Most people have a low appreciation for just how debilitating cold water can be.
The United States Coast Guard has this guideline, called the 50/50/50 Rule. "If you spend more than 50 minutes in 50oF water, you have only a 50% chance of surviving".
The Canadian Coast Guard, based on their studies, have what they refer to as the 1-10-1 Rule. You have 1 minute to get your breathing under control (a gasp will cause you to inhale 1 liter of water!), 10 minutes of useable fine motor control (think fingers to operate a flashlight or flare) and 1 hour before hypothermia sets in.
Water will wick heat away from your body 25 times faster than air, so, if possible, pull yourself up onto an overturned hull or dinghy. Avoid exerting yourself or worse - believing you can swim to that seemingly close shoreline. Float quietly or, if with others, form a huddle to preserve body heat. Have a water-activated strobe light on your lifejacket.
Inflatable pdf's are comfortable but a full-body pdf will provides additional insulation in the water, slowing the loss of body heat.
There are pockets on good lifejackets so why not use them. Carry a watchcap to minimize heat loss from your head and 1 or 2 pocket flares.
Fifty minutes goes by really fast.
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