There is no reason to be fearful of boating in general, or packrafting in particular. Even on a calm lake, if you end up in the water unexpectedly you will be very happy to have a PFD. A great deal of packrafting is done on remote mountain lakes and rivers, where cold water can severely impact your ability to self-rescue. Packrafts are prone to being blown around by high wind and, though tough, are still ultralight inflatable crafts susceptible to tears and deflation. But boaters can “go swimming” for a variety of reasons, including rapidly-changing weather, user error, or virtually unforeseeable circumstances (up to and including being breached on by a whale). There is a common misconception that PFDs are only necessary in rough, dangerous-looking water or rivers. Contrast this with the much-feared risk of bear attacks, which kill roughly one person every two years. A 2016 State of Alaska study, for example, recorded an average of 15 non-occupational boating drownings in the state per year between 20.
With extremely few exceptions, this urge should be resisted.ĭrowning is the single greatest safety risk to boaters, including packrafters. Why Wear a PFD?īecause their added weight and bulk, packrafters may be especially tempted to leave their PFD at home. The Ninja was designed to maximize range of motion for competitive kayakers. Wearing an NRS Ninja PFD (Type III) while packrafting small rapids on Alaska’s Placer River. The USCG has estimated that since the early 1970’s, the adoption of Type III PDFs has saved over 40,000 lives. But decades of boating safety data compiled by US Coast Guard and other groups show that Type III PFDs make boating much safer, both because of their benefits when worn and because they are more likely to be worn in the first place. Type III PFDs will not turn an unconscious swimmer face-up in the water and do not have quite as much flotation as a Type I vest (15.5 lbs minimum vs. Type III PFDs come in a variety of colors and styles, and prioritize comfort and range of motion. The vast majority of PFDs used today by recreational boaters, including packrafters, are Type III. Some packrafters with swiftwater rescue training may use Type V rescue vests.
Type IV PFDs are throwable rescue devices (like rings) and Type V is a catchall group of specialized gear approved by the US Coast Guard. Type II PFDs are an older blocky “keyhole” style of that are rarely used today.
Type I PFDs are designed for stormy ocean seas they provide a generous 22 lbs of flotation and will turn an unconscious person face-up in the water, but they are too bulky and heavy to please most recreational boaters and are usually kept in storage on large vessels for emergencies. In the 1970s the US Coast Guard began issuing standards for PFDs, classifying them into one of five categories. Around the 1960’s, closed-cell foam vests were introduced and the practice of wearing PFDs for recreational boating became well-established. Modern vest-style PFDs made out of cork and kapok (a down-like tropical wood fiber) began appearing around the mid-1800’s, and were worn by sailors until the development of inflatables during World War II. PFDs – An IntroductionĪ PFD (personal flotation device) is a buoyant device intended to prevent the wearer from drowning. REI has a good overview on PFD selection, fit, maintenance, etc. For more thorough general information about PFDs, look to the US Coast Guard and other trusted sources. Note that this article is focused on PFDs as they pertain to packrafts and packrafting.
TYPE 3 PFD FULL
Good options for packrafters include those that are light, built from quality materials, and allow full range of motion. As with paddles, there really isn’t such a thing as a “packraft PFD,” but some PFDs will tend to work better for packrafting than others.
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