I think that there is a self-policing aspect to all this. People are naturally a bit awestruck/fearful of large expanses of water and, for the most part, are not likely to venture out into blight conditions. They will pick calm days and keep close to shore. I think the deadly part comes from a disregard for wearing PFDs, it does look sissy-like, and the dangers of early Spring when the air is at 70F degrees while water temperatures are still below 50F degrees, a combination froth with woe. I think it was Jack M. who mentioned his group's being pissed at REI for renting boats without paddle floats to newbies. It brings up two observations: 1. What good would come from a newbie having a paddlefloat he/she did not know how to use? 2. I would say a goodly number of the individuals that I have run across who have paddle floats, have never practiced even once with them. It was a suggested piece of safety equipment. They bought one and dutifully carry it. They may have seen some illustrations in an instruction book and said "Oh, so that is all there is to it." 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Mar 04 1999 - 08:52:16 PST
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