[Paddlewise] Safety issue forwarded

Hello you all!  I am forwarding this conversation between me and 
Jackie because of  her proposal!  It is quite near some topics of 
conversation I have been following lately...

ARI



------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date:          Thu, 5 Mar 1998 14:49:59 -0800 (PST)
From:          Jackie Fenton <jackie_at_intelenet.net>
To:            735769_at_ican.net, asaarto_at_lpt.fi
Subject:       Re: old stuff to bother you..


Hi Ari,

> Pardon me, John & Jackie,
> 
>  asking you directly about a matter which has actually  been 
> bothering ME for a while.  Last time I did send mail to Paddlewise 
> list about this matter I got no answers - maybe I wasn¦t showing my 
> real worrying about this & people were thinking that I was joking...
> 
> Two members of our club bought new kayaks, which were both equipped 
> with an adjustable skeg AND a rudder.  I am thinking that the kayaks 
> are having a little bit too much armament and making the necessary 
> manouvers -  to adjust the skeg, to paddle and to use the rudder, 
> possibly all of them at the same time - can actually be very 
> dangerous.  The other paddler is very experienced (a retired
> lawyer, kayaking more than 4000 kilometres per season) - the other is 
> not, I think.  She has been doing some few day trips with the former, 
> open sea, and I am afraid that he is leading her to taking 
> unnecessary risks: as for an example going out to too hairy weather.
> The basic training here is only a four-day course.

Personally, I've never heard of a rudder and skeg combo.  Maybe they
have both because one failed, maybe they have both because they
couldn't decide which would keep their boat on a straight course
under certain conditions, or maybe they had a rudder attached because
they don't have the skills to turn the boat (my guess). 

> They had problems last summer, he rescuing her when they were going 
> downwind. The shoals roused breaking waves and they had surely some 
> difficulties when trying to change direction.  All this armament 
> looks like a reaction to that.
> 
> What do you think about all this:
> a) is the rudder/skeg compilation a little bit too much?
> b) how should one react,  if seeing somebody so unexperienced with a 
> more experienced sea kayaker who is not able to put himself to 
> other¦s situation?

I sense you are very concerned for her safety.  Sometimes people
go along with a stronger minded individual because they are afraid
of rejection.  Maybe she knows so little about kayaking, that she
thinks he knows a lot.  

Maybe you can find a copy of "Deep Trouble" and give it to her and
tell her it is important that she understand what can happen.   Tell 
her you believe this lawyer is endangering her life as well as his.
Or you could get her a copy of "Kabloona in a Yellow Kayak" by 
Victoria Jason.  Don Starkell, if you haven't heard the name, and 
Victoria traveled together in some tough conditions.  It is amazing
they are still alive.  Starkell, who thinks himself an expert and 
know-it-all, very nearly got them killed more than once.  Victoria 
finally realized he wasn't the expert kayaker/adventurer he had made 
himself out to be.  Fortunately her realization came before it was
too late.

You mention the basic training course.  Has she at least taken that?
If so, encourage her to take more courses.

Check out http://www.ckf.org/yak/September95.html#cambria

There are some other good stories on the CKF site.  Maybe you can
print those out and have her read them.

I think this would be a very good message to post to the group.  This
type of situation occurs a *lot*.  Too much.

Cheers,

Jackie

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************