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Have you ever wondered what the pounds in bouyancy really mean?  Boatsafe.com put together a quick and easy explanation which can be helpful.     What Does 'Pounds of Buoyancy' Mean? Jeremy wants to know: "In your course you say that different PFDs have different pounds of buoyancy. What does that mean?" A buoyant apparatus is anything that can float and hold up weight. For instance, if you had a Type I PFD that is required to have 22 pounds of buoyancy, it would be capable of supporting 22 pounds of dense material such as lead, iron, gold, granite, etc....

Aaron Peeler, author of the blog and owner of H2O Rescue Gear, has 20 years experience working in the river industry.  He manages the Swiftwater Rescue programs for the U.S. National Whitewater Center where he teaches swiftwater teams from across the country including paddlers, fire, rescue and military teams.  Aaron is also a ACA L:5 Advanced Swiftwater Rescue Instructor/Trainer and a L:4 Raft Instructor/Trainer.

I get this question all the time- what type of carabiner should I get to carry in my PFD? My first answer is: a locking carabiner.  That question is usually followed up with: which carabiner or brand of carabiner do you prefer?  That answer is pretty easy too: the Omega Jake Twist Lock (TL) carabiner.  Why do I like it?  It is a durable single-stage twist lock carabiner which is easy to unlock and it auto locks when released.  A simple and effective design! I have been using the Omega Jake (TL) for 7 or 8 years. I average 100...

It is important to understand the different types of rope found in throw bags, especially if you are looking to purchase one. Some ropes are stronger than others and some ropes are more durable than others. Here is some information to better educate you on the different ropes found in most throw bags. Rope Types: Braided vs. Kermantle Braided Rope – Braided rope is truly that; braided strands of polypropylene rope with no core (kern). Braided rope used to be more present in throw bags many years ago. Due to the limits on strength and abrasion resistances, it has pretty...