[Paddlewise] Paddle Float Psychology

John Winters made a pungent statement a day or so ago skewering folks who
buy a piece of safety/rescue gear with the expectation that the gear will
make it safer for them to tackle more challenging conditions.  To wit, John
laid this dialog on us (paraphrasing his side):  "Are you leery of paddling
in dicey conditions WITHOUT a paddle float?"  "Yes?"  "But you would paddle
in those same dicey conditions WITH a paddle float on board?"  "Uh huh! 
Then you are an idiot."

John's basic premise is that we should not rely on safety gear to make
ourselves think we are safer in conditions which are at or above our skill
level.  He further claims that acquiring safety gear (and practicing its
use) leads paddlers to attempt more demanding conditions, thereby
increasing their exposure to risk.  He believes that many of us use the
gear to develop a false sense of security, and that many of us are deluding
ourselves about our ability to use the gear to rescue ourselves.  *I think*
he believes that we should instead:  1. increase our skill level;  2.
increase our ability to judge when conditions are likely to be at or above
our skill level;  and, 3. stay on the beach when we think conditons are
likely to demand our highest skills.  John does not like the psychology of
relying on self- (or group-) rescues to pull ourselves out of jams.  

I like the foregoing part of John's analysis.

Finally, John believes that a paddler who is forced to use a self rescue
has failed miserably in the area of judgement.

I do not buy this last part of John's argument.
---------------
Here is my psychology behind owning and practicing the use of a paddle
float outrigger system (PFORS):  I try to avoid conditions which force me
to use my limited repertoire of braces.  (I do not have a roll, though I
hope to develop the ability.)  When I get into conditions which demand more
than I have in skills, I head for the beach, if possible.  Don't need that
kind of stuff in my life.  If I can't get to the beach in time, I might
capsize, and have to attempt reentry and pumpout using the PFORS.  There is
a slim chance I will be unsuccessful, and a slimmer chance I will die.  I
accept that minute risk as the price of enjoying paddling in the places I
love.  It is similar to accepting the small risk that some jerk will T-bone
me when I drive to work.  I'm not going to invest in a tank to protect
myself against that kind of risk.  And, I'm not going to quit going to work
-- I get a nice reward for accepting the risk of a T-boning.  We call it a
pay check.

OTOH, some nice sunny day when the water is flat, I am going to have a
complete brain-cramp, stuff my paddle up a scupper or a companionway in my
yak, and I will capsize.  I will be able to wet-exit, reenter, pump out,
and paddle off, because I have a PFORS, and I can use it reliably in those
conditions.  That is the main reason I own a PFORS.  Owning the PFORS in no
way increases my risk.  It actually decreases it.  It is not a svelte siren
leading me off to doom.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR

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