
Brianne Corbett -- Tuesday, 5 March 2002, at 8:42 p.m.

Re: Continuous Improvement and Visualization
Shawn Baker -- Wednesday, 6 March 2002, at 10:42 a.m.

Re: Ocean Parkas
Bob -- Friday, 1 March 2002, at 9:09 p.m.

Re: PFDs, here I go again
Ed Deery -- Friday, 1 March 2002, at 9:48 p.m.

Re: PFDs, here I go again
Ed Deery -- Friday, 1 March 2002, at 9:54 p.m.

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