I don't think you are over-reacting, Glen. That said, I wear a pfd only when I know the possibility exists for trouble. I generally paddle in waters where the risks for trouble are limited only to my own stupidity, such as leaning over too much to see something. Since I paddle on very quiet lakes and rivers here with virtually no powerboats to worry about, I rarely wear one. My only really bad gaff was when I was in the Caribbean paddling with Malcolm. I totally forgot to wear a pfd while paddling from St Thomas to Yost van Dyke and I probably should have. That said, I am a good swimmer and can get back into a kayak without much trouble, pfd or no pfd. I always command newbies to wear pfd's if they use my boats or I refuse to let them paddle in water deeper than three feet. Every time I see powerboaters around these parts, I see no one wearing a pfd...I know from experience that powerboat users often do not know how to swim. This sight always causes me to shake my head. In a powerboat, I always wear a pfd, those things are just not as safe as a kayak in my opinion.

Robert N Pruden