Re: [Paddlewise] I knew better ...-> comments

Paul,

Thank you for posting your experience on this list. It is a good
heads up for many.

I would like to comment on a couple of things.

> He suggested we go out on the river for an hour or so of casual 
> drifting just to relax, so I did so at 6 thinking he'd be along 
> soon, but as I kept paddling out into the center of the Hudson 
> and turning around to look for him at the boat club he didn't 
> show because his couple was an hour late.

It is better not to count on people being on time . What I do when the expected
people do not show up, is to practice rescues and rolls close
to shore. If they ever show up and it is too late I just get
out of the water and say "maybe next time". I suggest you do that
instead of paddling out next time.

> windward side of the boat, but I was unable to move as the 
> paddle leash was wrapping around my right leg while the boat 
> continued to roll, making it tighter. I gasped for air, the 
> boat continued to roll with each wave and my leg started to 
> raise up, sending me below.

My case against paddle leashes rests. The $25 of a spare kayak paddle
at REI is a lot cheaper than your life.

> and one foot in the cockpit. Without a float and support for 
> the other leg, when I tried to get it into the boat it rolled 
> again. I tried three times anyway, eventually gave up on it and 

If you knew how to do a re-entry and paddlefloat roll, the paddlefloat
would have helped you. Otherwise you would have found out the hard way
that the classic paddlefloat re-entry is only good for calm waters.

> shivering continued, but didn't worsen. I tried the whistle a 
> number of times, but nobody was around to hear it. I felt 

I used the whitle many times without any success. Not even paddlers
100 yards away would hear it. The best response I have gotten is
"We thought it was a bird!".  Whitles make your ears ring, but when
calling for attention they are useless. That is why they give them
out for free.

> Alan was white as a sheet. We loaded the boats onto our cars, 

In the conditions you describe, Alan would have just been another victim.
When conditions get rough people paddle for their lives and 
groups disperse as waves cut out the visibility among the members of the group.

> 5) no strobe on my vest, it was here in the closet, safe at home

Strobes help SAR to find someone at night. The average boater does not
know what a strobe light signals, nor cares about it. A six pack of
beer is more effective on calling their attention.

> 7) no knife

Do not try cutting a rope with a knife in braking waves. You would 
most likely end up injuring yourself. Just get rid of that bloddy tether
and get a spare paddle. A small canoe paddle should be enough.

> 
> 9)Tether the bilge pump in. I nearly lost it three times.

Pumping water out in rought conditions is useless. It only invites
another capsize. Roll up with the paddlefloat, and leave it on
you blade to keep upright until the situation gets better -better
weather, rescue arrives, someone tows you.

> 10)I was out alone.

No company is better than bad company. See comment four paragraphs above.

> 
> I'm still shaken. When I got home the next night I watched a 
> Trailside episode that taped while I was gone to try to relax. 

Kill your TV. I would make your life more enjoyable. 

> 
> Extrasport PFD worked well, but **only because the waist strap 
> was cinched as tightly as I could stand it**. A mistake I think 

My extrasport was retired last year for that reason. What I paid for
my current PFD, a Lotus, is definetely worth the investment.

Thanks again Paul. Sharing your experiences with others might save
some lives.

- Julio
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