Apparently, a kayaker had a bit of misfortune on Lake Superior near Duluth today. I have few details at this point. There was a small craft advisory today, a east wind to 30 knots or more and nasty surf. All I know (from the Coast Guard) is that he exited his boat in or near the ship canal, and got banged up pretty bad against the jetty, where some people helped him. Apparently he is OK after the ambulance came and a trip to the hospital. More as it becomes available. Wayne *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
^Hi^! Just wanted to share with everyone that there will be a Kayak Race on the 4th of October at Indian Key, Florida (Florida Keys, bout half way to Key West) More information can be had by calling Frank at Florida Bay Outfitters at (305) 451-3018 or emailing him at: FBOKayak_at_aol.com His site is www.Pennekamp.com/fbout Just a fun race that lost of go fast semi pros go to. Paddleing in the back country of the Florida Keys is always fun. The race is part of the Indian Keys Festival that helps raise $$$ for the local organizations around. See Ya There! Bill Goldstick Big Pine Key, FL *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I suspect my 240 cm Swift paddle is too long for me. I've cut it down to a 230 and may continue shortening it, so I can determine the ideal length <> joint pains. What length paddles to other Paddlewisenheimers use? Around here (South Florida) the average seems to be 220cm. I am 6' and paddle a narrow boat. Thanks for the insight. cya Bob Denton *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
At last count there were nine paddles hanging out in my shop all recieving approximately equal use though a few favorites may get used more. They range in length from 220 - 250 and in blade size from Little Dipper size to San Juan size. There are some wood, some FG and some graphite. Which paddle gets used on any given day is determined by the nature of the trip and how I am feeling. I would not settle for a single length or type of paddle....On a related note, I recently got to demo a two-shafted paddle designed by an aquaintace with wrist problems. There are two rotatable hand holds secured at shoulder width at right angles between the shafts resulting in more of a push/pull motion when used. I only used it about 15 minutes or so but was impressed by its efficiency mark. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Bob Denton said, <snip> I suspect my 240 cm Swift paddle is too long for me. I've cut it down to a 230 and may continue shortening it, so I can determine the ideal length <> joint pains. What length paddles to other Paddlewisenheimers use? Around here (South Florida) the average seems to be 220cm. I am 6' and paddle a narrow boat. <stop> OK, I may be a bit strange, but I like a very short paddle. I'm 6' 5" and the paddle I use most often is a 206 cm wooden paddle. I used to use a 240 cm paddle and developed a chronic neck pain. The pain went away almost as soon as I switched to a shorter paddle. My style varies, though most of my paddling is done with a low angled touring stroke. On the other hand, the paddle that I switched to has a smaller blade area. Perhaps I could use a longer paddle if it had a smaller blade area. I intend on buying a longer paddle to check this theory. Cheers, Dave *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Someone asked: > > <So what are you supposed to propel with a paddle 243cm long, an aircraft carrier???... I use a 220 cm Lightning standard, more or less low-angle style, for my single. Anything larger/longer causes tendonitis in my wrists if I do a couple long days in succession. However, when I am the rear paddler in my folding double (Folbot Greenland II), I use a 250 cm Windswift. I need that length to slow my cadence down to that of the front paddler. In addition, the 250 is definitely not too much paddle for my wrists -- I can go for days and never experience tendonitis with it -- **in a double.** Definitely one place where YMMV. BTW, Cooperstein's post of the formula stimulated this post. I suspect it is intended for use in singles only. I am going to try out his formula on the paddles my friends like for their singles. They will no doubt give me a ration, but it will be fun. Measuring and calibrating, calibrating and measuring. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The details: The man paddled through the ship canal while there were 8 foot waves on the lake. The ship canal amplifies the waves, and the mouth is often very confused. He capsized near the mouth of the canal, and hung onto his boat for a while. I'm not sure how, but he ended up outside the canal on the lake side, and eventually was pulled from the lake after 35 minutes in the water. He was conscious at that time, but then lost consciousness due to hypothermia. He was treated and released. Its pretty obvious that this could have been avoided in several ways 1) dont go through the canal when the waves are that big 2) dont go out alone when " " " " 3) wear a drysuit-I am assuming he didnt if he was hypothermic after 30 minutes. This is not Lake Havasu 4) dont combine #1,2,3 He's a lucky guy. Wayne At 06:33 PM 9/19/98 -0500, you wrote: >Apparently, a kayaker had a bit of misfortune on Lake Superior near Duluth >today. I have few details at this point. There was a small craft advisory >today, a east wind to 30 knots or more and nasty surf. All I know (from the >Coast Guard) is that he exited his boat in or near the ship canal, and got >banged up pretty bad against the jetty, where some people helped him. >Apparently he is OK after the ambulance came and a trip to the hospital. >More as it becomes available. > >Wayne >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** > > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I've been able to glean a few more pieces of info about the weekend's Duluth incident. Apparently the paddler was not even wearing a wetsuit. This was apparently his second time in a kayak. He actually capsized not very far into the ship canal, wasnt intending on going all the way out, but was swept out by the current (the canal is also an outlet of the St Louis River). He was in a borrowed boat and as far as I know, had no kayak training. This also is third hand info. Last night I was out paddling with a couple friends. I turned back early due to a headache. Wind and current in the canal were pretty strong, making it an effort to get back in. Once I made it into the harbor the offshore winds increased even more, and it was already getting close to dark. My friends were nowhere in sight. I walked out to the lake side and scanned up and down the shore for them, seeing nothing. I then drove to a beach about 1/2 mile away, thinking they may have decided to take out there and walk back to the cars. Two people there said they had seen them paddling toward the ship canal about 20 minutes prior, so I went back there again and still saw nothing. By this time it was completely dark. I decided to check back at the cars one more time. If they werent there I was going to the Coast Guard even though I was pretty sure they were OK since the waves were not big. Fortunately one of them was there. They had decided not to try to get through the canal, as the winds were so strong that one paddler, a very lightweight woman in an unloaded boat with lots of freeboard, was being blown away from shore. So they paddled past the ship canal and landed on the beach over there, where I never would have thought to look for them. Anyway that ended up happily, but gave me a bit of a scare. It did raise the question though-when is it time to call for help? I was fairly confident that they were OK since the waves werent "capsize size", and I knew at least one of them could roll and do assisted rescues in those conditions. Although the winds were strong, I didnt think they would be blown offshore (wrong) although I knew they would have trouble getting through the canal, and I knew both were wearing drysuits. I found myself not wanting to embarrass the hell out of them by calling help if they were OK, but they were overdue, it was past dark, and I didnt want to wait too long either. We never set a pre-arranged "time to start worrying", as conditions were breezy but benign when we split up. If I had to do it again, I would have arranged a "time to call help" before splitting up, no matter how ridiculous it would have seemed at the time. Wayne *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> It did raise the question though-when is it time to call for help? I was > fairly confident that they were OK since the waves werent "capsize size", > and I knew at least one of them could roll and do assisted rescues in those > conditions. Although the winds were strong, I didnt think they would be This is a good question, and has been bugging me for a while. Is the coast guard there to save lives, or to save us from spending an inconvenient night on the water or on some unplanned beach? Frankly, I don't want to be "rescued" from situations that aren't life threatening. If it takes me an extra day to extricate myself from a problem, then thats the way it is, so I'll be late and a bit hungry. Certainly not something I want the coast guard spending thousands of dollars to allow me to avoid. On the other hand, if I'm capsized or seperated from my yak 20 miles offshore, I want to be rescued, and I'll have my strobe going blinky-blinky, to indicate such to the boats and rigs within eyeshot. [Though I don't intend to allow THAT to ever happen in the first place...] Richard Walker Houston, TX *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On Fri, 25 Sep 1998, R. Walker wrote: > This is a good question, and has been bugging me for a while. Is > the coast guard there to save lives, or to save us from spending an > inconvenient night on the water or on some unplanned beach? > Frankly, I don't want to be "rescued" from situations that aren't > life threatening. If it takes me an extra day to extricate myself > from a problem, then thats the way it is, so I'll be late and a bit > hungry. Certainly not something I want the coast guard spending > thousands of dollars to allow me to avoid. On the other hand, if (snip) And while we're asking, who pays for Coast Guard rescues? After they save your life (or prevent you from coming home late) do they send you a bill for thousands of dollars? Or do our tax dollars cover this? Joy Hecht Arlington VA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 98-09-25 15:30:15 EDT, jhecht_at_capaccess.org writes: << And while we're asking, who pays for Coast Guard rescues? >> Dunno, Joy, but I have one in my logbook with the Coasties, and I didn't get a penny out of it! The three I got in Viet Nam with the Navy were good for miniatures of something really cheap from the Flight Surgeon and a fifth of very good bourbon from each of the guys I saved. If you find there's a way of collecting on these things, Joy, lemme know --- I'll split anything I get with you! Joq *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Joy E. Hecht wrote: > > And while we're asking, who pays for Coast Guard rescues? After they > save your life (or prevent you from coming home late) do they send you a > bill for thousands of dollars? Or do our tax dollars cover this? > > Joy Hecht > Arlington VA The Coast Guard, unlike other government agencies involved with rescues of stranded hikers and mountain climbers, does not charge, or hasn't up until now. So your tax dollars pay for it. In the one Coast Guard rescue that I did get an FOIA report on back in 1991 or 1992, I later asked for estimates of the costs involved. It was around $7,000 according to my Coast Guard source. But it is really hard to figure out since boats are on station anyway waiting for a call. The crew is paid anyway. The boats are there. The only expenditure would be fuel but the motors are idling anyway while on station. The big issue in the rescue that I got info on was that the paddlers were needlessly out at night in gale force winds and had a capsize in the group and a near hit by a tug for another of the boats. The situation got two Coast Guard boats pulled off station to find and take care of the paddlers. An opportunity cost was the real issue. The boats called to action could not be available for some other less avoidable accident such as a ferry afire or a barge running astray (neither of these things happened that night). My big problem with kayakers acting irresponsibly and getting the Coast Guard and other S & R people out is that resources are scarce and thinned out anyway. If such crews are rescuing someone in a needless situation it takes them from places were they really may be needed. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
R. Walker wrote: > > > It did raise the question though-when is it time to call for help? > > This is a good question, and has been bugging me for a while. Is > the Coast Guard there to save lives, or to save us from spending an > inconvenient night on the water or on some unplanned beach? > Frankly, I don't want to be "rescued" from situations that aren't > life threatening. If it takes me an extra day to extricate myself > from a problem, then thats the way it is, so I'll be late and a bit > hungry. Been following this thread with some interest. There certainly is a temptation to Mayday the CG if you have a VHF handy. OTOH, the same VHF is equally useful in hitting a CG repeater to let them know you DON'T need a rescue, and are doing fine, thank you. In my paddling area, the most likely reason I would not be able to get home is that I'm sitting under a tarp comfortably warming myself by a huge fire, as a storm makes the Bay too rough to paddle. 'Course, the folks at home don't know that, so when darkness rolls around, they will call the CG with the info on my float plan, and the CG will probably launch a helo to look for me ... UNLESS I've managed to tell them I'm fine. Frankly, I bought my first VHF expressly for that purpose: so the CG did not needlessly launch a SAR operation. BTW, the Canadian CG requests that paddlers file float plans with them (which I have done a couple times), and if you fail to return, they WILL come looking for you, after they become pretty certain you truly are missing. Good system, except that if you are out for a 2-week trip and get wrecked on day 2, nobody will come looking until day 15 or thereabouts, making for a rather broad search area. Or, so I had imagined, anyway, until I heard a paddler on the VHF filing a PROGRESS REPORT to the local Can CG to update his (previously filed) float plan! What a great idea ... don't think the US CG has the resources to deal with float plans down here. Wonder what the Canadians are doing differently which allows their CG to monitor paddlers so much better? -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Just to clarify the situation that brought up this (I think) good question: When I said I wondered when to "call for help" what I really meant was, I wondered at what point I should calmly walk into the CG station which is about 100 yards from our launch point and 200 yds from the ship canal, and say "My friends should probably have been back by now. I'm not overly concerned about them at this point, they're probably fine, but it is well past dark and if you're not doing anything more important, maybe you could take a quick ride out and look for them". I wouldnt have called in a frantic Mayday or anything drastic like that. But I also wouldnt have gone home to bed without doing >something<, even though I was pretty sure they were OK. I couldnt be sure-they could have capsized in the mouth of the canal just before the 600 ft salty came through in the dark, or been blown far out in the lake. I guess I'd rather be safe and embarrased than find out later that I could have done more. Its a tough call I agree that we dont want to sound any unnecessary alarms. What I got out of it is to agree on something anytime a group splits up even if conditions dont seem to warrant it at the time. Wayne *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>At 17:17 9/25/98 -0700, Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote: > [snip] > >Wonder what the Canadians are doing differently which allows their CG to >monitor paddlers so much better? > >-- >Dave Kruger >Astoria, OR less drug interdiction? that's one of the biggest uses of coast guard budget, although not so much in the northwest, but south. and if the CG is like the US navy, they run most all their bases the same, reguardless of location. i'm not up in the CG at all. my impression from talking with the canadian navy, was we monitor the continent far more, and further out, they monitor the shoreline better. although their navy's "stealth colored" ships are pretty cool. talked with quite a few while my ship was in halifax. so they have a close by navy, do they also have a CG, if the navy monitors close to shore, it allow the CD to really monitor the small stuff. [my humble observations, i speak with no true knowlegde of their military policies] mark #------canoeist[at]netbox[dot]com-------------------------------------- mark zen o, o__ o_/| o_. po box 474 </ [\/ [\_| [\_\ ft. lupton, co 80621-0474 (`-/-------/----') (`----|-------\-') #~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~~~~_at_~~~~~ http://www.diac.com/~zen/paddler [index of Paddling websites I manage] Rocky Mtn Sea Kayak Club, Colorado River Flows, Poudre Paddlers The Colorado Paddlers' Resource, Rocky Mtn Canoe Club Trip Page #-Fortune: "In a world without fences, who needs 'Gates'" -- Scott McNealy, CEO Sun Microsystems "In a world without walls, who needs 'Windows'" -- Dave Livigni *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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