I was reading a simulated nighttime search and rescue operation ( http://www.tassie.net.au/~lford/maatcm95.htm ) from the folks 'down under'. The woman playing the 'lost one' had some interesting comments about flares. The parachute flares she was carrying required two hands and several steps to set off, probably because of safety regulations :-(. How would you manage to do all that in really lumpy water? (The authorities were notified they would be setting flares off at such and such a time and area). Later on, she set off a hand held and made the point she had to hold the flare above her head to be seen which would have been fun in rough water. 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). *************************************************************************** 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 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 *************************************************************************** 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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