Re: [Paddlewise] Canadian Coast Guard Regulations]

On Fri, May 15, 1998 at 06:55:57AM -0400, John Winters wrote:
> >Yes, it's of interest -- it's also pretty brain-damaged when read
> >from the viewpoint of a whitewater paddler.  Someone might want
> >to tell these idiots that none of the boats which raced in the
> >Canadian National Slalom Team Trials came even close to meeting
> >these specifications.
> 
> I don't think the concern is over racing in organised races. There have
> always been exemptions for that.

I chose that example because it's exceptionally glaring.  I could fill
the page with others; including, say, the morning and afternoon practice
and instructional sessions that will happen at (to pick just *one*) the
Madawasku Kanu Centre in Barry's Bay, Ontario today.

> When it was suggested that one need not wear a life jacket
> all the time it was violently opposed. Now when the government (Canadian)
> suggests you should have mandatory safety instruction it is opposed. Is
> this consistent?

I think so.  I don't have a major problem with mandatory safety instruction;
I have a major problem with stupid safety instruction and stupid safety
rules.  The proposed Canadian regulations were clearly written by someone,
or multiple someones, without the slightest clue about whitewater.  (Since
they do not specifically state that they are addressing only ocean paddling,
I can only presume that, by their own words, they intend to address
all canoeing and kayaking.)

As far as the wearing-a-PFD all the time issue goes, yes, I firmly
believe every boater should wear one at all times.  But that's a far cry
from insisting that government regulations should be passed in order
to enforce this by law.


---Rsk
Rich Kulawiec
rsk_at_gsp.org
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