kayak

bigpatsfan · 07-30-2011, 04:53 PM

Are kayakers required to wear a life vest?

Slickcraft · 07-30-2011, 06:03 PM

Not by NH law, you only have to have a PFD for each person in the boat.

However if you want to beat the laws of natural selection, it is a good idea to have one on. If you go over in the wind, when you surface the PFD will be sailing away out of sight along with the kayak. Then it is you and the lake.

rick35 · 07-30-2011, 06:36 PM

Ask the guy who was rescued from the Connecticut River on Tuesday. He wasn't wearing his pfd when he capsized and was rescued by the Walpole chief of police. The chief said he was minutes from drowing.

It would be difficult to grab for the pfd, paddle and kayak at the same time after capsizing especially with some wind. And then what? I've researched how to get back into my kayak but haven't tried it. It would take me more than one try if I could do it at all. I'll be bobbing next to my kayak holding onto it and the paddle hoping someone will see me and come help.

Here's the Channel 9 article:

http://www.wmur.com/news/28678835/detail.html

07-30-2011, 04:53 PM	#1
bigpatsfan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 86 Thanks: 21 Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts	kayak Are kayakers required to wear a life vest?

07-30-2011, 06:03 PM	#2
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and West Alton Posts: 3,217 Thanks: 1,173 Thanked 2,001 Times in 915 Posts	Not by NH law, you only have to have a PFD for each person in the boat. However if you want to beat the laws of natural selection, it is a good idea to have one on. If you go over in the wind, when you surface the PFD will be sailing away out of sight along with the kayak. Then it is you and the lake.

07-30-2011, 06:36 PM	#3
rick35 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bear Island/Merrimack Posts: 710 Thanks: 56 Thanked 170 Times in 104 Posts	Ask the guy who was rescued from the Connecticut River on Tuesday. He wasn't wearing his pfd when he capsized and was rescued by the Walpole chief of police. The chief said he was minutes from drowing. It would be difficult to grab for the pfd, paddle and kayak at the same time after capsizing especially with some wind. And then what? I've researched how to get back into my kayak but haven't tried it. It would take me more than one try if I could do it at all. I'll be bobbing next to my kayak holding onto it and the paddle hoping someone will see me and come help. Here's the Channel 9 article: http://www.wmur.com/news/28678835/detail.html