wrote in message
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On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:34:54 -0400, Jeff wrote:

So I could believe that canoes are responsible for a disproportional
number of deaths, but not kayaks. My hunch is that most kayakers wear
PFDs, but many canoe users are actually fishing and don't think they are
at risk.

Although I often wear a PFD while kayaking, I have trouble convincing my
wife to do so, because we almost always kayak in very protecting
fla****er, often only a few feet deep.

The only difference I see is canoes can carry a bigger cooler so they
may drink more beer. PFD use is spotty for both craft on our river.
The real scary thing is they seem to have no respect for power boats
and assume they are not only seen but will be yielded right of way.
When the power boat is a PWC things can get real dicey since most PWC
drivers refuse to give anyone quarter. They assume they have no wake.

I kayak and canoe as well as have a power boat. The kayak is required to
carry a PFD just like a canoe. So I usually wear the PFD as is hard to
store in a sit on top yak. Plus most yak anglers here in the west, will
fish the ocean and bays, and wear wetsuits, which also give flotation and
temperature protection. I wear the PFD in the canoe, but most I see do not.
But I have a variety of PFD's that are comfortable.