RE: [Paddlewise] Nearly Fatal

Hello all,

ralph diaz wrote:
> Debs,
>
> It sounded like a very distressing and disheartening experience to run
> across such gross negligence on the part of the dealer.  The most
> disheartening to me is that it wasn't a K-Mart-type general merchaniser
> but rather a kayak shop.  I think we will have to put our heads together
> to figure out the most effective way to deal with this with this
> particular dealer.  But I don't want to rush into anything without
> thinking about it.

Now hold on a minute, did I read this right?  Are you accusing the dealer of
gross negligence based on the statements we have seen here?  Has anyone
spoken with the salesperson that sold the craft?  Based on this you are
trying to figure out a way to "deal with" this particular dealer?  Sounds
like a quick and speedy trial by email to me.  Unless you have far more
information than you are sharing here I think you are being quite unfair.

I worked in the kayak industry for over a decade with 8 years in retail.  I
don't think I ever spoke with anyone in the store that I didn't recommend
lessons to whether or not he or she was buying a boat.  Most retailers are
interested in safety because ultimately it is good for business.  We really
have no idea what was said during the sale process in this instance.  I have
had customers flat out ignore every piece of advise I have tried to give
them, some of them refuse to buy skirts no matter how many times they are
told that they are an important piece of safety equipment.  The list goes on
and on.  However I'm getting away from my point.

My question would be whatever happened to personal responsibility?  The
comments I have seen here  seem quick to judge the dealer and almost portray
the swimmer as some kind of innocent victim.  It is the paddler that decided
to launch that particular craft on that particular day in those conditions.
I doubt that the dealer was there pushing him off.  We are all responsible
for our own safety.

I'm wondering if you have purchased any other potentially dangerous
equipment recently, and what kind of advise and liability you think the
merchant should be responsible for.  Kitchen knives are very dangerous and I
have never received safety info from a dealer.  To that list I would add
chainsaws, firearms stepladders and oh yeah how about automobiles, far more
dangerous than firearms, ladders and chainsaws combined.

I am all for safe kayaking.  In fact I like to think that in the years that
I have been teaching I have helped the sport become a little safer by
emphasizing safety in every class I teach; however I respect the individuals
right to make their own choices about acceptable risk.  Personally I wear my
pfd 99 % of the time but I have no problem with people that don't wear
them-I might not paddle with them- but what they do on their own is their
business.


This kind of blame the dealer, blame the manufacture mentality is a much
greater threat to the sport (actually society as a whole) than cold water
will ever be.  If this attitude prevails we could soon see government
regulation brought to bear on the sport.  Or should we consider other
scenarios.  Maybe all purchases of hazardous items require a signed and
notarized liability waiver.  That would cover everything form hard candy to
kayaks.  Or maybe there should be a licensing required for each specific
craft.  Maybe a rolling demonstration of each boat prior to purchase, no
roll no sale. Or how about this, no kayak or canoe can be sold without a
drysuit ,paddle, pfd, etc, etc.


I know that the intent of these posters has been good and is in the spirit
of saving lives but please people, I really don't need anymore protection
from myself.

Cheers,


--
Rob Cookson


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of ralph diaz
> Sent: Monday, March 06, 2000 6:52 AM
> To: PaddleWise
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Nearly Fatal
>
>
>
> Meanwhile I think that we should redouble our efforts at shows such as
> Paddlesport to get the safety word out.  I don't remember what the
> tabloid newspaper that comes out with the show has in the way of
> articles but it would be worthwhile to get them next year to include a
> version of any of the good pieces I see in your Atlantic Sea Kayakers
> newsletter regarding cold water.  And to ask them to make it a boiler
> plate feature each year.  It would take much space.  There is always the
> danger that someone would buy a boat at Paddlesport (or at any earlier
> winter show like Canoecopia in Madison WI or the Small Boat Shop in
> Norwalk CT both on the same week or the one or two up in New England
> also in March) and in their euphoria make a similar mistake.
>
> We can't force people to listen but that doesn't mean we should keep
> trying.
>
> Anyway I want to think on this one some more.
>
> ralph
>

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