[Paddlewise] paddle floats

As someone who is tool and materials challenged, I find having to make
modifications to my boat a stressful process. Through this thread I find
myself now wondering at the rather limited range of standard equipment and
design changes that manafacturers provide with their boats. It seems to me
some of it is akin to buying a new car only to discover you don't get a
spare tire or even a tire jack.... I'm sure in days gone past ... way
past... these were equipment options... you could do it yourself and modify
your car to hang a spare tire... or even modify to put lights on it! Now...
these are requirements for current models.

It seems to me there should be factory-issued designs that facilitate use
of a hand pump with the spray skirt attached (? a hatch opening designed
for this purpose in front of the cockpit?) How about a mandatory, standard
issue foldable outrigger device to aid with re-entry, or rolling up? Why
should any of these features rely on the ingenuity and skills of the
purchaser or be an after thought, rather than part of the integral package?
(I'd hate to have to affix my own airbag in my car?). Car designs have been
modified to accomodate mandatory safety equipment.... how about 'yaks?

<snip>

>
>RE: the validity of paddle floats in general, and of hand pumps - I just 
>can't stay out of this one any longer. They're used because they're cheap, 
>they're available everywhere, and they require no modifications of the boat.
>
>They just can't be as bad as they're being painted in this list. Tens of 
>thousands of paddlers have used these two items of equipment for several 
>years now, and there has not been a wholesale die-off of paddlers. Perhaps 
>there are reports of some deaths specifically due to the need to use a hand 
>(stirrup) pump. If so, I've missed them.
>

<snip>
>
>Bill Hansen
>
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>
Sam Isaacs
saisaacs_at_netcom.ca  
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