I second saltydog. I flipped a canoe in Maine a few years ago wearing my PFD. Blew my whistle and this guy in a power boat came by, picked me up and said "We'll get tow the canoe back to shore". To which I replied, "Do you take AAA?". We laughed, I got back to the camper where my wife almost died of oxygen deprivation trying not to laugh. I lost no equipment, just a little ego, but now trust my PFD to the max. I think everyone should go over, in a controlled sense, and see how the PFD works. I just leaned back, enjoyed the warm water. Can't swim in that PFD!
Mike