Re: [Paddlewise] Flares

> I wonder how many carry their flares underneath the sprayskirt (me), know
> how to use them if they have them (not me), have the skills and balance to
> control the boat while they set them off in adverse conditions (not me),
> and know if their flares expiration date has been reached (yeaaaa, I got
> that one).

I suppose I'm even worse, I carry my flares in a cargo box inside 
the boat.  On the other hand, my strobe is clipped to my PFD 
which I always wear in the salty water.  The flares are there to 
meet coast guard requirements.  If I ever figure out a situation 
where I could effectively use a flare, but could not effectively stay in 
my boat in the first place, I'll reconsider.   But the way I see it, if I 
have enough coordination to deal with a flare, I'm going to spend 
my energy keeping me and my boat together and in one piece.
As long as I'm with my boat, I'm with my supply of fresh water, and 
if I'm with my supply of fresh water, I can wait out just about any 
storm system short of a stalled tropical system, and I ain't gonna 
be out anyway if there is a tropical system cooking in the pond.



Richard Walker
Houston, TX
http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html
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