Kayak Wiki: PFD

Personal Floatation Device: Otherwise known as a life jacket or life vest. This is an additional buoyancy that will help you stay afloat in the event that you should wet exit and end up in the water. It is considered best practice that every kayaker wear a PFD at all times while kayaking. Colorado state law requires you to have one in the boat at all times; other states have differing laws so check with your local [Park Ranger]?. Although you are not legally required to wear it (in some locations), it is a very good idea to.

Additionally, a PFD can provide torso protection to surf and whitewater kayakers...

Paddlesport-specific PFD's are much more comfortable (making them more likely to be worn 100% of the time) than other styles or brands of PFD's. Some states have additional requirements for PFD's. For example commercial rafters in Colorado must wear a Type V PFD (the guides can wear a Type III).

Some good PFD manufacturers include:

PFDs for sea kayaking and for whitewater paddling can be different even though they look very similar.

Rescue and towing harnesses:

With appropriate training, a rescue PFD is highly recommended for whitewater. Rescue PFDs have features designed to enhance wearer's ability to rescue other paddlers. These include such features as attachments for pigtails and a quick-release chest harness.

Some sea kayak PFDs have similar looking items, such as towing straps that resemble a chest harness. Note that these are very different and you should not use a sea kayaking PFD as a whitewater rescue PFD. WW chest harnesses are designed to carry a load of 500 kg (1100 lb) - towing belts are not. Chest harness straps have braking bars to take up load - towing belts do not.

It is reasonable to use a whitewater rescue PFD in sea kayaking, however.

Flotation

Another aspect of the difference is flotation. Whitewater PFDs come with different amounts of bouyancy. Standard in Canada and the USA is 15.5 lb, if I remember correctly, while some rescue PFDs are 17.5 or 18 lb. If you are particularly lean and muscular, you might appreciate the extra bouyancy of some of these rescue PFDs. That said, I believe that there may be higher bouyancy sea kayaking PFDs as well. Consider as well the bouyancy of neoprene wetsuits.

Visibility

Note that sea kayak PFDs may have more reflective material on them than whitewater. Sea kayakers expect to be seen on the water, especially at night. If you get a whitewater PFD for sea kayak use, you could add some adhesive-backed Scotchlite or similar reflective tape. For better visibility in general, international orange is the easiest to see on the water. Bright yellow comes next. Most other colours are harder to see.

Pockets

Sea kayak PFDs often have (and need) (more) pockets, for things like flares (which should be on the person, not on the boat), hydration pack, snacks, VHF radio ... Whitewater kayakers can usually stop and get out onto the bank for food and to help others, whereas sea kayakers may remain in the cockpit for many hours.

Certification

Most jurisdictions require paddlers to use only certified PFDs. If you modify the PFD, technically, the certification is voided. Sewing, cutting, or any other actions to modify should be avoided.

Some external links to the United States Coast Gaurd discussing the various types of PFDs.

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