Re: [Paddlewise] flares

JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com wrote:
> 
> With all the talk about flares --- and, I recall, one mention of strobes ---
> was kinda wondering how many or us carry them as standard issue?  [snip]
> but the strobe is definitely my signal-of-choice.
> 
> Am I in a minority?

Around here, virtually every sea kayaker carries small pencil-type flares
(ACR Firefly or equiv) on their person.  Maybe 10 per cent carry strobes. 
The thinking is that the flares will alert boaters in the near vicinity
that there is an emergency.

BTW, about 5 years ago, one of the Columbia River Bar pilots got knocked
off the ladder while transferring from a freighter to the pilot boat -- out
in the ocean at the mouth of the River.  He spent about 3 hours floating
around in the water at night, maybe 6 foot swell and 2 foot wind chop, with
his strobe going, and guess how the CG in the helo spotted him:  by the
SPLASHING he made in the water when the helo made a pass.  Yeah, they did
NOT see the strobe, even though they had made a couple passes very near to
him.

He did not carry pencil flares, IIRC.  Don't know what happened to his
handheld VHF.  He was one very lucky puppy, because the water temp was in
the low 60's, and his "immersion protection" was some standard issue
coveralls and a big float coat.  (No wetsuit, no dry suit, no heavy fleece
insulation.)  When found, he was mildly hypothermic ... and very grateful!

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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