: This appears to be one of the most fun threads in quite some time. So I think
: I will throw my comments it.

: Shawn has not broken any laws in making a flotation vest. He can make all the
: vests he wants and the Coast Guard will not care. It is what he does with
: it they care about about. If he uses it in a situation where a Coast Guard
: approved PFD is required, then he has broken the law. And, if they catch
: him at it they will care.

: Breaking the law is an option open to Shawn. He can opt to break the law, and
: wear the vest. As George Roberts points out the Coast Guard can also opt
: to confiscate his kayak. Does the intrinsic value of wearing a home made,
: customized, floatation vest (instead of a $25 legal one from Kmart) out
: weigh the risk of getting one’s home made, custom kayak, with 300 hours of
: labor, confiscated? Shawn will have to answer that one for him self.

: Trying to out smart the Coast Guard and carrying a legal vest on his deck may
: not be a great idea either. A Coast Guard Officer might take it as a
: person affront and confiscate the anyway kayak He could claim the illegal
: vest interferes with the proper operation of the legal one. Actually I
: think Shawn might be able to beat that argument in court. However his
: kayak would still be in the hands of the feds, for several days at least….
: with all that that implies.

: This does not mean there is no value in making the vest. Without ever using
: it (and thus breaking the law) there is the intellectual value in the
: creation process. There is also potential for increased personal esteem
: from the accomplishment. These alone might be enough for some people to
: make a vest.

: Beyond the above items, making the vest might enhance his understanding of
: what he wants in a commercial (legal) vest. If commercial makers hang out
: on this board, they might see it and use the ideas to make better vests.
: Who knows, making that vest could even land Shawn a job with a manufacture
: like Kotatat. If that does happen, Shawn, if you can get me a Kakatat
: Gortex Dry Suit on an employee discount, that would be very cool!

Don, Thank you for the straightforward, tactful constructive criticism. You've presented your arguments in a manner that provokes thought rather than defense. I'll have to sleep on it!

The biggest risk I'm taking is whether I'll run into an enforcement officer who is a stickler who sees that I've broken the letter of the law, or a reasonable person who sees that I've actually reduced my personal risk. Either one is in the legal right to do with me as they choose. If they confiscated my boat, I sure hope they don't scratch it!! ;)