Re: [Paddlewise] Nearly Fatal

There really is that unreal expectation of what the "whole package" will
cost.  I'm sure a lot of beginning paddlers-on-a-budget save enough for
a paddle and a boat and plan to buy "the other stuff" (sometimes not
knowing or never knowing the full extent of how much equipment is truly
necessary) as they accumulate the needed funds.  This is a great sport
for gear heads, but not everybody is a gear head.

One reason I feel so passionate about this subject is that nobody told
me what to expect when I started kayaking.  I wish someone had, so I now
hope I can help beginning paddlers to be safe, old kayakers.

Shawn

Nick Von Robison wrote:
> I think there's an unreal assement on the part of first time buyers of what the
> real cost of buying/equipping a boat is which leads to folks being out on the water
> not only ignorant (OK, lets say inexperienced) and unprepared.  It's just not the
> price tag on the boat along with paddle, spray skirt, etc., but all the peripheral
> equipment that needs to enter into the equation.  It's simply not budgeted into the
> percieved cost of the boat and can easily equal the cost of the boat itself just
> for basic needs i.e. compass, 2nd paddle, paddlefloat, bailer, flares, chart
> guides, dry/flotation bags, clothing, and on and on.  Personally, I would never
> even consider going out without a second paddle in case the primary breaks or is
> lost, even if I'm 100 yards from shore a strong tide or current could be more than
> my "dog paddle" could handle.  But how many kayak shops advise, or newbies
> consider, that a boat without proper equipment is just a floating coffin?
> 
> -Nick

-- 
Shawn W. Baker          0                                    46°53'N
© 1999            ____©/______                              114°06'W
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\  ,/      /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
baker_at_montana.com    0        http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/
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