<SNIP> >I agree with another poster who said "you don't paddle farther than you are > prepared to swim." But then you will never use the full potential of your craft, which in some way might have been the reason to pick up seakayaking in the first place. Speaking for myself I wouldnt dream of swimming the distances Ive been offshore.......and what about crossings??? ~~~~~~~~~~~~maritimus~~~~~~~~~~ Pontus Gustavsson Eskilstuna, Sweden maritimus_at_mail.bip.net apparluk_at_hotmail.com icq#->413225 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I don't want to belittle the risks of being blown out to sea or endorse paddling alone far from shore, but clearly when sea kayaking there are many times where we must commit to our craft and assume that swimming is not a realistic option. I normally paddle on Lake Superior where in summer the water is still quite cold and I am sure in Sweden that is clearly the case as well. For an unprotected swimmer, even a strong swimmer the statistics show only about a 50% chance of swimming to shore 1/2 mile without being overcome by hypothermia in water that is 50 degrees F. I am sure I could dog paddle a good deal further in full drysuit and battle gear, but what kind of headway could I make against wind or current? Until the last trace of boat and gear sank below the waves I would not even consider swimming as an option when I am more that a few hundred yards from shore. In most cases I would rather risk being blown out to sea than getting dashed on the rocks in rough conditions. If I get blown out to sea I am prepared to paddle all day all night and on into the next day if I have to. If you have been minding the marine weather forecast you really should not find yourself in a position where you are off to do some blue water paddling. If you spend you time a few miles offshore you need to be prepared for every reasonable emergency including boat repair. That means plenty of drinking water where you can reach it and some emergency calories (energy gel, power bars and other nasty things!) in addition to all the normal safety gear. Here on the big lakes we don't have to worry about freshwater. Just do a deep sculling brace, extend snorkel lips downward and enjoy! I have been up to 40 miles from shore in my kayak, but never without a very fair forecast, lots of training, lots of hardware, and some very carefully selected paddling companions that I would trust if in spite of careful planning there was an unforeseen emergency. Pontus Gustavsson wrote: > <SNIP> > > >I agree with another poster who said "you don't paddle farther than you > are > > prepared to swim." > > But then you will never use the full potential of your craft, which in some > way might have been the reason to pick up seakayaking in the first place. > Speaking for myself I wouldnt dream of swimming the distances Ive been > offshore.......and what about crossings??? > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~maritimus~~~~~~~~~~ > Pontus Gustavsson > Eskilstuna, Sweden > maritimus_at_mail.bip.net > apparluk_at_hotmail.com > icq#->413225 > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
These are very good points. But I personally would only consider such great distances offshore (40 miles!)when accompanied by another competent kayaker. But hey, (as my mom used to say) that's why they make chocolate and vanilla ice cream! - Scott *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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