Re: [Paddlewise] Nearly Fatal

"Reeves, Debbie (Debbie)" wrote:
> 
> It's 3 a.m. and I give up on my sleeplessness caused by the incidents on
> 3/3.  Here's what happened:

[big snip]

> The owner is just leaving when I catch him.  We sit down and I relay my
> afternoon's experience with him (omitting the problems with his demo boats).
> He is shocked, taken aback but at times becomes (in my opinion) a little
> defensive of their store practices and of the manufacturers. [snip] I am
> told that new boat owners aren't interested in hearing safety tips; they are
> too focused on their new stuff and can't/won't listen to you.  The owner
> states that he will communicate the event to the store staff in their next
> meeting.  I never hear what will change in their selling process, but don't
> feel comfortable in pushing the issue.
> 
> For the next 2 days I struggle with this.  At the Paddlesport show at the
> end of March, probably 2,000-5,000 boats will be sold over a 3 day period,
> probably 65-70% of them being "recreational" kayaks.  In discussing thoughts
> I've had to take proactive steps to reduce the number of incidents, everyone
> I talk to tells me to forget it.  The manufacturers don't want it, the
> resellers don't want it, the consumer doesn't want it.  I wonder, should our
> club continue to participate in the show - [snip]

You did the best you could with the situation.  Yes, the club should continue
to be an advocate for safe use of yaks.  Yes, the retailer has a "compromised"
attitude toward safe boating.  We live in an imperfect world, but, think of it
this way:  if the activities of your club save the life on one person, it will
have been worth it.  You may not know who that person was, but he/she will, and
will be forever grateful to you.

BTW, if the hypothermic young man had returned to the store in his shivering
state, for all the staff to see, and related his story, I bet it would have
commanded some attention!

Good work, Debbie!

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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