RE: [Paddlewise] Costco selling kayaks

Not sure where this thread got started --- just seemed to appear in 
full bloom in my mailbox --- but I'd like to make a comment or two.

We are a litigious society as Julio pointed out ---  at least here in 
the U.S.  McDonald's cups of coffee will burn us and kayaks will 
kill us, so both have disclaimers written on them.  But I don't recall 
expecting to be taught to drive by Mr. Nissan or Mr. Ford.  Those 
guys build cars --- other people run the driver ed programs.  Some 
kayaking retailers go a lot further than they need to to ensure that 
their buyers understand that there are support groups out there 
which can help in training and safety --- SpringRiver here in the 
Baltimore-Washington area is a good example of interactive 
retailers --- but others don't.  REI rented a bunch of sea kayaks to 
some "newbies" on a "beginner" trip which we in the Chesapeake 
Paddler Association (CPA) ran a few years back, and sent the 
rentals out without paddle floats.  As a backup trip leader, I was 
pissed, told REI about it in a letter, and got a very positive letter 
back from the area VP, totally agreeing that they should provide 
floats, and pledging to do so from then on. People learn.

I guess I don't agree with Woody's assumption that Chris or Nick or 
whoever sold him his kit also was obliged to provide safety and 
operational training any more than I'd fault Subaru for not teaching 
me to drive.  It's not part of the deal.  Other organizations can 
provide that training --- which is partly why I'm answering e-mail 
after midnight, having spent a bunch of hours writing a strawman 
program for a "newbies" workshop the CPA is putting on in April for 
folks who need the basics for safe operation of sea kayaks.

Not trying to provoke an argument here, but I think that the 
manufacturers and retailers would be hard pressed to stay in 
business if they also were responsible for all the dumb things we 
do with our boats.  My tired thoughts.

Jack Martin
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